Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-05-17
PROCEEDINGS OF T'EEE COURT,
RELEASE ON BAIL.
GEN Az JOHCENG
DEPARTURE FOR CANADA,


deliver him TO the civil authorities.
They arrived On the steamer John Sylves-
ter and an immense throng were assembled
at the landing to manifest their respect and
sympathy for their late, beloved cheftain
He was accompanied by Mrs. Davis, his
brother, Burton n Harrison, his late Pri-
vate Secretary, DR.. Cooper and Col. Ould.
Several of his Richmond friends met him at
the landing. The party entered carriages
prepared for them and were driven through
the immense throng which lined the streets,
to the Spottswood Hotel, where rooms were
prepared fer himself and lady
| There was no guard with him, though an
escort Of cavalry was provided by Gen Scho-
field to prevent any disturbance, which it was
understood had been threatened by the col
ored people. There was no demonstration
as that was prohibited by the authorities, but
every one. as an eye witness described it to
us, was filled with emotion and as he passed
nearly every one raised his hat At the Ho-
tel an avenue was opened through the crowd
to the door Of the Hotel and as he stepped
out Of the carriage. voice uttered i" Hats
off Virginials (" and in an instant every head
was uncovered, and as he entered the Hotel.
the crowd slowly and quietly dispersed, and
our distinguished and beloved chieftan. dear
er to us now than ever, from his long i'm
prlsonment and suffering, was IN the quiet
possession of the same quarters assigned him
on his arrival in 1861 as the President of
the CoDfederacy. He was under no restraint.
there being not even as much as a sentinel
near the Hotel. lie is cheerful. and speaks
Of being much improved since leaving For
tress Monroe, and his step is as elastic and
bearing as d'snified asin days gone by, though
our informant says that his long confinement
tells on him and he locks much older than
when he last saw him in 1865, his hair and
beard having become very grey.
Arumber Of persons called on him Satur-
cay evening and he was the recipient of a
number Of presents, silent Indications of the
love, veneration and sympathy of an unfor-
tunate people, who once proudly claimed him
as their leader. and who feel that he has
borne long and unmerited punishment for
them.
On Monday morning at 20 minutes past
l o'clock, Gen. Burton produced Jefferson
Davis before the U. S Circuit Court for the
District OF Virginia, Judge Underwood pre-
siding, IN obedien ,e to the writ Of ho5eas
corpus served upon him.
The return of General Burton to the writ
was read and MIR. O'Connor said that it's
terms were such as to exclude all prior ques-
tons as to the legality of the imprisonment
to which MIR. Davis had been subjected. =
Ills discharge from that imprisonment was by
the paper complete, and superseded all in
curry lie had been advised, however, that
this court had instituted proceedings against
the prisoner, and contemplated further ac-
ton. Mr.. Davis and his counsel were here
to respond to any legal demand but it was
tor the government to take the lead in any
proposed action.
The Judge said that the return of Gencr-
al Burton was explicit and entirely satisfac-
tory, and proceeded to pass high eulogy on
that officer for his graceful and prompt ODE
dence to the law. He concluded by order
ing warrant of arrest to be served on Mr..
Davis under the indictment found against him
iii this Court in May, 1866
The Marshal proceeded Immediately to exc
cute the warrant. Advancing to Mr.. Davis
seat, he presented it to him. Mr.. Davis
courteously received it and handed it to Mr..
OConor.
General Burton then made some remarks.
mostly lnaudible, thanking the Judge for the
compliments passed upon his discharge of
DUTY.
| MIR. OConor then stated that his client
was in court and ready to conform to what
ever the court might order and the laws JUS
tlly The party implicated was not the one
to lead off in the proceedings, but he was
here ready to respond In view of the long
imprisonment to which his client had been
subjected, lie was naturally DESTROYS that
there should be no unnecessary delay. He
acknowledged the indictment and the service
of the warrant of arrest There was no tech
meal difficulty of that sort. He is now ready
to respond and willing to be called.
Mr.. Evarts rose, and briefly stated, in be-
half Of the Government, that it was not in
tended to enter upon the trial at this term
of the court.
Mr.. OConor said that that decision of the
Government throws upon the prisoners
counsel the duty Of presenting some facts and
views to the court Mr. Davis has been
imprisoned long time His Imprisonment
dates back to the 18th of April, 1865. He
has been under Indictment since the month
of May, 1866. Dir. Davis has been all
the time ready and anxious for a trial, and
particularly SO for the last twelve months.
He has ever been exceedingly anxious to
receive the advantages and enjoy the rights
so handsomely eulogized by the Judge in
his remarks to General Burton Mr.
O'Conor asked for his client just, equal,
fair and benign administration Of the laws
An appeal may fairly be made to the Court
to adopt mild, precautionary measures; for
all the pselminaries to trial are but precau-
tons to secure the presence of the accused
when the question of his guilt OF innocence
. comes fairly before the Court The Consti-
tuition to which we all profess allegiance,
and for which he hoped all felt reverence,
enjolns the speedy trial of accused persons
He did not pretend that speedy necessarily
means immediate tIia] Government is Ell.
titled to all necessary and reasonable delay
He did not complain of the delay which hac
taken place, or of that which was now con
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