Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-01-26

candidates, and natur more, and his cotton
seed are as good seed as ever I seed. I
hope he will succeed. B.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
MESSAGE FROM THE PREsIDENT-wnY HE
Is NOT TR1ED-CHARaEs ON WHICH he Is
| WAsH1NaToN, January lo.-The Presi-
dent to-day transmitted to the Senate a
message, in reply to resolution calling
upon him to inform that body upon what
charges Jefferson Davis is confined, and
why he is not brought to trial. The Pres
ident encloses reports from the Secretary
OF War and the Attorney-General, and at
the same time invites the attention of the
Senate to that portion of his annual mes.
sage which refers to Congress the question
connected with the holding of Circuit
Courts of the United States within the
districts where their authority has been in
terrupted.
WAR DEPARTMENT, January 4, 1865.
SIR,-In the annexed Senate resolution,
passed December 2lst, 1865, referred to
me by you for report, have the honor to
state-First, that Jefferson Davis was cap.
tured by United States troops, in the State
of Georgia, on or about the 10Th day of
May, 1865, and by order of this Depart
ment has been and now is confined iu For.
tress Monroe, to abide such action as 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
District. He is also charged with the crime
of melting the assassination Of Abraham
Lincoln, and with the murder of Union
prisoners of war by starvation and other
barbarous and cruel treatment towards
| them.
Th;rd-Tbe President, deeming it ex-
| pedient that Jefferson Davis should first be
put upon his trial before competent court
and jury. for the crime of treason, he was
advised by the law officer of the Govern
ment 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 Justice Of the Supreme Court,
who has held no court there since the ap-
prehension Of Davis, and who declines, for
an indefinite period, to hold any court
there. The matters above stated are, so
far as am informed, the reasons for hold
ing Jefferson Davis in confinement and
why he has not been put upon trial.
Fourth-Beside Jefferson Davis, the. fol-
lowing persons, who acted as officers of the
Rebel Government, are imprisoned, to wit j:
! Clement c. Clay, at Fortress Monroe,
charged, among other things, with treason,
with completely in the murder of Mr.. Lin
coin, and with organizing bands of pirates,
robbers and murderers in Canada, to burn
the cities and ravage the commerce and
coasts Of loyal States on the British from
tier; D. L. Yulee, at Fort Pulaski, charged
with treason while holding a seat in the
Senate of the United States, and with plot.
| ting to capture the forts and arsenaIs of
! the United States, and with inciting war
and rebellion against the Government; 8.
r. Mallory, at Fort Lafayette, charged
with treason. and with organizing and set>
ting on foot piratical expeditions against
the United States commerce and marine
on the high sess Other officers of the
so-called Confederate Government, arres.
ted and imprisoned, have been released on
parole to abide the action Of the Govern
ment in reference to their prosecution and
trial for alleged offences, on their applica-
tions for amnesty and pardon. Among
: these are g. "A. Trenholm, Secretary ol
the Treasury; John 4. Campbell, Assis-
ssnt Secretary OF, War; james A. Seddon,
, Secretary Of War, John, IL. Rsspap, Post.
msstsr. General B. NJ. T. Hun.sr, Senator
Alsxapdsr q. s.epbeny, yioS. Pfssiden5
ana sundsy other persons Of less note s. 81
c'.,., EDWIN il. STANTON. =. :,
i 80 s@ = secretary oG swat. 3