Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-05-22
JEFF. DAVIS.

0LG y . DA v 1Ss
Two years ago, upon the 18th day o.
April, 1865, Abraham Lincoln met with an
untimely death, at the hands Of an assassin
On the following day, Andrew johnson was
sworn as President of the United States
and directly upon his Inauguration, large
amounts Of money were offered for the
arrest of JEFFERSON DAVIS, upon the
ground, as then 81. ed, Of completely in this
horrid murder. VErrERs' N DAVIS was
arrested in the meantimc the rewards
offered have been distributed to the several
persons participating i'll the arrest, and
DAVIS remained in prison, under the charge
Of assassinating the President of the United
States. Committees were appointed by
Congress to investigate the assassination
affair and eadearor-as they did-to find
some--no matter how Uncomfortable
dence against DAVIS as an a 81 sin. Al
failed.
DAVIS, during oil this time, two long
years, was confined in prison without single
legal effort being made to convict him Of
any crime either as an assassin or a traitor.
Two whole years he was made to suffer for
supposed offence against the law. We
say supposed offence, because 40 nan is
guilty of any wrong act in the eye Of the
law until he has been by competent evidence
before duly constituted and authorized
Court convicted, and SO declared by the
court upon tho solemn oaths of twelve
citizens Of the land. Hence JEFFERSON
DAVIS was made to suffer imprisonment for
no offence, barely upon the suspicion as de-
clared in the proclamation of ANDREW
JOHNSON in which he offered the great
money rewards for DAvls's arrest.
Finally upon the thirteenth day of May
1867, this prisoner is released upon giving
security in one hnad,ed thousand dollars for
his appearance in court at such time as the
court direct. Under the laws Of the land
every person is entitled to an early and
speedy trial according to law when confined
upon suspicion Of an offence.
Hon. Horace Greeley has incurred the
wrath Of many Of the Republican party by
making himself prominent in urging the
trial Or release of DAVIS. He has brought
down the wrath Of nearly every republican
sheet published in the country upon him
SELF We feel with reference to his conduct
that he-Greeley--h done no more than
was his duty. The laws were being most
shamefully outraged in the person Of DAVIS.
Greeley had, through his prominence, as a
journalist, aided in moulding the public
opinion against DAVIS and he for that reason
should be willing and ready to urge that
justice may be done under the law even to
JEFFERSON DAVIS. The Government had
for two years, after the rebellion had been
abandoned, confined him, who though dur
ing the contest cf war was an open enemy,
yet when the wsr was ended became merely
an individual citizen, and should not be
tortured to death without trial, and con-
vic,ion Of crime. We say therefore, that
the howl Of the Republican press, against
the Government and especially against
Greeley, is es foolish as it is yindi,t've.
Greeley only did that which, az acitizcn he
should feel obligated to de- The govern
ment only did that which it should have
done at the time DAVIS was arrested -.ad
init him to trial or release him. Upon the
other hand the Government, in the person
of the executive officers are, and should be
held, guilty Of anoffence against tho personal
liberty of her citizens never to be forgotten.
The improper punishment in such manner of
any one citizen Of faGovernmentis is a violation
Of the privileges to which all are entitled
and all should feel an equal interest.
The circumstances attending the release
of DAVIS are enough to make any citizen
who truly loves the freedom guaranteed to
the Constitution and law, sincerely mourn.
Few are willing to maintain that injustice
has been, done to q private individual, i'll
human, vindiotiye and grossly in violation
Of law; injustice committed in the name of
patriotism-much abused word --aua by the
executive officers Of the Government which
is announced to the world as the ''home Of
the oppressed, the eland Of the free" II
Justice is to be found in the punishment oi
offences before convictions, then is il well
called the "home Of the oppressed, y II
freedom consists in the unauthorized and
unlawful restriction of the right Of personal
liberty then is this the 'laud of the free. :
But if the laws of the land are to be viola
ted by irresponsible executive officers under
pleas Of, necessity, or ;of suspicion, as, ,ha,
been the case during the past six years
then had we better not atleast bo honest
and say TO the world, that this is the hom'
Of oppression and the land Of surts. M q.
- :. ? !. = s-;--------------- = k,,. a..
sD- The great grain growing regions q
Pennsylvania give cheering signs Of al