New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-20
MIR. DAVIS.


Two propositions looking towards the speedy
trial of Mr. Davis have been introduced iueo w
Il .ouse Of Representatives at Washington. one "
these propositionsas made by Mr.. boutweli' o. Mae
.sachusetts, and the other by MIR. hayhoho' u ~"
York, They differ in the motives whch nase pio'
dneed them, as much as in the opJects WHICH tueS
are intended to accomplish. ut. boutweli . feso'
pt;ans instruct the Committee on the Jualclafy 70
;nanire whether any legislation is necessary to
bring Mr. Davis and Mr.. Clay to trial on the charge
If eomplicity in the assassination OF MI. Lincoln,
and also on the charge of treason. Mr.. Boutwell,
Knows that this charge is false-that it was the
offspring Of the heated passions and resentments
az the terrible moment when it originatsd--that ii
is disbeeved by every me.n in the world, that
both Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Clay are Just as innocent
and far more incapable than the radical leaders
themselves, of participation in spch criuae-bu
the question of guilt or innocence does NOS weigh
with him feather. What he vents is to get Mr.
Davis before military commission-a tribunal or
ganized to convict, and which will convict in spite
of law reason and EVIDENCE.
Mr.. Raymond's proposition is in the nature of {
protest against sthe vindiative and sanguinarJ
designs Of Mr.. Boatwell, and is, at the same time
request to the President to take speedy steps FOL
the trial of Mr.. Bavs, upon the charge of treason
in the State of Virginia, or in other district
in which he may legally be liablefor trial" Mr..
Raymond,s resolutions were referred to the Jndi-
| ciary Committee, which we presume, will make
| report at an early day. =
Of the result Of sucl, trial as that proposed by
Mr.. Raymond-in fact the only kind OF trial con-
sistent with law, with the principles Of pubic lib
Al. t7,aa
| be but little apprehension Inc lmpossiHnty 81
/ making out a case of even teehhlcal treason
/ against Mr.. Davis, and his consequent escape from
their hands is the reason that the RADICALS oppose
legal trial, and wish to eonsign their victim TO
/ the bloody code of military commission. More
| over they have the sagacty to foresee the damage
which their cause would receive by risking in the
forum of reason and law, the victory which they had
gained by force Of arms. ChiefJustce Chase, whose
circuit embraces the State of Virginia, declared
that he was unwilling to hold court in that State
until Congress should have g an opportunity &c
consider and act on the whole subject Of restera
ton of the broken relations of that State with tbs
nation and the supersedure therein of the military
by the civil administration" Thus the chief jus
tce defined the conflict between the executive ant
the legislative branches of the government. Unit
he recedes em his position there seems to be ittls
hope that Mr.. Davis will be tried. The Presiden
may release him on parole, in anticipation Of {
future resumption of their legitimate functions b,
all the departments of the government; bu
that he will ever consent to bring him before
q military commission we have no reason tt
believe. The release of Mr.. Clay, on parole, il
an indication that President johnson does moi
intend to yield to the clamor of the radicals OIL
this point.