Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-06-13
Trial of yeferson Davis.

We deem it favor to the reputation of
the partiaist, Judge UNDERWOOD, who pre-
sided at the Court in Richmond, ON the 5th
inst, which convened for the purpoSs Of
trying JEFFERSON DAVIS for the several
charges preferred against him, not to publish
his charge to the Grand Jury, which con-
sisted of angry appeals biased to one party
and totally inclined to favor one side of the
question. His remarks were not only unbe-
coming a civil magistrate, but would have
disgraced the character of an artful politi
clan.
After delivering the charge, Judge I'm
deFwood remarked that in the absence of the
foreman, Mr.. Hanson would act in that ca
pacity.
The Grand Jury then retired to their
room.
There being no formal business before the
Court, Judge Underwood said: "We shall
be happy to hear from members of the Bar.
always giving preference to members from a
distance
VIM: B. Reed of Philadelphia, then ad-
dressed the Court as follows:
May it please your Honors, / beg to pre-
sent myself IN conjunction with my col
leagues, as the counsel of Jefferson Davis, a
prisoner of state at Fortress Monroe, and
under Indictment for high treason in your
HOnor's Court. We find in the records of
your Honor's court an Indictment charging
Mr.. Davis with high offence, and it has
seemed to us due to the cause of Justice, due
to this tribunal, due to the feelings of one
sort or another which may be described as
crystalizing around the unfortunate man,
that We should come at the very earliest
moment to this tribunal, and ask of your
Honor, or more properly the gentlemen who
represent the United States, the simple
question. What is proposed to be done
with this indictment? Is it to be tried? Is
It-and this is question, perhaps, that
have no right to asks it to be Withdrawn
or is 1t to be suspended? IF it is to be tried,
may it please your Honor, speaking for my
colleague and for myself, and for the absent
client, L say with emphasis, and / say it
with earnestness, that we came here prepared
instantly to try that case, and we shall ask
no delay at your Honor hands further than
Is necessary to bring the prisoner to face the
Court, and to enable him, under the statute
IN such case made and provided, to examine
the bill of Indictment against him. Is it to
be withdrawn? If 80, Justice and humanity
seem to us to prompt that we should know
1t. Is It to be suspended, postponed? IF so
may It please the Court, with all respect to
your Honor and the gentlemen who conduct
the public business here, your Honor must
understand US as entering our most earnest
protest We ask a speedy trial on any
charge that may be brought against Mr..
Davis here or in other civil tribunals in the
land. We may be now here representing
may it please the Court, dying man. For
thirteen months he has been in prison. The
Constitution of the United States guaran-
tees to him not only an impartial trial, which
L am sure he Will have, but a speedy trial
and we have come no slight distance, we
have come IN all sincerity, we have come,
with all respect to your Honor, we have
come with strong sympathies with our client
and personal-we have come
here simply to ask that question. / address
it to the District Attorney or address it to
your Honor, as may be the more appropri-
ate: What disposition is proposed to be
made with the bill of Indictment against
j Jefferson Davis, now pending, for high
treason?
Major J. L. Hennessy, Assistant U. S.
District Attorney, said that he had been en-
tirely unaware of the nature of the appIica-
ton just made. In the absence of the Dis
trict Attorney, Mr.. Chandler, be was not
prepared to answer the question, but he
would Immediately telegraph to that gentle
man the fact of such an application having
been made. Mr. Chandler could probably
arrive, Major Hennessy stated that he would
himself be prepared to answer the question
tomorrow morning.
Judge Underwood addressing the coun-
sci for Mr.. Davis; said-Am | to understand
that that will be satisfactory
Mr. Reed Entirely so.
The Court then adjourned until to-mor-
row at 10 clock A NJ.
On the following day the Court adjourn
ed until next October and it is now admitted
on all sides that JEFF DAVIS will be dis
charged on bail 1t is certain that five of |
the wealthiest citizens in New York, are in |
and ready to bind themselves
in the sum of $4,000 each, for his appear
ance at the next term of the Court in Rich
mond. Will anybody doubt his release