Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-05-24
The Farce Ended.

illustrious prisoner of Fortress Mon
roche who has made thousands bend
to his imperious will, is free to roam
at pleasure, plot treason or do such
other mischief as suits him best, and
no one to modest or say him nay
Two years ago the government gave
100000 for his arrest; to-day it ex-
acts like sum as pledge that he
shall be forthcoming aohen it is ready
to try him. What nonsense is this !!
Why not pardon him at once and thus
end scene long since become dis
gushing to sane minds, from the silly
pretexts of the main actors in the
play? He might as well be pardoned
as to be out on bail for aught the
courts may want of him. Ehis is as
the people no,o understand the matter,
as it is no doubt the understanding
between the high contracting parties,
Andrew Johnson, his prime minister
Seward, on the one hand, with Davis
and counsel Conner on the other
Notwithstanding the immense amount
Of shilly-shallying that has taken place
since his incarceration, there are some
who will be disappointed at this result.
We are not surprised in the least
We had expected it before. Witnes-
sing what we have since the death of
the lamented Lincoln, in the person of
his successor, we have been brought
to believe that nothing is too base for
him to do; and so viewing him we
have long looked upon the liberation
Of Davis as thing certain; or going
through the mockery of trial to meet
an unconditional pardon from his fel-
low at the executive mansion. Nol
do we suppose president Johnson to
be the only person at fault; there are
no doubt scores of others as blame.
worthy as he, and we fear that many
high as leaders in the republican par
ty should bear a part of the odium.-
This however in no degree softens the
transaction with us; it rather serves
to aggravate the offence in our view
1t was a thing rather to be expected
that democrats of the genus copper.
head, having a "fellow feeling
towards their brethren in arms who
were battling against the federal for
ces, would side with their fallen chief
But from out-and-out republicans who
had fought secession through, we had
hoped for better things.
1t is not so much that Davis has
been set at liberty that we complain
as the refusal Of the government tc
try him. If he has done nothing wor
thy of death it is right he should &C
forth free man, but if he be guilty
OF the great crime of treason and of
the many unutterable woes that have
been brought upon the country, it is q
crime against christianity, civilization
and humanity, to let him go unpunish
cd. If he be guilty or innocent of
the charges brought, let him be triet
by jury of his peers who, with the
oath of God upon their lips should sc
pronounce as to do no violence to theil
consciences, and no injustice to the
prisoner. But to release such a vii
lain as he without trial is an outrage
against every man and woman who
took part in putting down his rebel
lion. We say lis rebellion, for nc
man living or dead done so much as
he towards melting the south to revolt
and keeping the revolt alive after i
had become general and wide spread
He was the great central pivot around
which revolved its generals, foreign
ministers and the lesser lights of the
confederacy. His word was law; hi:
nod decree. But for his fendisl
cruelty Andersonville had been un
known, Belle Isle would never be per-
petuated as an abode Of horrors, nol
yet Libby prison be mentioned as the
creation of demons. Had he beer
less ambitious, less cruel, and less de
termined, the war would have ended
months sooner than it did. He held
out against hope, against reason, and
against fate, clinging to the, to him
grand idea of an independent slave
neutrality-suspicious. over freedom
In America and q menace to liberty
throughout the world. Still this man
this representative of Deifed treason
Is again loose. Satan is unbound. and
thereat all pandemonium rejoices and
every Shiny copperhead on earth hiss
es glad welcome.
What farce is this that has been
enacting before the American people
since his Imprisonment How often
have we heard it through the public
prints that Davis was very soon to be
tried at sue! time not then far dis.
tant, and then for certain reasons il
has been put little further off; now
ne was to be tried before a military