American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-01-27
Trial Of Jefferson Davis.
The Cause OF its PostpOnefhent-Re'
ports Of Secretary Of War and Attor'
ney General.

New York, Jan. lO.-The President
to, day transmitted to the Senate mes
sage in reply to the resolution calling
upon him to inform that body upon what
charges Jeff. Davis is confined; and why
he is not brought to trial. The Presi.
dent encloses reports from the Secretary
of War and the Attorney General, and
at the same time invites the attention Of
the Senate to that portion Of his annual
message which refers to Congress the
Question of holding the Circuit Courts of
the United States in districts where their
authority has been interrupted.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Jan. a, I866.-Sr:
In this annexed Senate resolution, passed
December 2lst, 1865, referred to me by
you for report, have the honor to state
first. that JEFF. Davis was captured by
United States troops in the State of
Georgia, on or about the Goth day of May ,
1865. and by order Of this department
has been and now is confined in Fortress
Monroe, to await such action as may be
taken by the proper authorities of the
United States Government.
Cd. That be has been arraigned upon
any Indictment or formal charge of crime;
but has been indicted for the crime of
high treason by the grand jury of the
District Of Columbia, which indictment
is now pending in the Supreme Court of
said District. He is also charged with
the crime Of melting the assassination Of
Abraham Lincoln, and with the murder
Of Union prisoners Of wal, by starvation
and other bar barous and cruel treatment
towards them.
8. The President deemed it expedient
that JEFF. Davis should first be put upon
his trial before a competent court and ju-
ry for the crime of treason; he WAS adj
yised by a law officer of the Government
that the mos! proper place for such trial
was in the State of Virginia. That
State is within the Judicial Circuit as
signed to the Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court, who has held no Court
there since the apprehension of Davis,
and who declines for an indefinite period
to hold any Court there.
The matters above stated are, so far as
| am informed, reasons for holding Davis
in confinement, why be has not been
brought to trial, etc.
4th. Besides Jeff. Davis, the following
persons who acted as officers of the rebel
government are imprisoned, to.wit -
Clement c. Clay, at Fort Monroe,
charged, among other things, with trea'
son, with completely in the murder of Mr.
Lincoln, and organizing bands Of pirates,
robbers and marauders in Canada, to
burn the cities and ravage the commerce
and coasts Of loyal States on the British
frontier.
D. L. Yuee, at Fort Pulaski, charged
with treason while holding seat in the
Senate Of the United States, and with
plotting the capture Of forts and arseuals
Of the United States, and with inclting
war against the Government.
S. R. Mallory, at Fort Lafayette,
charged with treason and organizing and
setting on foot piratical expeditions
against United States commerce and ma
rine on the high seas. and other officers
of the so called Confederate Government,
arrested and imprisoned, have been re-.
leased on parole, to abide the action OF
the Government in reference to their pros
ecution and trial for alleged offences, on
their application for amnesty and pardon.
Among these are G. Trenholm, Secretary
of the Treasury; JnO. A. Campbell, Asst
Secretary Of War; James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War: John II. Reagan,
Postmaster General; r. N. T. Hunter,
Senator; Alex. H. Stephens, Vice-Presl.
dent; and sundry other persons of less
note.
EDWIN NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.