The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-15
PUARISEE,S HOWTJNC

Tne release OF Mr.. Davis affords to some OF our
contemporaries pTeteXt for malignant vitu-
peration. The editor of this journal is howIeU
at with Vindlctiveness which is comforting so
lar as IL shows that the tongues of certain of
friends have not Cleaved TO the roofs of their
mouths. Let that pass as the idle wind which
we heed not, One or two observations how.
ever, may be Ventured in reference to q matter
Which seems to excite more than ordinary
interest.
since. He was arrested as an assasstn-and for
his arr est the Government paid the sum of
one hundred thousand dollars. The President
claimed to know, in offering this reward, that
Mr. Davis was the accOmplice of wilkes
Booth He was thrown into dungeon, and
manacled, and held IN harasstng durance.
As an assassin, especially as the assassin
of MIR. Loncoln, this rigor and vigilance
did not seem unnecessary, and we were
content. With all the proofs the Administra-
ton claimed to have, was it Do OF wise, nay, was
1t not due to the memory OF the martyred dead,
that speedy justice should be visited upon the
great offender? Certainly, If Jefferson Davis was
concerned in the assassination OF Mr. Lincoln
he was the chief assassin. The wretch who was
shot, the four wretches who were swiftly
hanged one midsummer's day, were the mere
Instruments IN the hands of the great criminal.
This belief induced Mr. Davis arrest, and the
payment of an enormous reward Whatcame of
the arrest? With evidence Uf his guilt In the
posse sSion of Mr.. Stanton-wiJh a hundred
generals only TOO happy to be assigned to court
martial duty-wth the courts open, able law
yeIs and district ATTORNEYS duty commits
stoned, the great criminal was permitted to
remain In prison, anu not word was said of
justice. For two years tnis has continued and
permits him, an unpuniShed assassin, TO be
taken from prison and released ON bail. If this
Ia right now, when did it become right? If,
after all, the Government has no evidence
showing the comp icty of Davis and Booth,
why was not the charge withdrawn?
Well, ii was as a traitor, and not as an asSas-
sin, that Mr.. Davis was neld, and as SUCH he
should nave been kept in jail But why keep
him in Jail? Treason is "a crime and u crime
according to Mr.. Johnson, thai should be pun
ished. There is u lawful way of Furnishing men
in this country. 10 keep a man in prison
frf,1 10 F1uTig - .Nnlf
ence 10 ii. Mr. Davis may have committed
many crimes-so many, indeed, that, accord
and reproach to our country that he should ever
be permitted to desecrate with h,s traitor foot
we know that he committed Grim, S? There
is but one way of knowing 1.-THE verdict OF
twelve iruSty men Because S mr.; DAyls eo,.a Is
ne is known to have committed treason, must
we also commit what is certainly moral treason
to the Constitution? If IT is right to take
jefferson Davis, citizen, and imprison HIM two
years without judge or jury. why not cttizen
len BrvantP Int it is popularly believed
that Mr.. Davis is a traitor, and that,
as a traitor, he should long ago have been
if Mi. Thurlow Weed had mis- deserts he would
long ago have been in Sing Sing. We have no
legal knowledge of the fact Mr.. Weed has
never been arrested nor tried; nor has even an
Indictment been found. He is at liberty, and
so long as he is not legally accused we shall
insist that he remain at liberty, and If neceS,
sary we shall find twenty bondsmen who will
answer for his security until tried The prin-
ciple is the same, whether it applies to Davis or
Weed, or citizen Dermot arrested for assault
and battery. The law has no prejudices-the
Constitution no popular" punishments.
Certain citizens testify their appreciation OF
the principles so consplcuously violated in the
case of MIR. Davis by becoming his bondsmen.
Listen TO the Pharisees bowling. II is popular
to howl at Mr. Davis, and hence all this loudly
echoing Indignation. What is justice? What
is law? What is the Constitution? What are
the honor and dignity Of this nation" Mr.
Davis is a traitor and should be hanged !!
Well, johnson is a patriot, and why did he not
hang him? The Pnarisees VINO howl over
Davis huZza for Johnson. So long as Davis
was fact, we opposed him. The Rebellion he
led the slave system he cherished, the disunion
he preached. we have warred upon. We war
upon them now, and shall continue 10 DO so
until this land is a land OF universal freedom
and impartial suffrage. But Jefferson Davis Is
no longer fact. He no longer represents
armed treason. He is our victim, our prisoner,
the creature of the laws, and one in whose per
son the laws have for TWO years been dis
hunored Against that injustice we have pro-
tested, as we hope to protest against injustice
in any form, no matter how lofty or lowly the
victim. This we do because we believe II TO be
right The PhaTisees may howl notwithstand,
ing. We have heard from them many ana
many time before.-N T. Tribune o'ddy.