Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-05-16

Horace Greeley, AugustnsS ScheII,
o1t and Others His BOndsmen in the
Sum of One Hundred Thousa md
s's DOIlars-NIr. Davis ON His Way
1 to New York.
-si,sh by telegraph to the New York Tribune.I
RICHMOND, May 13.-At last the United
States Government has rid itself of its ele-
phant, and Mr.. jefferson Davis, for the
first time in many month, feels himself a
free man.. He can appropriately feel so,
for no one who witnessed to-day's pro-
ceedings in the United States Supreme
Court will deny but that, to all intents and
p purposes, the ex-rebel chief is as free from
any further molestation on the part of the
Government as any loyalist in the North.
Consequently the people of Richmond, and
for that matter the South, because the same
sentiment which exists in this city does
not die out beyond its precincts, feel as if
the agony was over, and that once more
they are indebted to the clemency and
ment which they endeavored to destroy.
The, opinion was almost universal last
evening that Mr.. Davis would be sent to-
day to she Libby or some other prison, but
long before the Court met this morning it
was easily observable that this feeling had
vanished, and that their chief would
soon be restored to them. The Court was
to meet at eleven O'Clock, but long before
that hour the street in front of the Spots
wood Hotel was crowded, so much so that
it took squad of cavalry and policemen to
I keep the passage-way open for carriages
and foot passengers. This crowd was
mostly composed, of negroes, wishing to
crafty their curiosity by seeing the pris-
oner; yet there was a number of white
citizens who wanted to crafty like desire,
and at the same time do homage to fallen
chieftain. The arrangements for transfer
ring the prisoner from the hotel were so
directly opposite to those made for the car
rying of the same person from the steam
. boat TO the hotel on Saturday, that they
were highly commendable. On Saturday
everything was done unintentionally, no
doubt, which would attract attention to the
prisoner and give a chance to the people to
render him that tribute which his position
entitled him to. To-day the same persons
were anxious to do the same thing over
again, and they were not at all satisfied
when it was told around the crowd that
Mr.. Davis had left by rear entrance, and
was at that time at the door of the Court
Room, some three blocks distant. Hence the
crowd rushed to the latter building, but
they were disappointed, for the prisoner
was transferred from the carriage to the
court room in less time than it takes to re-
cord the fact. A battalion of infantry and
squad of policemen had been on the
ground, and had kept the passage way open
from the street to the entrance of the Gus
tom House, in which the Court was held.
The crowd around this building was larger
than around the hotel Not only was the
street pretty we'll thronged, but the Capt.
tol grounds in front of it contained many
people. AS Mr.. Davis was taken in, most
of the whites raised their hats as mark of
. respect, but beyond this nothing was said
or done. When Mr.. Davis entered the
Court it was within a few seconds OF 11115
o'clock, and he found there crowd of be-
tween three and four hundred people,
white and colored, of both sexes. The
prisoner was seated within the box on the
/ left7hand side of the Judge, with General
Burton on his right and Deputy Marshal
Duncan on his left. at about the same
time Judge Underwood entered. The
court room then presented a curious scene..
To the right of the Judge sat the Grand
Jury, composed of both whites and blacks,
aud containing such prominent citizens as
John Minor Bolts and Joseph Segar. I'm
mediately in front was the table for the
counsel and distinguished persons, and
around 1t sat such men as Charles O'Conor,
William b. Reed, George Shea, William NJ
Evarts, District Attorney Chandler, and
his assistant, j. T. Hennessey, Governor
Pierpont, Horace Greeley, Augustus Schell,
James Lyons, a distinguished lawyer of
Virginia, Judge Ould, aud others. On the
left were members of the press and citi-
zens generally. Many of the latter were
distinguished gentlemen. Generals Fitz-
hugh Lee and lmboden, of cavalry fame,
Judge Meredith, Harry Gilmor, and others
were scattered among the audience and at
tracted attention. When Mr.. Davis was
brought in of course all eyes were turned
toward him, but he paid not the slightest
attention. He was dressed in a plain white
and black plaid suit, with sack coat, wore
green kid gloves, and carried cane. The
Gnnrt hu hal WI
Judge Underwood said that because of the
presence of so many of the nations Defend
ers, the usual preliminary routine would
be dispensed with, and he wonld instantly
hear from General Burton. The General
then took the prisoner to the vicinity of
the bar, and handed to Charles O'Conor the
order of President johnson, directing
him to surrender the prisoner. Mr..
O'Conor then read it, and moved that
the Court discharge the prisoner. He
then handed the papers to District Attor-
ney Chandler, who, after examining them,
sent them TO Judge Underwood. The Judge
stated that he found the papers correct, and
paid tlattering compliment to Gen. Bur-
ton, who, he said, acted with as much wis
dom as he displayed upon the battlefield
in putting down treason the authority hold
ing the prisoner being insufficient when
civil law was in force. The Judge ordered
that the General be released from all furth-
diately presented the Norfolk Indictment to
the prisoner, and SAID that under that he
now arrested him. Mr.. Davis took the pa
per, and handed it to Mr.. O'Conor, who,
after reading it and finding it correct. said
that the counsel of Mr.. Davis were ready
for trial, and that they hoped there would
be no unusual delay. Mr.. Davis had been
for a long time anxions for trial, but, on
account of the perilous condition of the
country, that had been denied him, and he,
therefore, without, wishing to crowd the
Government Immediately to a trial,
would ask that an early day be
set for it. Mr.. Evarts, in be-
not now ready for trial, and then. named
Nov, as day they would be. This was
agreed to by Mr.. O'Conor. Then came up
the question of disposition of the prison.
er, ana in this more interest was centered
than in anything else. All kinds of sto-
ries had been circulating around Richmond
about the alleged vindictiveness of Judge
Underwood, that he would decide, no mat
teri how the lawyers argued, that the crime
of treason was not a bailable offenSe and
that consequently he would refuse to re-
lease Mr.. Davis, and he would be treated
d much the reverse to what the general Opin-
ion was. This news did not travel very
fast, for fully three-fourths of those in the
Court did not know what would be the
course of the authorities until Judge Un-
derwood said he was perfectly willing to
take bail. Very little discussion was had
on the point, Mr.. O'Conor taking for grant
ed that it was conceded that it was perfect
lylegitimate in asking that sum might be
named. He complimented General Burton
for the care taken of Mr.. Davis. Mr.. Evarts
and Mr.. Chandler did not oppose the
proposition of Mr.. O'Conor, but said that
they hoped that the sum would not be ex-|
cessive. Mr.. Chandler proposed $1,000 900.
The Court agreed upon that amount, but
not before Mr.. Chandler said he would in
r:- hot o.,n-l,nlE nEt