The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-05-12
LOYALTY ANDTREASON.

OF these two words. Prentice says that a
raw-boned Kentuckian, in very boisterous
mood, declared that he felt uncommon loyal
and on being asked to further explain him
self, said, that he felt mighty like shooting
somebody or stealing something. This deini-
ton has considerable point about it, and as
we may suppose our Kentuckian innocent of
any acquaintance with Webster or Walker
we presume he gained his Interpretation of
the term, loyalty, from practical observation
of how loyal men generally showed their 10y
atty.
If loyalty, in this sense, means blind ador-
alton of, and subserviency to Thad. Stevens
and his party; if it means the dedication of
the odoriferous negro, and the admission of
his political, social, moral, and intellectual
equality with, if not his superiority to, the
white man, and his right to trample under
foot, with IMMUNITY, the decencies and re-
strictions of civilized society; if it means the
grossest and most uncaled for abuse of the
President and his policy, and the right of
every negro worshipping and Thad. Stevens
supporting fanatic, to plunder, murder, and
insult, every person who may have different
views; if this is the radicals definition of
Loyalty, why, we must own that we are not
loyal. But if to support the old Constitution
OF the United States, to reverence the laws, to
be willing to make almost any sacrifice to re-
store the Union to its pristine glory to en-
dorse the policy and action of President
johnson as the surest and speediest method
to reunion if to hate tyranny and to de-
nounce it, whether exercised by military
satraps or recommended by partizan and cor
rupt judges; if this be loyalty, we claim to be
loyal,-loyal to our country, loyal to the
Government, and loyal to ourselves.
As for what constitutes treason, it will per-
haps be more difficult to come TO definite
conclusion as to what may be held to be such
by our present masters.
We see that the late Grand Jury assembled
in Norfolk, under the superintendent of the
Infamous Underwood, have found a true bill
fs- sts~soH against Jefferson Davis. From the
composition OF the jury, SO far at least as re-
CARDS those selected from Norfolk, we very much
doubt II there is one member amongst them.
who could give any thing like a clear idea of
What he considered treason, or in what Mr..
Davis's treason consisted These men. for the
most part, are selected from amongst those
Loyal Leaguers whose tender mercies we
know SO well how to appreciate. and who
would willingly have condemned their fellow
citizens to suffer robbery, insult, and outrage
out of which they would hay made their own
base profit, had it not been for the speedy ar
rival OF otr open enemies, the Federal troops,
and the protection they accorded to us.
The impeachment of Jefferson Davis, the
chosen representative of eight millions of, then
free and intelligent white men; the man
whose stern and true appreciation of the oner-
GUS duties imposed upon him, cannot be
brought in question, and who stands before
the world as the embodiment of the great
question of State Rights, was a solemn act
and one which, for the dignity of the Govern
ment of the United States, should have been
initiated by far differently composed tribu-
nal than that which has just adjourned in this
city, and presided over by the bowling, sour
rilous, and fanatical judge, who is disgrace
to the Bench and the whole nation
IT Jefferson Davis is guilty of treason, SO
are mnety-hve out of every hundred of every
person In the Southern States, and if he is
TO be punished SO must all the others; if he is
guilty of treason so are they; and if wholesale
persecution is to be the order of the day, there
can be no reconstruction, no reunion, no
United States.
We are anxious that Mr.. Davis should
have his trial. but we wish it to be a fair one;
we want him tried by an impartial Jury and
just judge, and not by those who have al
ready IN their own minds, prejudged and de-
eided the case, or by men who have predeter-
mined to hang him, if they have the power.
1t is an old axiom in law, that every man
should be deemed innocent until proved to be
guilty. But in this case the reverse is the
truth If we are to form any opinion from
the tenor of the charge to the Grand Jurv
here, from the howlngs of some of the Radi-
cal press, and the expressed wishes of the
leaders of this party, Mr.. Davis is already
tried, found guilty, and condemned They
are like pack of half-starved hungry wolves,
bowling round sheep pen and only pre-
vented from Cutting themselves with blood,
and savagely tearing their victims to pieces,
by the watchfulness and fidelity of the trusty
Watchdog who is placed to defend the help
less victims.
Let the issue of the trial be what it NAV.
ira hone for tho Sala Of thu IL l. |