The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-12-26
Thad. stevens on the Status of
left Davis.

Thad. stevens on the status OF
JeG. Davis.
The following is fuller report of Thad.
Stevens remarks on Mr.. LawTence's bill TO
hang JEFF Davis-for thrt was it's object
in the House Of RepreSentati yes on the Il tn
inst, than was forwarded hy telegraph:s
Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, obtaipe d
the floor and said: Mr.. Speaker, i iap-
preached with great distrust al bills Of this
kind, which are evidently brought forward
for the purpose of ascertafaing how we can
convict men whom we can not convict under
laws existing when the crimes were com
mitted. | do not believe that 1t becomes
this nation-l do not believe it is safe for
us to undertake to pass laws by which We
can or may be able Ia punish men, however
guilty, that could not be punished under
the laws when the crimes were committed.
Could we now change the Constitution so
as to change the place Of thetral oftraitors,
81 that the venue might be changed, aAd
that they should be tried by jurors sum
menea from another bailiwieE The Cons
titution and our laws provide very carefully
that. especial y in the case Of treason, the
party charged with that crime must be tried
at the place. where the overt act was commit
ted, and in district previously aScertained
BY law. and by Jury from that baiiwick.
| Now, any law which processes to change
that In any respect locks to me so much
! ike an atte,npt to commit jua; call Dlurder
| that have always been afraid to attempt it.
am afraid that the traitors in the South, if
! tried under our existing Constitution and
laws. will not one of them be convicted. |
should never attempt to try themfo treason
would try them as bcIgernts, under the
laws of nations and the laws OF war,
! Mr. Lawrence, OF Oho-We have no
reason to expect OF the Administration any
such trial
Mr. Stsvcns-I am stating that | would
do if | were the Administration. laugh
| ter Now, although wouli not diScour-
age trials for treason, | mention this to
show that | AN CONVINCED that none OF
| tn Sc traitors can ever be convicted OF trea-
son under our present Constitution and
laws; and yet would rather let every mau
Of tn nj 60 unruni,hea forever than to max c
a law now by which they could he punl, he'd.
| | think our Gpy rnmpnt would b" endang
erad in its tuu7. cXistance, III It's sense OF
| Justice, in lis character before the world, by
conduct Of thtt kind, more than it ", I'd
by enlu;ibe the ,vi' think the B'llah
| Government SUffr"d more from ito muiIur
Of Ru sell although i was done Ey mans
of a court CON len ning hin, than It wnuli
Fave dcno had Ee been suffered to r>canr.
1t " 3 by .iust such cln'r,YaucHs as this tha;
that iu,licill murder was Effected, and by
which the British Governm ant suffered
more ttan it wou have dona by the escape
of f,rty traitors. think our Government
had better be careful how it tamr crs with
| me r'i''F ~ ''' ''''''.i - nHH ~ :!
Ifea' 'hgio aS "t1i[S prrr,'y ol d pol''cal u
rem Y m p1'N y OF = Us "E't"T ~ re
M" He" ~ 49, n!1t 40 PAS. laws pccauH'
ntHef"EG me u 'tici"1'ntS III GHt cSc!pI'
ms processes !" DE a ii!l 10 ,haNe 1noeh
h',e the Pr3i"cHl''' o! ohe "i 'f''se ohGH,t'
Wiach ~ "li o'lefI 81 aii o. q lr'"i ~
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| hl%h rs can lnSS'D'y DC com ii'ttG'!' Sel
| th%fe are Gfh'Fa'lE S', nla'lF ehE'G'' III ne
crime OF treason any N f22Iei'A, tn'' th"r
must be some qH'e'lhS !a"' anu ~ my
Judgement tn2fe ouSnV 10 oe' Now' NV IL a2e,
hot !o'to" lht every u1t'o' ""i eHc'f''
VINO Is nat pr'Secutea Wl'n'n three years O
tn 1h' time, oi '' e2M"'SS!''' ol t''e o"onse'
ne stature h'v'f Fln3 III any cas', ,'"'eI,
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