Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-06-08
jeff Davis.

Nothing has yet taken place in the way
of Furnishing this arch rebel that would
indicate purpose on the part of the Gov
eminent to make treasoi odious." This
parleying. hesitancy five may call it so. has
left a deep impression on the public mind
that our rulers do not truly believe that
treason is crime which should be punish
ed. If the same alacrity in the disposal
of the leading traitors. had been cvinced
on the part of the national authorities, that
in times past has been manifested in dis
posing of less noted agents of rebellion,
then the public would have been compara-
lively satisfied. Such has not been the
case. and therefore. go among loyal men.
and the first question asked will be, ''whcn
is jeff Davis to be tried and hung: The
question of guilt is clear in the minds of
the people; and the logical and inevitable
sequence to be hung by the neck until
he be dead is taken as a matter of course.
No one thing has done SO much to cast
distrust on the administration, then. as
this shilly-shallying course. in treating a
matter whereon the public conviction is so
profound and exacting.
The best thing that could have taken
place. for the present quiet and future
peace of the country. would have been to
have had Davis shot on the spot. and at
the instant of his capture. Had some
loyal bullet found Judgment in the brain
of him who for years was planning the
ruin of the country that had educated
him to profession. which WAS intended
to defend, and not to be practicel in ruin
ing it. then the public mind would have
been in measure quoted and satisfied
Woe he to the public man. or the men who
conuive at the release Of Davis without
any punishment for his great crimes. And
to-day there is greater distrHSt.of Presi-
dent johnson and Secretary Seward, on
account of the neglect to deal with Davis,
than there is for any one or all the veto
messages yet promulgated by the Presi-
dent. or the silly kilograms alleged to have
been written by the Premier. Or it may
Dt lilstt lilt i'Nl " iNA INV 'iiN hNNs
has only served to intensity the feeling
that the yetoeS were not the natural out
growth OF genuine loyalty. However
this may be. one thing is certain, and Com
crc.smen and Cabinet ministers will learn
it when they mingle again with the masses.
that nearly all the people in the states
where rebellion did not take root, demand
that jeff Davis shall be tried for treason
and hung. If this deed of justice had
taken place one year ago. we should have
had all our difficulties in regard to re-
construction settled on just basis before
this. and President johnson woul ! have
been As popular as any President could
desire to be. If We are asked by some
scniimcntali.t. do you believe in hang
ing: we answer. Eyes" in some cases,
and this is one of the cases. Davis melted
treason in the land. He deserted the flag
OF his country. He was the primary
cause. or rather. the active agent in max
ing half million OF desolate households
in the land. His active brain planned the
rebellion and organized the forces to de-
stroy the Union. Then. if ever 4 man
should be punished for crime he should
be- But we are satisfied he will not be. \
mock trial will be had no doubt, and
through some flaw in the law. or the in
dictment. or wish of some high public
functionary. he will get clear, aud sail for
a foreign cline, perhaps. How true it is,
that the meshes of the law catches all the
little rogues. but the big ones get clear.