New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-16

Goth Of August he is reported suffering from erysipe
las and carbunce, with attendant fever Shortly
afterward, he was conducted to more comfortable
quarters selected by his physician. Though he still
complained Of deteriOratng health, we hear gradually
less Of him, in this respect, up to November since
which time we may observe, his prison restraints
have been gradually so that he has the reason
able liberty Of the fort, and can see his friends One
of the prisoners most plausible complaints Is that
while numbers Of those who urged at the beginning
that the black flag should be hoisted have been prac
tically pardoned he who had opposed all desperate
measures is the victim Of ndignty ont oil proporoh
With Mr.. Davis's reported opinions on our present
politics. we have nothing to do. But we remark that
he scouts the charge Of assassination, and Whatever
nav have been his former feelings, speaks with unmS
taxable respect of the martyred Lincoln. His de-
Tense from the charge of treason is the palladium oil
all other Rebes-the States Rights doctrine OF war
and reconstructon" More than once, he INDUCES
the common Southern sheer at "Yankees," " New
Englanders," and " Massachusetts" while sharing
the narrow notion that the North-whose magnenimty
since and during the war is confessedly something
remarkable in cvilzation-is little better than " a
money making people," Out of this poor prisoner
with bis casemated prejudces it will be hard Tor any
biographer to construct a Napoleon.
Regarding his trial, we quote Mr.. Dayiss own
words. After speaking of States Rights he says:
But if-as suppose the purpose be to test the question
Of secession by Judicial decision why begin by expressing
fairness and decent respect for mankind deprive him of the
for the opeEs Of mankind deprive him OF the
needu to preparation Of his defense and load him with
dgntes that deprive bis mind Of it's due equilibrium
II i'll COMFORTS with tho dignity Of great nation TO eynee fear
NJ
for exposition Of bis side Of the question. question set
tied by violence in disregard Of law must remain unsettled
forever"
On the question of the Andersonyille cfime, he
holds that to make him responsible for this was
"worse than absurd-criminally false" For the
last two years Of the war; Lees army had never
than half and was ofener quarter ratons Of rusty
bacon and corn" lie also believes that Commissary
Gen. Norhrop aud Gen. Wnder did the best they
could; that the prisoners were ordered to receive
precisely the same ratons given to the troops
guarding them; but dishonest Commissares and Pro-
vost-Marshals were not confined 10 any people" Of
this explanation of a crime which caused the death
Of prisoners by tens Of thousands the most charitable
thing can say at present is that it is too short to
be satisfactory.
From the whole revelation given to Us Of the pris
ouer at Fortress Monroe, we conclude that resting
under the weight Of stupendous charges bis treat
ment, even TO the placing of shackles upon him,
not extraordinary Nor does it appear that his food
and accommodations have been worse than what
miier State prisoners have experienced in comforta
bic quarters during the war. His complaints have
heen heard through his physician and the rigors Of
his confinement have been graGIally lessened. Bat
there are two indubitabe facts which give weight to
the plea in lcavingGr5t that Mr.. Davis is vronic-
ally i'll aud perhaps dying man. and second, that he
had a right to a fair and speedy trial.
Judging these facts we conceive il b. be altogether
just and reasonable that his counsel earnestly ask
bis release on bail. II be is to be punished it is evil
dent that punishment can be seyorer to him than
imprisonment. He may deserve the miseries Of Ander.
sonyilc and the penalty Of treason Lot that be
tried and proved For the nGrm and complaining man,
who has the careof sympathetic doctor and the lib
ery OF O castle, who reads the magazines and papers,
who can have book published from the prson-walis
10 plead for him, whose fate the whole il not so
bad as that of the poor Rebel Spy or common soldier
bis evil genius directed TO slaughter aud who is too
feeble 70 be sufficiently heroic to endure q year in
pH.on-ior ills man. We can have no profound sym
pshy. Bat this man who has been awaiting trial
since last May, IL the representative Of xix millions Of
people What she'll we do with him ana what, IL we
keep him in protruc;ed punishment, shall We do with
the people b. represents