Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-09-06
X. :scldwin's Evidence Before the Reconstruc-
ticn Committee.
STAUNTON. August 20 1866.

...a5. 3 lUeode, Esq:
I.v Dear Sir-l have received your letter,
:n9 thank you for calling my attention to "A
construction of my testimony about he trial OF
President Davis, which does injustice alike TO
~ opinions andmy feelings NlyteStlmony was
alien n short hand, aud was not read over to
nc 0? submitted tor my revision. | am sur
jseG atits general correctness; but | find that,
!: several instances, nay meaning has been
.caccprateiy stated, or wholly misapprehendca.
The point of inquiry was as to the probable
,carlt Of a trial Of Mr.. Davis before court and
Jury, if Que should be bad, and not as to the
2ropriety Of suhjecIing him 10 such an ordeal.
i 77as my purpose 10 state my beilet that
2ur unsuccessful attempt at revolution must he
I2garGed as rebellion, and, ifiudicially consid
2raG ard applied to Individual cases, must
s1bject each offender 10 he penalties Of treason.
SUCH, presume. must be the opinion or all
Tho do not believe In what is called the right
." secession" and such must Of course be the
rev of the Government Of the United States
every pardon granted and evey amnesty offered
S en- assertion of this principle: and every par
con sought or accepted admits at least doubt
OF :he defence TO be made before court and
While ny opinion as lawyer is what have
stated [ do not at all intend to admit the pro-
oriety Of attempting to deal By judicial trials
0th transactions whose national proportions
>lece ;hcm beyond the proper reach Of court
anG Jury. Zach individual case II brought
mo court, must, in my opiHion. be held to
constitute treason and be dealt with accord,
irgly, but each case is 50 thoroughly repre-
sentative Of all, that trial Of any one, would,
. 2II inrents and purposes, 3e subjccting the
conduct OF nation to the review Of twelve
ju:oGS.
+ this you'd be true of any one Confeder-
ate how much more must it be felt to be true
OF President Davis, who in his prison, is this day
more a;aphatically the representative OF our
cause than he was when Uommander-iG-Ch Chief
0: the Confederate army and navy.
20 SUBJECT man occupying his position to
trial by the narrow rules which limit judicial
construction, and to the mockery OF Il jury
l9i&l, would, in my opinion, be 40 outrage too
gross 80 be anticipated OF any government IN
2:lriStendom.
Every day that he is kept in prison is per-
eraptoTy adjournment Of all real reconciliation
Between the North and the South Any at
Tempt to subject him to further humiliation must
be regarded as personal wrong done to every
Irre Southern man; and ifhe shall be permit
tee 10 die in captivity his name will become
the watch word of Southern hate! 1t is to be
regretted that the Convention recently held at
Philadelphia did not rec0gnIZe the necessity OF
amnesty for the past rs basis OF good will or
me iutnre but trust that this omission will
De SCI right by President Johnson, and that he
ill BY the prompt discharge Of Mr. Davis, give
practical point and vitality 70 his recent decia-
ration that unless We forget the past We can
have no future. Yours, truly,
JOHN B. BALDWIN.