The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-06-20

1 u
ct are few cities in the Unionso we'll supple
fr with the standard and contemporaneou
re publications. RAMBLER.
y WASHINGTON. JUNE It'll, 1866.
: THE TRIAL OF PRISONER DAVIS.
The final postponcment of this impor
, tant case until the second Tuesday in Oc
tober, has drawn public attention to thu
y legal questions involved. Ithas heretofore
I Fbeensthe general opinion that the Supreme
+ Court of the United States would consti
y tute the appellate jurisdiction on points Of
! law. But it now appears that actslof Con
n gress provide against an appeal to the
highest tribunal in the land on cases Of a
criminal nature. Therefore, if the great
prisoner OF State now in confinement at
! Fortress Monroe is convicted by the jury
sitting in Richmond, and sentenced by the
Circuit Court, where the Chief Justice pre-
sides, the only remaining remedy lies in
the favor of the Executive. It il said that
one means of transferring the case to a
higher tribunal was in the application for
writ of Habeas Corpus, and in case Of re-
fusal, the appeal Of that application to the
Supreme Court.
j AS the counsel of Mr.. Davis have not adj
opted such procedure, it is evident that
they rest their case on the verdict Of the
jury in Richmond and on the exercise of
Executive clemency. In truth, the pris-
0ner and his friends are anxious to have
the trial proceeded with. Since the case
mas been frivolonsly postponed, the coun-
sci OF Mr.. Davis intend to apply to the
President for a military parole. The bill
presented by Mr.. Doolittle, last January,
TO allow writs Of error to the Supreme
Court in criminal cases., would provide for
the exact conting ency that arises in this
case. But like many proposals for benefi-
clai legislation, this Act has been thrown
aside, as coming from the wrong side Of the.
House. Meanwhile a new revolutionary
idea has been started on this point by a
young wiseacre of the .House--Mr. Wilson
from Iowa. He holds that the fortune Of
war has decided against the right Of seces.
sion and thatit would be judicial trea.
son for Judge to consider the question.
II Mr. Davis is proven to have appeared in
arms against the Government Of the United
States, he mustn not be allowed to set nm
any plea in justification.
Arms have decided the question on the
field OF battle; and Mr.. Wilson decides it
Jndicially, without appeal. All our States
men have labored in doubt on the implied
right of secession but Mr.. Wilson is trou.
bled with no hesitation in expressing his
opinion. The idea is, however, novel and
striking. and Mr.. Wilson, like many Of his
colleagues, would be perfectly willing to
attain notoriety by any illegal device
which they can imagine.
CONGRESS VERSUS COMMERCE..
Since the serenade sre Oh of Mr.. McCnl.
ioch, the radicals have been annoying him
IN every conceivable manner. But tbe|
bold and open course ofthe Secretary has
proven him to be "a dificultfsubiectn for
the management Of his opponents. The
report on the sale Of gold proves the Score
tary to pc an adept in the practice as well !,
as the theory of financiering, and his sharp
reply TO the miserable destinations cast |
upon HIM, eyinces disposition and char :
acter which afford an additional earnest !
'fthe correct administration Of his depart. !,
nent. Our friends must not suppose that f.
Inc late order of Mr.. McCulloch discharp. h
ng all the Treasury officials who cannot d
axe the test oath, was dictated by anv "
adleal spirit Onthe contrary, the secre- n
airy is as much opposed to- the iron.elad :
ath as any Conservative in the land "
lis object is to permit the law to take it's
curse, aud by thus showing the detrimeuts
the public service, force Congress to re-
cal Its nef'lrious provisions The reportl Y
the Assistant Treasurer in New York
IT, Van Dyck, presents an interesting his. 4
'ry OF the gold market since the conclu. :,
on OF the war. 1t also proves that the NJ n,
lies ofspecie by the Treasury have pro p.
need a very beneficial effect on the trade l.
the country. In fact, as the currency Of je
le country is paper, and the Government
avs large amount of gold from the Z,
arket.to pay the import duties, it is fair IL; =
at the specie should be returned when Il of
N be spared. be
ms IS the wise action of the Govern sh
ent which seems to have given general p'
tisfaction The proceedings Of Congress- ~ 9,
We exercised are exactly opposite effect 81
q have given rise to gloomy anticipa- ms
ms OF our commercial future. his
It is we'll known that the radical BRO.
adlngs ofthe Houses have seriously i'm. tbs
lred the credit Of the Southern States on
d amidst the present European Difficult. cus
may injuriously affect the national -. -
dit abroad. Our own State Of Louisiana for
I'D not raise one million of dollars on q
bonds, and the destruction of a large Ma
'tlon Of her cotton crop, has been the ern
sequence Of this inability to protect the kne
ees The total yield Of cotton is est NY
ted as low as one and a half million Of mo
es the tobacco crop will be small, the oft
ductlon OF sugar insignificant, and of Lee
actually nothing. We must import, and
IN return have nothing but bonds to !
'ort; cereals are being brought back to . :
country, the grain crops in Europe are ~ t,,',
q, and at home very inferior. If for lion
nations will not take our securities. olut
account of the turbulent political con- nan
on created by the racicals, specie and