New-York tribune., 1867-05-15
PHAPTSEES HOUIfNG.

at with yindiCtyeuc55 which Is comforting
SO far as it shows that Che tongues of certain
of our friends have not yet Clcaved TO the roofs
of their mouths. Let that pass as the idle
wind which we heed not. One OF two oboerya-
tons, however. may be ventured in reference
70 a matter which seems to excite more than
ordinary interest
Jefferson Davis was taken prisoner two years
since He was arrested "a an assassin-and lor
his arrest the Government paid the sum OF
one hundred thousand dollars The President
claimed TO know in Offering this reward that
Mr.. Davis was the accomplicc of Wilkes
Booth. He was thrown into a dungeon, and
manaclod, and held in harrassing durance. Az
an assassin, especially as the assassin OF
Mr. Lincoln. this rigor and vigilance
did not seem unnecessary, and we were
content. With all the proofs the Ad-
ministration clpimcd to have. was 1t
not wise, nay. was it not due to the memory
of the martyred dead, that speedy justice
should be visited upon the great offender.
Certainly, if Jefferson Davis was concerned III
the assassination of Mr.. Lincoln, he was the
chief assassin The wretch who was shot the
four wretches who were so swiftly hanged one
midsummers day, were the mere instruments
i'm the hands of the great criminal. This be-
lief induced Mr. Davis's arrest and the pay
mcnt of an enormous reward What came OF
the arrest With evidence of his guilt in the
posses,ion of Mr.. StantOn-Witl hundred gen
eyals only TOO happy to be assigned
TO court-maI.ial duty with the courts
omen. able lawyers and district attorneys duly
commissioned, the great criminal was permitted
10 remain in prison, and not word was said
of Justice. For two years this has continued,
and now, at the end OF two years, the Govern
mcnt permits him, an unpunlShcd assaSSn 10
he taken from prison and released on bail. II
this is right now, when did it become rigltf
If, after oil, the Government has no evidence
showing the completely of Davis and Booth.
why was not the charge Withdrawn!
Well. it was "a a traitor, and not as IN assassin.
that Mr.. Davis was held, and rs such he should
have been kept in Jail. But why keep him IN
iail2 Treason is crime, and crime, according
TO Mr. johnson, that should be punished There
is a lawful way of furnishing men in this coun-
try. To keep man in prison without tHal Is
a violation of law, not obedience TO It, Mr.. DAVIS
may have committed many crimcs-so many
indeed that, according to one bowling Pharsee,
cit is q disgrace and rcproach TO our coun-
"try that he should ever he permitted
"to dc,ccratc with his traitor foot
prints the soil OF free State" But how DO
we know that he committed crimes There
is but one way of knowing 1.-THE verdict Of
twelve tr,l,ty men, Because Mr.. Davis is II
criminal must we also bc criminal Because
Inc is known 10 have committed treason. must
we also commit what is certainly moral trca-
son 10 the Constitution Ii it ia right to take
Jefferson Davis citizen, and mpIison him two
years without judge or jury, why not citizen
Thurlow Weed. OF citizen William Cul-
len Bryantl But it ia populdry beloved
that A,r. Davis is a traitor, and that,
as traitor, lc should long ago have
been hanged. Well it is also popularity
believed that if Mr.. Thurlow Weed had his
deserts he would long ago have been in Sing
Sing We have no legal knowledge Of the fact.
Mr.. Weed has never been arrested nor tr.ad
nor has even an indictment been found. He
i, at liberty, and so long a, he is not legally
accused we shall insist that lac remain at liberty,
and if necessary we shall find twenty bonds
men who will answer for his security until
tried The principle is the same, whether it
aDplic3 TO Davis or Weed, or citizen DermOt
arrested for assault and battery. The law has
no prcjudiccs-thc Constitution no popular
pumishmcnts.
Certain citizens testify their appreciation OF
the principle so conspicuously violated i'll the
case of Mr.. Davis by becoming his bondsmen.
Listen TO the Pharsccs howling. 1t is popular
to howl at Mr. Davis, and hence all this loudly
echoing Indignation. What is Justice What
is law? What is the Constitution What are
the honor and dignity Of this natioQ' Mr..
Davis is traitor and should be hanged!
Well, johnson is patriot and why did he not
hang himl The Phaiisecs who howl over
Davis huzza for johnson. So long "a Davis
was a fact, we opposed him. The Rebellion he
led, the slave system he cherished, the disunion
he preached, we have warred upon. We war
upon them now, and shall continue to do so
until this land is a land of universal freedom
and impartial suffrage. But Jefferson Davis is
no longer fact. He no longer represents
armed treason. He is 0ur victim, our prisoner,
the creature of the laws, and one in whose per-
son the laws have for two years been dis
honored. Against that injustice we have pro-
tested as we hope TO protest against injustice
in any form no matter how lofty or lowly the
victim. This we do because we believe it To
be right. The Pharisees may howl notwith
standing We have heard them many and
many a time before.
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We print on another page an essay on
90 0ur National ncht - pYnnnsiuU two mo1cs