The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-05-02

Mon. Jefferson DnvAs--AAis TrcMts
nnent mnd His Rights.
The Rev, Mr.. Bagley, formerly q
missionary to Japan and India, is said
to have paid visit, few days ago,
to Mr.. Jefferson Davis, at Fortress
Monroe, for the purpose of inducing
him to ask the President for pardon,
We publish the following extract
from the letter stating the fact, with.
out vouching for its correctness but
in orderto crafty the desire of our
people to be placed in possession Of
any information whatever touching
their suffering fellow-co untryman:
Mr.. Bagley believed that if a regular
application should be made by Mr..
Davis, he could support it with a pc
tition presenting such an array of in
fiuential names, large proportion of
them from the Radical Republican
party, that the movement would be as
successful as that made by him in the
case of Gov. Vance, of North Carroll
ma. Mr. Davis, however, declined ac-
cepting the proposition. He said to
ask for pardon was confession of
guilt, and that such an application
would prejudice his case at the trial,
which he was given to understand was
close at hand. Mr.. Bagley, nothing
daunted with the i'll success he met
with at Fortress Monroe, went to
Washington and called ON the Presi-
dent to ascertain whether q pardon
would be granted to Jefferson Davis
without an application, if petitions
were presented of satisfactory char
acter. 1t is understood that Mr.. Bag
ley was equally unsuccessful at the
White House. In the exercise of the
pardoning power, the President has
been guided by an infexible rule
never to grant pardon on petitions,
unless such petitions were accompa-
MED by an application from the indi-
vidual seeking the executive clemency.
The Attorney Generals office has now
on file huge budget of petitions,
signed by hundreds of people, North
and South, praying for the release and
pardon of Jefferson Davis, all of which
are of no avail, owing to the before
mentioned rule.
We will add that if Mr. Davis was
The head of a Government foreign to
The Government of the United States,
t is inhuman and contrary to the prin
,iples of Public Law, to hold him in
orto subject him to trial
before the civil tribunals of the con-
Iuering country.
If on the other hand, it be true that
~ acknowledging his primary allegi
nee to his State and obeying the com
nand of the Government Of which it
ubsequently became part, he be guilty
# the crime Of treason imputed to
i'm, he is entitled 10y the laws of the
ountry to a "speedy trial." which,
trough his counsel, he has continued
0 demand; but which has been
enied him.
1t is in view of this shocking viola
on of justice and humanity, that
ven many of the Republican leaders
ave petitioned the President for his
slease on his own pledge of honor.
In this connection, we will add that
is believed the indictment for trea-
IN which has been found against him
ill be quashed on account Of gross
nperfections. The Act of. 1890, under
hich he is arraigned, declares that
no person or persons shall be perse- J
tied, tried or punished for treason or
her capital offence aforesaid, willful
urder or perjury excepted, unless
e Indictment for the same shall be ,,
und by a, grand jury within three
,ars after the treason or capital Of
nee aforesaid shall be done or COM Q
itted."
If the present indictment be quash-
new one must be found before |
pril 1868, at which time the war t
osed; or else trial will be prevent i
by this provision of the law. The 9
fusal of the Government to make q
e issue in time, will .be confession
at the attempt to coerce the South a
n States was not authorized by the 9
nstitution-that in withdrawing i
I'm the Union they exercised right !
sulting from the nature Of the COM d
ct, and that the Southern people 4
re not guilty of the crime of trea- t
n alleged against them.
The right of secession has been fully n
rendered under the changes in our a
IN Of Government, accomplished by o
. war; and no man in his senses, q
10 desires, the pacifcation of the
untry and the restoration of harmo- d
in its councils, will insist that it II
W exists. Indeed, the Southern h
ate Conventions abandoned the doc t.
ne in conformity to the plan of Re- h
Instruction prescribed by Mr.. John Y
n in 1865; and when we speak of es
tie Rights and of remedies y
intollerable oppression, Other than m
III as are purely revolutionary, we g
sh always to be understood as re as
ring to the past and its imperisha- iii
history. to
The truth is that nine-tenths of our NJ NJ
uthern people have gone astray on til