The national Republican., 1867-05-15
THE RELEASE OF JEFFERSON
DAVIS.

DANIb.
The release of this distinguished leader
Of the whilom southern confederacy Is
now known throughout the country. 1t
will be variously received, either with salts
faction or regret Men will form their
opinions respecting this deed in accordance
with their convictions, prejudices, sense ol
right and justice. Not few believe
that he should be tried, convicted, and
punished that his crime is hagicious one,
and merits the utmost penalty Of the law.
This class Of persons would have had him
tried as coon as possible after his cap
ture, even as the Government tried WIRE
and they would have had visited upon him
condign punishment. They say that an ex-
ample should have been made OF his case.
Moreover, it is contended that public justice
required the severest penalty Of the laws
to be meted out to him.
Such views have been and are expressed.
1t is we'll, perhaps, to say in this con-
nection that his release does not preclude
the possibility Of ultimate trial and con-
viction. Indeed, it is highly probable
that this demand for trial which is 80
stoutly contended for by this very class
will be had when the court meets in No
yember. We know it is insisted that this
is the end, and that Mr.. DAVIS will never
be brought to trial. We see no particular
indications that induce us to embrace such
a conclusion at this time. 1t was GER
tainly quite time that he were brought to
trial. He had been imprisoned for two
full years, contrary to all usage in this
country at least, and in contravention Of
the Constitution. Itwcre high time, there
fore, that the necessary steps we're taken
to bring him to trial. The offence, &C
cording to an act Of Congress, passed in
1862, is q bailable ono. 1t was fit ant
proper, therefore, that the court should
accept bail and fix the time OF trial to suit
its convenience, and to meet the wishes Of
the prisoner and his counsel. 1t does not
follow because Mr.. DAVIS has been admit
ted to bail and his trial postponed to fu-
ture day, that it will not take place.
In what we say above, that Mr.. DAVIS
was confined in prison in contravention of
the Constitution, we would not be under
stood as rejecting upon the Government.
t. tho s.-;-,;re -tAIs- Of the country this
was perhaps unavoidable. Whatever rea
sons may have compelled the Government
to this course in the past. 4 had become
evident that this delay Gould no longer be
justified; hence Jp.Ige UNDERwooD issued
his writ Of hobc.ds corpus. Mr.. DAVIS was
taken from the military custody by which
he had. peen held, and brought into conrt
e..ld released upon bail. We can see
nothing wrong in these proceedings, nor
do we see anything to justify the conclu,
sion that JEFFERSON DAVIS Is to escape
fair and impartial trial,
Some persons are very painfully exor-
cised because Of the manifest sympathy
and attention which he received from
the people Of Richmond, and from those
now there from different parts Of the
country. This is the most natural mani
festation in the world. All men have
their friends and sympathizers, and it
would have been the strangest thing under
the sun If man so situated as Mr.. DAVIS,
and one so prominently connected with
great tmovement-which movement though
wrong was believed in by thousands
could have passed quietly in the midst Of q
community which were to q man once
identified with him in the same great
struggle, without receiving any outward
demonstrations Of sympathy and regard.
And perhaps the very fact that his and
their cause was lost added intensity to
those manifest exhibitions of sympathy and
regard.
We ought not certainly to complain.
A loyal people and victorious Govern
ment can afford to be magnanimous and
forgiving So long as nothing more than
natural sympathy and personal regard is
manifested by these demonstrations, it is
not worth while TO vex ourselves very
much about them anyway. We do not
doubt that as Mr., DAVIS comes North, and
that even in New York city, he will be
warmly greeted. His reception in that
great commercial centre will amount
douotless to an impressive ovation. Much
OF these demonstrations will be svco.
phantic and toadyish no doubt; for the
men.worshippers and aunkies are not
all dead. We do not say that all who
greet Mr.. DAVIS in the North belong to
this class of persons far from it. Many
OF them sympathized with him oil through
the rebellion; it is natural therefore that
'hey should condole with him over the lost
cause We make no complaints.