The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-15
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

l
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT IN REGARD T
HIS TRIAL-THE REBELS IN PRISON AND TIL
REBELS SET FREE THE OPINION OF ArTOR
| NEY-dENERAL SPEED.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 10. The Presi-
dent to-day transmitted to the Senate ,
message in reply to the resolution call
Ing upon him to inform that body upon
what charges Jefferson Davis is confined
and why he is not brought to trial. The
President incloses report from the
Secretary Of War and the Attorney
General and at the same time invites
the attention of the Senate to that por-
ton of his annual message which refers
10 Congress the question connected with
the holding Of Circuit Courts of the
| United States within the districts where
their authority has been interrupted.
WAR DEPARTMENT
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 1885, (
Sir: In the annexed Senate resolu-
ton, passed Dec q, 1866, and referred
to me by you for report, have the
honor to state
FsrSts That Jefferson Davis was cap
tured by the United States troops i'm the
State OF Georgia, on or about the 10th
day Of May, 1865. and, by order Of this
department, has been and now is con
fined in Fortress Monroe to abide such
action as may be taken by the proper
authorities of the United States govern
ment.
Second. That he has not been ar
raigned upon any indictment or formal
charge Of crime, but has been indicted
for the crime of high treason by the
Grand Jury Of the District of Columbia,
which indictment Is now pending in the
Supreme Court of the said district. He
Is also charged with the crime of incit-
ing the assinatiOn Of Abraham Lincoln,
and with the murder Of Union prisoners
of war by starvation, and other barba-
rous and cruel treatment towards them.
Third. The President deeming it ex-
pedient that Jefferson Davis should first
be put upon his trial before competent
court and jury for the crime of treason,
he was advised by the law officer of the
government that the most proper place
for such trial was in the State of Vir.
ginia. That State is within the judicial
circuit assigned to the Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court, who has held no
court there since the apprehension of
Davis, and who declines for an indefi-
mite period to hold any court there. The
6atters above stated are so far as / am
informed, the reasons for holding Jeffer- |
son Davis in confinement, and why he
has not been brought to trial.
Fourth. Besides Jefferson Davis, the |
following persons, who acted as officers
of the rebel government, are imprison-
ed, to wit, Clement G. Clay, at Fortress
Monroe, charged among other things, J
with treason, with completely in the
murder of Mr.. Lincoln, and with orga-
MIXING bands Of pirates, robbers and
murderers in Canada to burn the cities
and ravage the commerce and coasts of
the loyal states, on the British frontier;
ID. i. Yulee, at Fort Pulaski, charged |
with treason while holding seat In the |
Senate of the United States, and with |
plotting to capture forts and arsenals of
the United States, and with melting |
war against the United States; s. r. |
at Fort Lafayette, charged
with treason, and with organizing and
setting on foot piratical expeditions
against the United States commerce and |
marine on the high seas. Other officers
Of the so-called confederate government,
arrested and imprisoned, have been re-
leased on parole to abide the action of
the government in reference to their
prosecution and trial for alleged offences
On their applications for amnesty and
pardon. Among these are G. A Tren-
lolm, Secretary of the Treasury, John
A. Campbell, Assistant Secretary of
War; James A Seldom, Secretary of
War; John H. Reagan, Postmaster
II. M. T. Hunter, Senator:
Alexander H. Stevens, Vice President,
md sundry other persons of less note.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.