Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-05-24

| try him. We affirmed this year ago, and
that we were right was proved yesterday,
wheD, a. ter the brief remarks of the coun-
sci, and few local forms, Mr.. Davis was
discharged by the court. He is now at lib
| erty to go where he pleases, and not at the
! South alone, but equally at the North, his
liberation will be hailed as a victory of
common sense.
From the New York Journal of Commerce.
Mr.. Davis is no longer to be regarded as
the man who, in his person, represents mil
lions of people. He simply stands indict-
ed for treason, his own personal crime, and
admitted to bail, which is placed on per-
sonal valuation, and not on the idea that
he represents all his old hackers in the
| field. Whether he will ever be called on
| to answer at the bar or whether he will GO
abroad and forfeit his bail, if lie should
happen to be called on. or what he will do,
is henceforth of small account That seu-
sation is pretty much ended, and we pass
on to others, which are sure to occupy us.
1t IS we'll for the country, well for the ad-
mln1stratlon, and well for all parties, that
the matter has of last taken the ordi-
nary, commonplace shape in which it now
stands.
DAVIS UNBOUND.
| From the Philadelphia Presidency.
| The curtain drops on another scene in
the Johson-Davis farce For two long
years Jefferson Davis, the acknowledged
head and front of the great rebellion, has
been held in prison solely by Andrew John
son, in virtue of his military authority as
commander -in-chief of the armies of the
United States. With the halting indecision
and lnfirmity OF purpose which has all
lalOng marked the course of the man who
now, by the Judgment of God, sits in tho
Presidential chair, Davis, when first ares
ted, was thrown into q cell, ironed, and
guarded with laughable caution, and final
ly, by the same ORDERS feasted in luXuriant
chambers, on oysters, soft-shell crabs and
sherry. Yesterday his production in court,
on legal writ, was evidently intended to
be q grand historic pageant The scenes
were elaborately arranged; the parts were
all carefully studied. From the moment
that Judge Underwood began to be so sd
perfluously complimentary to the military
officer in charge of the prisoner, the issue
of the application was evident to any man
who has any acquaintance with the proce-
dure of a courtroom. The mutual admi-
ration of the counsel on either side and the
court, speedily disclosed the fact that thele
would be no real argument or contest.
At last, after transferring his prisoner
from the military to the civil authority, the
he is not ready for trial, and Jefferson
Davis, who is committed to answer for the
destruction of millions of Government pro-
perty, and the loss of hundreds of thou
sands of lives, is admitted to bail.
The course of the Executive in the whole
matter has shown an utter lack of nerve to
do either right or wrong. 1t reflects only
: discredit and humiliation on the people.
It is evident that it would perhaps be in
expedient to try Mr.. Davis under the man
agement of the present Administraticn.-
His trial for treason might establish pre-
cedent the wrong way, and Andrew john
son will not likely push forward an honest
investigation of the facts attending the as
sassination of President Lincoln.
Jefferson DAVIS will be punished like
, Aaron Burr and Benedict Arnold by the
detestatOn and curses Of great people -
He will drop from sight, and be a stranger
in his own land--a man without Il country.