The Placer herald., 1866-02-03
JEFF. DAVIS...HIS TRIAL,

ers, counsel for the government, announced
in New York paper as positively deter
mined on, was true in August, but is moi
true now. Public opinion has changed
since then, and government measures Away.
follow public opinion. 1t is admitted as a
fact that any trial 10 southern State would
be farce.
1t is equally fact that the southern States
unanimously desire his pardon; that the ma.
jorty of the democratic party hold the same
opinion, and now :bat the leaders of the
radical wing of the republican party have
expressed the same wish, it is believed it will
be taken for granted that majority of the
nation are opposed to his punishment.
". Y. Tribune.
1t is thus admitted that public opinion in
this country is decidedly against Furnishing
Mr.. Davis, and consequently is in favor Of
his pardon. We hope be will be. We see
no reason why Mr.. Davis should not, but
many why he should be. 1t will be good
policy. 1t will crafty the southern people,
or at least great numbers Of them, and even
those who opposed the war most strongly,
and were lifelong opponents Of the doctrine
would be victory over their hearts, VIC
tory over passion and vengeance. 1t would
tend strongly to cement together the Union,
and be an additional proof that the govern
ment is earnest 10 its endeavors to blot out
the past and look only to the future. 1t
would prove that the government regards
the southern people of the United States,
and respects their opinions and prejudices
accordingly To sacrifice Mr.. Davis would
be to make him martyr, and give his mem
ory power which he living can never &C.
quire. The act would be unworthy a great
and powerful government. 1t is but just to
say that Mr.. Davis did not belong to the
party of extreme and original secessionsls.
He was originally opposed to the measure.
In the south before the war, he was regard
ed as a conservative, however much we may
astonsh some people by the assertion. .
Upon his memorable tour to New Eng
land, he described in one Of his speeches the
secessonists of the south as the 'musquitoes
that sing around the OK" for which bovine
simile he was soundy berated, and in no very
gentle terms, by the extremists of Mississippi.
They even went so far as to call him "trai-
tor to the SOUTH" When the consprators
felt that the hour had come, the hour for
which they had long labored, for "precipi-
tating the south into revolution, they never
exhibited more skill than in selecting Mr.
Davis as their standard bearer. They select
ed him because be was a conservative-as
they calculated, and calculated rightly, that
bis name would reconcile many to the move
ment who would otherwise have bitterly OPP
posed it. His conservatism, his general
purity of character, and his military ability,
as evnced in the Mexican war, we're the rea
sons which prevailed With the more astute
precipitators, and caused them to fix upon
colonel Davis as their leader. 1t is not per.
haps generally known that there was bitter
opposition to him in the Montgomery con-
vention, and that be was successful only by
the change of single name. The candil
date of the simon-pures was Toombs.
Alexander H. Stephens was selected for
the vice presidency of the confederacy for
the same general reasons which prevailed in
the case of Davis, because it was thought
that this Identification with the cause would
disarm to a great extent opposition, as it did.
Thus it turned out that the real originators
of the strife in the south, those who had
been long holding other issues subordinate,
and that of revolution supreme, when the
terrible ordeal came took back seats, and
did not, except to very limited extent and
in an unimportant sense, guide the whirl-
wind which they had raised. This is often
the case. But we have said more than we
designed.
1t is gratifying and suggestive reflection
that as time eapses the public sentiment o1
the country becomes more disposed toward
magnanimous and conci'i.tory course
With time passions die out, the desire for
rigor and vengeance dominisbes.
1t cannot be concealed, in this connection
that the good conduct of the southern peo.
pie generally, their prompt acceptance Of
the issues of the war, and their return with
so much promptness and alacrity to their
allegiance as citizens of the United States,
have had not little to do with the growth
of the magnanimous feeling we refer to in
the east and west and middle States, and we
wish on the part of the conservative masses
generally for the pardon Of not only those
who acted in the war against the govern
meut in subordinate capacities, but Of the
leaders of the revolt themselves. Many OF
these have already paid the debt of nature,
and are beyond the jurisdiction Of any earth
y tribunal; and those who promoted the re-
volt in small way have in a multitude Of
instances, almost universally, in fact, been
so,ely punished for their course. They have
eaten of the bitter fruit Of the tree which
they planted and cultivated. If punishment
is what is desired, then indeed they have
been punished. The voice Of humanity
cries out, hold, enoughs Let the sword be
stayed, let mercy now be beard. We be
lieve that the pardon Of Mr.. Davis could
not possibly do any harm in this country, bu
would greatly exat the government and oul
institutions 10 the eyes Of the whole civilized
world.
Policy demands it, no less. than humanity
and good sense.
Jf1h. douands of those who shont per