Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1866-01-20
The Case of Jefferson Davis.


ed to that body message, including re.
port Of che Secretary Of War, and an opin.
on Of the Attorney General, setting forth
lhe charges upon which Jefferson Davis
Is confined and tho reason why he has not
been brought to trial. Mr.. Stanton chiefly
confines himself to recital of the facts Of
the case, while Mr.. Speed dwells priuci- !
pally upon his conception of the law and
the Constitution, as applicable to those
facts. The public will be surprised to see
that the Secretary still adheres to the stale
pretense Of the accusation against Mr.. Da-
Wis, Of 'inciting the assassination Of Mr..
Lincoln, and with the murder of Union
prisoners Of war by starvation and other
barbarous and cruel treatmert toward
them" The same charge of completely
in the murder of the late President is re.
tanned against the Hon, Clement G. Clay.
In the case of the Hon. D. L. Yulee, the
attempt is made to enhance his response
bility by laying stress upon the crcum-
stance that at the outbreak of hostiliies
he was "holding seat in the United States
Senate j. while tho Hon. s. II. Mallory
is threatened with the penalties Of piracy
in addition to those OF treason.
ID is simply an outrage against public
sentiment and an insult to the intelligence
and sense of justice of the people to per-
si,t in holding Mr.. Davis or bis compa nion
in captivity, accountable for the sssassina-
ton Of Mr.. Lincoln. The administration
is perfectly we'll aware that it can fastcn
upon them no culpabiity in that respect
Had there been any foundation for the
charge, or had Mr.. Stanton really believ.
ed them guilty they would have been bro't
to trial before the Military Commission
that convicted Payne and his associates.
purpose except that of vindiciveness
can be served by keeping two such men of
high character under the imputation of an
infamous crime. 1t is unworthy of the
power and dignity Of this Government TO
employ so contemplate device to debase
fallen enemy. The accusation has long
since been dismissed from the popular mind
as frivolous and unfounded (; and the War
Department renders itself ridiculous in
forcing it again upon the public attention.
Mr.. Attorney General Speed, in his re-
port, has the good sense to ignore the
charge of completely in the assassination
Of Mr.. Lincoln, and alludes to those in
custody as prisoners Of war liable to be
prosecuted for high treason. But, wo do
not understand what the Attorney Gen
eral means in saying that "Though ac.
tive hostilities have ceased, state Of war
still exists over the territory in rebelion!'
What territory is in rebellion within this
Republic, and what evidences are there
anywhere in the land that state of war
exists ? 1t is true that the Radicals in Con.
gtess are in conflict with the President, and
with equity, cxpediency and the interests
Of the country. But that is not war in its
military sense; and our communities that
have been for some month, copgratulating
themselves upon the return Of peace, will
be surprised and grieved to learn from an
official, who ought to be high legal autbor.1
ity, that their country is still convulsed
with the throes Of actual strife.
Under ordinary circumstances it would
scarcely have been necessary for Mr.. Speed
to assert that, "trials for high treason can
not be had before military tribunal
Or, "that the civil courts have alone iur-
isdiction of that crime" But in view of
she precedeuts of usurpations of arbitrary
power and military rule, it is, perhaps,
safer to be fortified by the opinion of the
Attorney General. The burden of Mr..
Speeds report goes to show that no trials
for treason can be properly held "before
the political power Of the Government has
proclaimed that the REBELLION has been sup.
pressed" What is meant here by 'the po.
litical power of the Government I" Is
the Radical Congress that political power,
and must the proclamation emanate from
the faction of Sumner and Stevens Mr..
Speed seems to imply as much for he
says that the rebellion ha, not been sup.
pressed, that ga state of war still exists"
and that peaceful relations between The
Government and the people in the States
and districts in rebellion have not yet been
fully restored" So, too, say the Radi,
Gals in Congress. Now, let US mark what
the Federal Executive has said. On the
nineteenth ultimo, President johnson sent
a message to the Senate of the United
States commencing thus: "In reply to
the resolution adopted by the Senate on