Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-12
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Message from the President--Nhy He IS MOI
Tried--Charges ON " hich He is Held.

Message from the President--Why He is Not
~ Tried--CharGes ON Which He Is Held
WASHINGTON, January lO.-The President to-day
+-,nsr,ttad 20 the Senate message, in reply 10 Il
r.soIutiOn calling upon him to inform that body up
on what charges Jefferson Davis is confined, aud
why he is not brought to trial. The President en-
closes reports from the Secretary of War and the At
torney General. and ut the same time invites the at
tentiOn OF the Senate to that portion OF his annual
message which refers to Congress the question con
nected with the holding OF Circuit Courts of the
United States within the districts where their au-
thOrity has been interrupted.
WAR DEPARTMENT. January 4, 1866
SIR-In the annexed Senate resolution, passed De-
cember 2lst 1865, referred TO me by you for report
have the honor to state-First that Jefferson Davis
was captured by United States troops in the State
of Georgia on or about the 10th day of May, 1860
and by order of this Department has been and now
is confined in Fortress Monroe, TO abide such action
rs may be taken by the Government.
Second-That he has not been arraigned upon any
indictment or formal charge OF crime but has been
indicted for the crime OF high treason by the Grand
Jury OF the District OF Columbia, which indictment
is now pending in the supreme Court of said DIS
trict He is also charged with the crime of melting
the assassination OF Abraham Lincoln, and with
the murder of Union prisoners OF war by starva-
ton, and other barbarOus and cruel treatment to-
wards them.
Third-The President, deeming it eypedient that
Jefferson DAVIS should nrSt be put upon ms trial be-
fore a competent court and jury for the crime of
treason he was advised by the law officer vi the
Government that the most proper place for such
trial was in the State of Virginia. That State is
within the judicial circuit assigned to the Chief JUS
tice of the Supreme Court, who has held no court
there since the apprehension of Davis and who tie
clines, for an indefinite period, TO hold any court
there. The matters above stated are, 50 far as am
informed. the reasons for holding Jefferson Davis
in confinement, and why he has not been put upon
trial.
Fourth-BeSide Jefferson Davis, the following
persons who acted as officers OF the Rebel Govern
ment are imprisoned, to wit: Clement c. Clay, at
Fortress Monroe, charged among other things, with
treason with completely in the murder OF Mr. Lin
coin aud with organizing bands of pirates, robbers,
and murdereis in Canada, u burn the cities and
ravage the commerce and coasts Of loyal States on
the British frontier; D. l.. Nulee, at Fort Pulaski,
charged with treason while holding seat in the
Senate of the United States, and with plotting 10
capture the forts and aSenas OF the United STATES,
and with melting war and rebellion against the
Government; 5. r. Mallory, ut Fort Lala! te'
charged with treason, and with organizing and set
ting on foot pratiCal expeditions against the United
States commerce and marine on the high seas.
Other officers of the sOcalled Confederate Govern
ment arrested and imprisoned, have been released
on parole 10 abide the action of the Government in
reference to their prosecution and trial for alleged
offences, On their applications Tor amnesty and par
don. Among these are G.. \. Trenholm, Secretary
of the Treasury; John A. Campbell, Assistant So
crctary of War; James \. Seldom, Secretary of
War: John II. Reagan, Postmaster General; Il. NJ.
4. Hunter Senator; Alexander II. Stephens, Vice
President, aud sundry other persons of less note.
EDWIN NJ. STANTON,