, 1866-05-14
THE COURT THAT TRIES JEFF.
DAVIS.

son 10 be Puni>hc<a-An nndlcneak tor
T'renaun AEuinsr JED. Davts 10 be
Filed. de-, &c.
From the Sew York Herald. 1o,h tnsk]
Fox1uraS 3ioSuoE, Nay s, 1856.
The United States Circuit enust for Virginia
has at length ipaugurated Its lahors. The
court was to have opcued yesterday, but
morning. At noon he opened the court at
Norfolk, In the old courtroom In The City
Hall, but quorum Of the Grand Jury not be-
Ing In attendance, 10 adjournment took place
till halfpast threo O'Clock. At the latter
session twenty OF the jury. TN excess Of tho
The following are the uames Of the jurors:
J. r, BteeloW. OF Alexandria; 1.aac Srowdeu, Of
Fairfax; John TAYLOR, Of Alexandria; g. Glllne-
~ ). Harmon, a G. W. Se~isnd, oi 1ie5aadla; F. +
DeeoraY. Geo. W. SINGLETON. John T. Daniels, John
4. Boramc. Wm;; G. Wshber; g: Z. cols. William
salass@ v aia@s j. budley j., bairnhsn - es s..
us, Of Richmond.
Tie Judge appointed NJ: Gilllnsham:: fore
man, and ihczcupon arr. Wn. II. Barry, the
Clerk, administered 10 them the usual ioaths
that Is, one oath not to uct through malice
against any person presented for Indictment,
md the other that they had not aided IN the
slightest degree the rebel cause In the late
war, and would support the Constitution OF
the United States. Then followed the Judges
CuaIEE5s IL IAe jury 2aps@ CleaIl4 ana lp0l1t-
edly were set forth the duties Of those to
whom 1t was addressed, as interpreted
by the Judge. After referring to the
absence Of Chief Justice Chase, upon whom he
would have greatly preferred h1d fallen the
task Of instructinE them in the line Of their
duties, he described the changes that had
tion Of justice, and the unusual crimes, such
is treason and disloyalty, they were now
compelled to nl1udicate upon. In this con-
nection he adytrted to his charge to the
Grand Jury preceding them, aud would not
repeat himself now, believing they all knew
tho sentiments he had then expressed. But
since then pence had been declared, and the
writ OF haoeas corpu* had been restored. Re-
Gently President johnson expressed desire
that not such suJordmntes as Wirz should be
brought to punishment Tor treason, hut the
head traitors. It was against these leading
offenders he would have them aet, and pun
ISL the principals and not the tools. 1t'had
been decided that such Offenders must
he tried in Virginia. at the North there had
been much complaint Of the tasdiness
shown IN bringing them to trial. The
deiny had been unavoidable. There was no
need Of further delay, aud he hoped the time
had come when 1t wonld be shown here that
treason was held Us crfme and meritinS the
highest punishment He urged that the mass
Of the people Of this State who sided with the
rebellion, and took up arms TO aid It, could
not be held accountable for treason. There
was no such general education aud intelli-
gcncc here as at the North. In proof Of this
Ee drew parallel between the First Congress
sioual District oil Virginia aud Rhode lslaud.
Though the former had given birth to four
Presidents Of the United States aud possessed
twice the acrea Of Rhode Island, It has not
one 1.-THE the wealth nnd intelligence. In n,ne-
paper published, md thscc.fourtls Of the
men and women could not read and write.
Ibis decree OF ignorance ho traced to
slavery. Those who had imposed upon the
creAu1ity md ignorance OF the masses In Iu-
citing them 10 rebellion against the Govern
NO obstnc}e now in the way Eo insisted, OF
bringing indictments against ali tue leaders in
this rebellion. the paEo. ed prisoners Us well as
the unpar0led. lie enjolned that they should
remember their duty in this regard aud faitl-
fully and fcarlessly discharge 1t. Their fidelity
might bring them enemies, might Lead to
their bcin. murdcroualy assaulted, rs had
been uumhcr OF the jury but he urged that
u}attyrlom, the martyrdom Of Lincoln, the
martyrdom oil Jesus Christ, for duty done,
was vastly preferable to a'ftw years added
life Of i5noble ease. Hc spoke ut length Of
same nights Of person and property Should be
accorded to them, aud the samt hearing and
defence IN court Us to white persons. The SUBJ
ject OF llsl0yA newspapers also came IN for
d portion Of his charge. 1t WIS his view that
they could do but little harm, Their circn1a-
tions were brief and influence limited. He
thought 1t best they should not be interfered
With by the courts or The military az was
now done. 1n conclusion, he referred to the
duties Of the jury In connection with Viola
Tons Of The rerenue and postal laws aud In
counte1fcliipg. The charge ended, the jury
were discharged till len o'clock tomorrow
morning. It is thought that the present
prnt ~ TIC uoas{nt.
or ten lnys. Judge Underwood announced
that he thought Justicc Chase would be in at
tendance to preside Ia the course OF q mouth.
1t Is confidently believed that this jury will
1rIng III true bills Of indictment against JEFF.
Davis and the most prominent leaders aud
war.
new iorK, May1s-The charge OF Judge I'm.
lrrwood 10 the Grand Jury Of Norfolk, which has
indlc.ed JeG. DAVIS Tor treason. Is largely Occn-
vInls, and The Decentralization consequent npon
bel'ou He calls h'tcntlon, also, TO the d,sloyul
nrs5s o. tie State ant add: while eonenrrtns e.
eommand. tie Department of virglnta, in
sns nsoRs!etsy% s% of ,. aesns og military poves
'wrcn liberty and iIccnt1ousness cren after mature
sss nSsss !. a. e s sy
Much Complain, as been nlllc By our iallo v-ci.i.
IN. tn The Sor.h Of the tnrdncts Of our: criminal
Eu-SSutln"-@ wv eAsHh II tClLEIt IN 1uH3tlod OF
fhe great. good md nasrsyred Lincoln. and in init
sattoa Of the Great Ruler or The Un-
verse, Whoee judgments and 7eiribations
nrc slow Eut sure. thst We should approach thfr
great question OF the punishment OF Tie aulhoss nf
the terrible and unprusoked rehcl.ion with ali pos-
ssolc delDeration, discrimination. cauilon
.ary blood aball bc added to the
torrcuts that have ALREADY soaked The soil Of cur
7tvuted stale. ThlS t;ouft entirely agreed with The
Preside Mt in BIZ otlen rcpeated decl lra1ion that
lFsnton fs ,hc greatest Of crimes, and ought to be
punished, and that ftls coEasdiy to punish the
allow the principals to escape '' We allo concur
IN the opinion thnt the leaders In the 1ate rebellion
ay he III nied either ttattors or pubiic enen1ier
nd fHpp ry,C>tn i1wh h-th