Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-04-24
Otn the Washington Constitutional un;o,
Mr.. Davis and bis, Trial.

w ASSSli Jefferson Davis
to trialF Is 1t 20 -Vindicate tue power of tbet
National Government That power has
already been demonstrated by the CONQUEST
of the Southern, STATES, by the ability to dis
band a million of men. by the general rccog-
milton all over the land of tho Constitution
the national authority and the has-by the
very fact that Mr.. Davis own fate is not n
question OF power, but IF discretion. prudspee
ana public policy. Tx IS a prisoner helpleSs.
IN the hands Of the Government Is it tar
: settle e~4uestions OF secession aud State
I sovereignty! On these questions there has
oeen dispute from the beginning among the
Ia men OF the nation. Viii an opinion of
SHiei '9S1lee Chase add weight to the arsu-
Nobody believes this. viii its,rcp,,bsO H.,
verdict pronounced by the war a.,9ir,St rbe,
alleged right of secession? Clearly not,.
The South has put the matter to tho .rb,
trament OF arms, and she gives nm The,
. question absolutely and forever. We cg;,,
nothing then ON this head If there wc,ss.
any large body OF persons who still CHM, 10
the docr.ne OF secession it might be well
to have Judgment pronounced. but all have,
given their adhesion to the doctrine oE an;
Irrevocable Union. Even the Radicals who.
nave tins winter subverted by revolutionary
violence one OF, the principal branches of the.
wv SAoLHCubs SUN propose.
understood, to remain themselves in tho
Union while they shut the others out and
though assuming secession to have been an
accomplished fact, altogether deny the right,
This completes general consent
Va the other hand, the South, which now
IN entire good faith accepts the situation.
obcys the laws, and swears fidelity to the
Union, is ready to render all It's duties in
cldent thereto, asks that Jefferson Davis shall
be released Everybody in the South solicits
this of the Government. 1t is a question fer
government of statesmen to consider
whether petition from eight millions Of it's
citizens, ready to obey and sustain that gov
eminent, ought to be refused and trial had.
the chief reason for which seems to be to nut
stigma on these people by selecting their
representative and to plant a sting in their
hearts for all time. Is this wise policy p
Well did koszuih say-''hatred is no good
counsellor, gentlemen. The wisdom of love
is a better one"
\ great public trial would revive sectional
feeling and passions which it is algavs Sc,
desirable to aIlay. 1t would spread excite.
ment and bitterness all over the land. 1t
would retard the Presidents wise aud BENG.
hcent policy of restoration It's mischievous
tendency may be elected by asking ourselves.
what would be the ctFectif, while it was in,
progress, VIC were suddenly involved in a
foreign war.
Any additional punishment or imprisou
ment Of Mr. Davis is not demanded bv
public sentiment, SO far MS VIC know. Tho
Conservative masses Of tEc North, who me
now evidently IN the majority, would we
believe, be glad Of his immediate release. and
rGloice to hear OF general amnesty II We
turn to the Radicals. we fud fully oro. half
OF hem, IncsuiIng Tie + ab!est lel-es and
party opponents, inclined to genera amnesty
or to special cases Gi amnesty which. in rrir
cip!c, would cover those Of all tie hers.
Mr. Chase has INTERVIEWED in n very noble
and earnest manner for some of tie most
prominent officials Of tie late ConIcderucy
Ar. y" ilson, of Massachusetts,, has done the
same for Mir Alex. Stephens, who was Vice
PRESIDENT OF the Goniedcracy. Dir. Boutwell,
has, VIC believe, also interviewed for another
distinguished Official. Mr. Sumner and
other leading Radicals gave an Immediate
and unqualified assent to the resolutions of
Senator Stewart, Of Nevada, which declared
Tor a genera! amnesty. Indeed the Radical
faction have always oG'.i ed to bartera general
amnesty for negro suffrage. Last and not
least, the New York yr,LUac, by all odds the
abicst journal Of the Radicals the great ccu-
trail organ Of their party. has been earnest
and consistent IN denying that the punish
ment OF individuals vas the object of their
eXcrtions, and Mr.. Greeley las bcca unre-
uniting in his advocacy of humane policv
towards the Southern leaders, lie has dis
daineI to suIiy the principles he contcndeL
for by c!amor for blood and confiscation. q
We have then only section of the Radicals
healed by such fanatics as Wade, and such
persons as Forney and Butler, who was hun.
soft 4 secessioniSe in 1862 enrolled in fayor
OF bloody aud pcrseCutiye programme.
There is nothing in the criticisms Of such a,
these FOR AIRY prudent Statesmen to be afraid
of. Every act of mercy and lent y-dons by
the President has been approved by the peo-
pc, and has done good in restoring peace and
quiet TO the land. The time has come
when the President may appropriately issue
the general amnesty foreshadowed by his An
nual Message, and long anxiousIy cxpect,d
by the people. 1t wouldappropriately follow
the proclamation of peace, and put every BODY
in good humor. The country wants peace
ard quiet in order that it may revive industry.
pay off the debt, aud go forward in its won
derful career Of material progress, national
development, unity and power. We have no
time for State trials, no inclination Tor bloody
purposes. The people have had surfeit Of
excitement, trouble and politics generally
1t would be good thing if Congress would.
pass the niece sary appropriation bills and 90
home. The President can take care Of matters
very well III their absence. II they stay here
they may getthe cholera, or as Senator Wade
elegantly and piously expressed it, be ''strick-
en- down" Ifthey attempt to pass an ex post
fac.o law to reach the case Of Mr.. Davis or any
other man, cholera would be too good for them
But whatevcr they do, and we are afraid no.
thing sensible can be expected of them, We
hope the President Will issue general am
nesty at-once, and let public opinion deal with
the Congressional d.sturbers Of the peace "a
they deserve. n They are the same party srhn