New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-12
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

R.orr As the opinion of the House of Representatives
that said Davis should be held in custody prisoner ana
subjected TO trial. according to the laws OF tue anu'
There would seem to be no room for doubt as to the
correctness of one proposition here given, since
all parties are agreed upon it. The House says Davis
should be tried his counsel say exactly the same, aud
have been trying, ever since they were allowed to
communicate with him, to get his case before Judge
and Jury. Then why is he not tried Who stands in
the way
Judge Underwood held yesterday, on an application
for ball. that he was prisoner of war-thereDle' not
baiable. The fact being assumed the reason Is
conclusive. But how long may prisoner OF war
he held after the is officially declared at an end
Suppose one were held today as prisoner of war,
taken by Gen. Jackson at New-Oreans in 1916 would
that suffice to bar his beraion'
But how and when did Davis become prisoner of
war He was not arrested as public enemy, but
as a felon, officially charged in the face OF the
civilized world, with the louest, most execrable quit
that of having suborned assasslnS to murder IrcS-
dent Lincoln-a crime the basest and most cowardly
known to mankind. 1t was for this that $4,000
was offered and paid for his arrest And the Procama-
ton of Andrew johnson aud William II. Seward
offering this reward says his completely with Wilkes
Booth g. Co. is established "by evidence nop IL the
Bureau of military Justice" So there was no need Of
time to hunt it up.
Others charged with that horrible deed have been
arraigned. tried some of them long ago acquitted and
set at liberty; others executed and buried; Others
are now serving ont their terms as onvc'-prsoners
Why is this one alone still awaiting trial-not even
indicted j. the charge Of assassination abandoned
Then 1t should be retraced as publcyas it made.
! II a l. 81 ON
Can you imagine any credtable reason for leaving
this matter as it is
1t has been asserted that Davis is responsible for
the death by exposure and famine Of our cap ured
soldiers; and his official position gives pausbility to
the charge. Yet while Henry VITA miserable
wretch-a mere tool Of tools-was long ago ar
raigned tried convicted sentenced and hanged for this
crime-no charge has been officially preferred against
Davis So we presume none is to be.
For eight or ten months, he was not allowed to see
his wife or any member of his family, nor to commu-
ncate with counsel save by open letters sent through
the War Department. At length the embargo Is re-
Taxed. and he is simultaneously indicted for treason
Nov" say bis counsel eve snail get his case into
COURT" and they attend at the very first sitting
to call it on. The Judge has no scruple about
trying the is loyal, upright, and fearless
there is no business in the way-bu, the Govern
ment comes lmping in the second day and Is not
ready No preparation has been made on that side,
and the case has to 60 over!
Now if there be any reason for not trying the case
in Virginia it is perfectly trable in Tennessee There
is ample evidence that JEFF. Davis was at Murfreesboo
in 1862, welding and impelng the Rebel army of
Tennessee. Judge Trigg oftha district is thoroughly
loyal; he holds Court at Knoxville, among peo-
pie as overwhelmingly loyal as Vermont. Why has
not an indictment been found and tired in his Court
Who can say
1t has very bad look when a man officially
charged with the vilest crime known to men is not
even indicted therefor, but kept in close Jail over
year without knowing on what charge; and, when at
length an indictment is found against him for some
thing totally different be ca Mt get tried that, but
is still held in close jail without being allowed
chance to face his accusers. ne should not like this
sort Of treatment; and mean to insist on fair play
for friends and enemies alike
Mind here is no question Of mercy or lenity since
none has yet been solicited. A prisoner accused Of
heinous crimes asks to be tried; and his trial is shut
fled Off while he is kept in close jail good way on
his second year Meantime, the belief gains ground
that the whole business is sham-that there Is no
intention Of trying him-that he is only held ill
favorable time shall have come for letting him 90
and when his counsel offer ball. they told that he
Is not criminal, but prisoner Of war And in the
South it is currently proclaimed that the Government
dare not try him for treason lest IL be proved trial
that he was right and the Unonsts wrong in our late
struggle
The Government of the United States cannot afford
to be thus covering and fleeing before an alleged
criminal. 1t must come to the light. 1t must de-
clare on what charge he is held, for what crime he is
to be tried, aud when; why these hesitations, and
why his counsel have to be coaxing aud begging for
trial If he is to be tried at all he cannot be tried
too soon.
One year ago, Davis was the fallen chief of an
utterly PROSTATE Rebellion lie was unpopular at the
South and detesed at the North. 1t is very different
now. He has fully regained all the popularity he
ever had. Every ex-Rebel regards Davis suffering
for him; and he wins sympathy outside of their circle
Another year of Fortress Monroe might make him
popular at the North.
For our own part, and in behalf Of some Others who
believe the true sufficient bases Of Reconstruction to
be UNIVERSAL AMNESTY, IMPARTIAL SUFFRAGE-these
two, and no mOre-we demand that this prisoner of
War, or prisoner Of State, whatever he may be-
shall have the full legal rights secured 10 him by the
Constitution and laws of the land. Believing that
any illegal harshnesS TO which he may be exposed
tends TO engender new bitterness between North and
South and to indspose the latter to accept conditions
Of reconciliation which We hold best for each and ALL
we shall oppose it as at once a wrong and blum
der We have still open, serious controversy with
those who insist on reconstitutng our country on a