Maryland free press., 1866-06-21

4 .lhave barely exceeded in the average in hat
may be termed ordinarily bad times.
MIR. Greeley ON the Case OF Jefferson
Davis.
In many respects the force and facts of
the following article from the New York
Tribune of yesterday cannot be gainsayed.
however much any may differ from the
peculiar political ideas of Mr.. Greeley, and
some of the sentiments which crop out in
the course of the statement. The rights
of a prisoner are as sacred as those of any
other individuel, if not more so; and ac-
this, Mr.. Greeley's manly
candor and straightforwardness revolt at
any indirect overslaughing ofthem, whether
by outside or inside politicians, or any
others; and he would have the government
itself-if it or any of its officials have been
led into error in the past in regard even
to Jefferson Davis-reverse its action,
openly, boldly, promptly-taking back
false charges, if such have been made
and proceed directly and as in duty bound
to stand upon such others as it feels justi-
fed in doing, or abandon the whole. The
Tribune's article is as annexed:
JEFFERSON DAvIs.-The House of Rep
resentatives on Monday, on motion Of Mr..
Boutwell,, of Massachusetts,, by q vote of
105 to 10.
"Resolred, AS the opinion of the House
of Representatives, that said Davis should
be held in custody as prisoner, and sub
jected to trial, according to the laws of
the land"
There would seem to be no room for
doubt as to the correctness of one PROPOSE
ton here given, since all parties are agreed
upon it, The House says Davis should be
tried; his counsel say exactly the same,
and have been trying, ever since they were
allowed to communicate with him, to get
his case before ajudge and jury. Then
why is he not tried? Who stauds in the
way?
Judge Underwood held on Monday, OH
an application for bail, that he was pri-
soner of war-thercfore not bailable. The
fact being assumed, the reason is con-
elusive. But how long may prisoner of
war 1e held after the war is officially de-
clared at an end? Suppose one were held
to-day as prisoner of war, taken by Gen.
that suffice to bar his liberation?
But how and when did Davis become q
prisoner of war? He was not arrested as
public enemy, but as felon, officially
charged, in the face of the civilized world,
with the foulest, most execrable guilt-that
of having suborned assassins to murder
President Lincoln--a crime the basest and
most cowardly known to mankind. 1t was
for this that 100000 was offered and
paid for his arrest. And the proclamation
of Andrew johnson and VIM. II. Seward
offering this reward says his completely
with Wilkes Booth & Co. is established "by
evidence ,oo in the Bureau of Military
Justice" So there was 10 need of time to
hunt it up.
Others charged with that horrible deed
have been arranged, tried, some of them
long ago acquitted and set atliberty, others
executed and buried; others are now serv-
ing out their terms as convict-priso-
ners. Why is this one alone still await
ing trial-not even indicted? Then it
should be retraced as publicly as it was
made. Is it persisted in? Then why is
he not tried on it? Can you imagine any
crcditable reason for leaving this matter
as it is? X X x
For eight or ten months he was not al
lowed to see his wife or any member of his
family, nor to communicate with counsel
except by open letters sent through the
War Department. At length the embargo
is relaxed, and he is simultaneously in
dicted for treason. "Now," say his coun-
sci, 1--WE shall get his case into COURT" and
they attend at the very first sitting to cal
it on. x x But the government comes
limping in the second day and is not ready
No preparation has been made on that side
and the case has to 60 over.
Now if there be any reason for not try
ing the case in Virginia, it is perfectly
triable in Tennessee. There is ample evi.
dence that JEFF Davis was at Murfreesboro
in 1862, welding aud impelling the rebel
army of Tennessee. Judge Trigg of that
district is thoroughly loyal; he holds court
at Knoxville, among people as over
whelmingly loyal as Vermont. Why has
not an indictment been found and tried iu
his court? Who can say?
1t has very bad look when man
officially charged with the vilest crime
known to men is not even indicted there
for, but kept in close Jail over a year with,
out knowing on what charge; and when al
length an indictment is found against him
for something totally different, he can't gel
tried on that, but is still held in close jail
without being allowed chance to face his
accusers. We should not like this sort o.
treatment, and we mean to insist on fail
play for friends and enemies alike.
Mind, here is no question of mercy OF
lenity since none has yet been solicited
A prisoner accused of heinous crimes asks
to be tried, and his trial is shuffled off,
while he is kept in close Jail good way
on his second year. x
For our own part, and in behalf of some
others who believe the true, sufficient basis
of reconstruction to be universal amnesty,
impartial suffrage these two, and no more
we demand that this prisoner of war, or
prisoner of State, or whatever he may be-
shall have the full legal rights secured to
l.. l. Al.