Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-23
graafnrd Reparter.
Towanda, Thursday, May 23, 1867.
HORACE GREELEY As JEFFERSON
DAVIS BAIL.

DAVIS BAIL.
1t is alleged that Horace Greeley,
of the Ne,c York Tribune, went to
Washington, and Richmond, for the
purpose of using his influence in IA
vor of the release of JEFF. Davis, and
proffering himself as security, in case
Davis was released. While Mr.. G.
had a perfect right to do this, SO far
as we are concerned, and an equal
right to make a fool of himself in
any other way, we trust he will take
good-naturedly any comments or
consequences, which this action pro-
vokes. For ourself, we always tho't
Davis should be hung, not because of
any spite, revengeful, or even unkind
feelings we entertain towards him,
but because public justice, and fu-
ture security demanded it. Aside
from the fact, that the pardoning and
releasing of all the leading rebels,
invites to another rebellion, it has a
tendency to demoralize the whole
public sentiment of the nation to-
wards the government. We hung
Mrs. Surratt and three other poor
wretches, who doubtless, all deserved
their fate but would the hellish plot
to murder Mr.. Lincoln have been
concected, and carried out, by these
parties, had it not been for Jefferson
Davis rebellion Was it not enter
ed into for the purpose of aiding the
rebellion, and as such, part of its
devilish work Who doubts this ?
Who does not know, that if, through
Booths assassin hand, the union had
been overthrown, that every member
of the conspiracy would have been
immortalized by the rebels p? Now,
the immediate cause of this conspir-
acy against the life of the President,
is released on bail, as prelude to
his final acquittal, while his poor
dupes, because they were poor, and
not half so criminal, were hanged
This lesson is before the country, and
does any one doubt that it lessons re-
spect for government that will hang
poor but acquit rich criminals of
crime During the war, many poor
people complained that their rela-
tives were wounded and killed, while
the general officers, and other promi.
nent ones escaped but after the
death of the President-when the
highest of the nation had fallen a
victim to the fell spirit of the re-
bellion, the complainers were recon-
ciled and so it would have been in
regard to the rebellion itself, if its
chief had been punished as he should
have been, and that he is released,
is probably more owing to Horace
Greeley than any other man in the
country. We have said that Mr.. G
had done as he pleased i'll the prem
ises, for a man may burn down a
house, or murder his neighbor, if he
chooses to abide the consequences tc
himself but we do object to mans
bringing odium upon his country
and weakening it shold upon the peo-
pie, by exposing it to ridicule and
censure. This be has done in this
business. Nor can he release him
self on the plea of magnanimity.-
Must his whims on this score be
gratifed at the expense of the ma
tion? And, we think he will be
greatly disappointed in the supposi
ton, which no doubt has led him on
that he will be applauded by the lib
eral minded of the land He has be
come the apoIogist of the creates
criminal of the age, and why? Not
because this criminal needed his as
sistance. For all the bail, and al
the money Davis could use were pro
ferred besides, and he could have Sc
cured it by his own means, had i
been needed. And if Davis had beer
poor and despised, would Greeley
have plead for his release, and spen
his own money in going to Richmond
to offer himself as surety? Who be
lieves this :? Why did he not go ant
help Mrs. Surratt, who really needed
help? His magnanimity was ou
then. He could get no notoriety
there. Oh, poor humanity, how it,
greatness leaks out through its veal
selfish promptings