Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-05-31
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY, MAY IS, 1866.
Poor Jeff. Davis.

The so-cal,ed Democrats are in di-
lemma with regard to their "head-cen-
TIRE. JEFF, Davis. Their pious indigna.
ton is reused to fearful pitch because
of the cruel treatment ne is receiving,
and they are forced to cry out in anguish
of spirit against it, 1t appears accord
ing TO the testimony of Surgeon Cooper,
that Davis repose has been broken dur
ing much Of his confinement at Fortress
Monroe by "the tramp of the creaking
boots Of the sentinels on post round the
prison-room, and the relieval of the
guard at the expiration of every two
hours which almost invariably weak
ems him. Prisoner Davis states that he
has scarcely enjoyed over two hours Of
sleep unbrOken at one time since his con-
fnement Means have been taken, by
placing mating on the floors for the
sentinel to walk on, to alleviate this
source Of disturbance, but with only
partial success" IT does not appear
that there was any intention of disturb
ing him, but on the contrary that the
slightest noises caused him annoyance
by reason Of tn" excessive prostration
and irritability of his nervous system,
and measures were taken, as stated
above to relieve him OF this source of
disturbance.
But the New York World, the organ
Of Northern Democracy" which never
exhibited any particular disapproval of
the red-handed treason committed by
Davis and his subordinates-a treason
which murdered hundreds of thousands
Of the best and bravest of the land-is
terribly incensed at the unintentional
disturbance Of Davis sweet dreams, by
creaking boots. 1t has a column on the
subject, which commences thus:
ut is no longer matter of newspaper
rumor that the treatment which Jeffer-
son Davis has received during his inCar-
Ceration in Fortress Monroe has been
such as to break down his constitution,
and to put him, after - months of pro-
tracted suffering, in imminent peril Of
death"
But the World processes to support
President Johnson, and here is the di-
emma. A word against the treatment
Of JEFF. Davis is really a complaint
against President Johnson. But the
World, like its petty followers among
the Democratic press, is an adept at
Misrepresentation. 1t tries to escape
from its difficulty by closing its article
in the following astonishing style
IF the members of the Congressional
majority at Washington are not weaker
and more wicked men than the sternest
Of their political opponents would will
ingly believe them to be, they will COM
pei a prompt exposure Of the authors of
this shameful thing, a prompt exposure
and punishment as prompt. The
President has done his duty in laying
bare the facts and will do his duty, we
doubt not, in arresting at once and sum
marily this continuous outrage upon the
national character. But we live in an
epoch of Congress onal inquiries into
uAL!pIaA CNduNlCIiS tLuNA hGANLOlldI ldiLAOlo
o. all kinds and the conscience Of the
country will hold the present Congress
to dread responsibility if it shirk or
evade in any way duty more import
ant to our national honor than any
which it has as yet assumed"
Did Congress arrest or cause or aid
the arrest Of jeff Davis Did it i'm
prison him or cause his Imprisonment at
Fortress Monroe Has it had anything
to do with the manner of his Confne-
ment there 1t was Andrew Johnson,
President OF the United States, as the
Tribune we'll reminds the World, who
issued proclamation Offering a reward
Tor the arrest of Davis, and it is the
Executive branch Of the government
solely that has had to do with his i'm
prisonment.
Yet the World says eve live in an
epoch of Congressional inquiries into
national scandals; ;" and it calls on Con-
Sress to-do what? ITO investigate
Andrew Johnson's scandalous @ treat
ment Of JEFF. Davis. The World is in a
bad box.