The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-05-15

trifled with by tnOsc WnS ASSUME W "
their rulers instead OF their servants, as
well as those Of monarchy. We cannot
properly characterize this high-handed
outrage, and we can only say that, regard
ing Il as preliminary to the final discharge
or pardon Of Davis, we should prefer TO
sec the farce ended at once. No one now
is foolish enough to believe that Davis will
ever meet his Just deserts and suffer the
penalties Of treason, and the loyal public
sentiment Of the country can receive
no further shock through any act con-
nected with him. We can only re-
greet now that this mockery Of legal
proceeding against him should have been
commenced at all. Far better that he
should have been Internationally released
than, by the pretence Of bringing him
before a judicial tribunal to answer for
his crimes, to bring the law into contempt,
and make the Government itself appear
ridiculous in the eyes Of the world. In
that case we might have obtained sort Of
admiration for unexampled magnanimity'
whereas now ii must seem that we have no
perception of the Nervousness OF the CRIME
with which Jefferson Davis stands charged.
We might have said to him: Your CRIME
transcends our power of adequate punish
mcnt. Your blood, though drawn dropby
drop under the most cruel instruments oil
torture. can never expiate the sufferlngs
con have caused. The EXTREMIST punish
ment provided by our code would be but
q mockery of the demands of retributive
Justice. But we pardon You, and leave you
IN answer for your sin to Cod" rms
might have been unwise, but it would az
Least have been less undignified than the
farce which has been enacted. By no con-
ce,vabIe course could we have done more
| to make treason respectable than mas Degh
done in the case of this arbitrator. lie
has been for two years " State prlsoner"
Of Fortress Monroe. Nothing in his I'M
nrisonment has served to suggest connec-
ton between him and ordinary felons.
He has been entertained sumptuously ;
visited by friends, admirers, and sympa-
tbizers: carefully attended by the best
pbysicians, who were paid out of the pub
lie treasury; permitted to receive daily
contributions to assure him of the devoted
love of his former adherents, and has been
throughout treated with consideration
that made him seem more like an honored
yuest of the nation than a criminal await
ing punishment. To cap the climax, the
moral sense of the nation has been lnsulted
by this pretence of legal proceeding
AGAINST him under the Indictment for trea-
son. There has been show OF meeting
the demands of the outraged law, and the
prisoner has been brought into court, and
released on giving bail in the amount OF
one hundred thousand dollars. me pro
ceedings are all regular, and invested with
due judicial solemnity. He has been llpe-
rated not by any extraordinary act OF ma
tional magnanimity, but according 10 que
form of law. The nation has thus formally
announced its official estimate of treason.
1t ranks Z among such petty offences
as fraud, embeZZlement, or counterfeit
ing. 1t is bailable. Its penalty may be
covered by the paltry sum of one hundred
thousand dollars. 1t is cheap. A man
need not be a millionaire to indulge in it
as an amusement. Verify, we live in
humanitarian age, and for tolerance the
American nation has never had rival.
Why, there is scarcely county in the
famine-stricken South so poor that it
would not cheerfully have raised this one
hundred thousand dollars, and after pre-
senting it as security, bid the prisoner go
and forfeit the bond, provided there were
any danger of his conviction and punish
ment.
OF course this whole matter was ar
ranged in Washington. 1t Is the WORK,
not of the judicial authorities at Rlch-
mond, but. of Andrew Johnson and his
legal adviser, in subordination to whom
these authorities were acting. 1t is an
other step in the Presidents great work OF
making treason odious; another example
of the regard he has for his oft-repeated
p]edpes. another painful reminder to the
neoule of the terrible calamity that fell
mon the nation when the President OF
tha;r choice was stricken down by the as
sassin's bullet.
From the Good natured Reporter OF forhey
Chronicle.
Tho title of one of Wendell Phillips's
host lectures" The South Triumphant
;S NO longer an idea of fancy. 1t had
most remarkable illustration in the United
States Circuit Court here to-day. the
shout that went up from the rebels when
Judge Underwood ordered the United
states Marshal to discharge the prisoner
was readily recognized by the boys in blue
as the old rebel yell heard on hundreds of
hattie. fields of the rebellion.
The last act Of the rebellion was played in
the courtroom to-day, with all the scenic
and stage effects of the theatre. need
not saw that Davis was the star, and that
he played his part perfectly. :
After the bail-bond was signed, Davis
commenced to hold levee in open court.
Greeley, Bolts, and other friends, stepped
up and congratulated him, and engaged in
what was evidently agreeable conversation.
Davis smiled all over-a grim, CHASTITY
smile, which seemed to say, 81 have con-
quered at last"
The United States troops who were on
guard along the square looked inetfably
mean. | am sure they felt ashamed of
themselves or of the Government they re-
present. lie was literally
surrounded by admirers, who consisted Of
southern rebels and northern fiunkeys ::
Misunderstanding was now in order, and such
welcome has seldom been witnessed.
Old men and young, matrons and maidens,
cried like children, for very joy, as they
clasped the hand of their delivered chief.
Davis is politician enough to know that
these demonstrations will not do him any
good at the North and with the Radicals
who virtually control the Government. He
told a friend that he was sorry for them,
and that he must get away from here
quietly as soon AZ possible.
Judge Underwood and District Attorney
Chandler are not to blame for to-day's
work. They were ready to try Davis.
William NJ. Evarts, however, who is Sc
wards particular friend, and who, in con-
nao+;on with AndraW Johnson Attorney