The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-05-24
PHARIsEEs HoWLING.

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this journal is howled at with vindic-
tiveness which is comforting so far as
it shows that the tongues of certain of
our friends have not yet cleaved to the
roofs of their mouths. Let that pass as
the idle wind which we heed not One
or two observations, however, may be
ventured in reference to matter which
seems to excite more than ordinary
interest.
Jefferson Davis was taken prisoner
two years since. He was arrested as an
assassin--and for his arrest the Gov
erment paid the sum of one hundred
thousand dollars. The President claim
ed to know in Offering this reward that
Mr.. Davis was the accomplice of Wilkes
Booth. He was thrown into dungeon,
and manacled, and held in harrassing
durance. AS an assassin, especially as
the assassin of Mr.. Lincoln, the rigor
and vigilance did not seem unnecessary,
and we were content. With all the
proofs the Administration claimed to
have, was it not wise, nay, was it not
due to the memory of the martyred
dead, that speedy justice should be visit
ed upon the great offender? Certainly, if
Jefferson Davis was concerned in the
assassination of Mr.. Lincoln, he was the
chief assassin. The wretcbes who were
so swiftly hanged on midsummer's
day, were the mere instruments in the
hands of the great criminal. The be-
lief induced Mr.. Davis's arrest, and the
payment of an enormous reward. What
came of the arresto With evidence of
his guilt in the possession of Mr.. Stanton
with hundred generals only too
happy to be assigned to court-martial
Iduty-with the courts open, able law
yers and district-attorneys duly COM
missioned, the great criminal was per-
mitted to remain in prison, and not
word was said ofjustice. For two years
this has continued, and now, at the end
of two years, the Government permits
him,an unpunished assassin, to be taken
from prison and released on bail. If
this is right now, when did it become
right? If, after all, the Government has
no evidence showing the completely of
of Davis and Booth, why was not the
charge withdrawn
Well, it was as traitor, and not as
an assassin, that Mr.. Davis was held,
and as such he should have been kept in
Jail. But why keephim in Jail? Treason
isa crime, and crime, according to
Mr.. johnson, that should be punished.
There is a lawful way of furnishing
men in this country. To keep man in
prison without trial is violation of
law, not obedience to It, Mr.. Davis
may have committed many crimes-so
many indeed that, according to one
bowling Pharisee, sit is Il disgrace and
I" to our country that he should ever be
"permitted to desecrate with his traitor
"foot-prints the soil of free State"
But how dove know that he committed
crimes There is but one way of knowing
1.-THE verdict of twelve trusty men.
Because Mr.. Davis is Il criminal, must
we also be criminal? Because he is
known tOhave committed treason, must
we also commit what is certainly moral
treason to the Constitution If it is
right to take Jefferson Davis, citizen,
and imprison him two years without
judge or jury, why not citizen
Thurlow Weed, or citizen Will
liam Cullen Bryant But it ispopular-
ly believed that Mr.. Davis is traitor,
and that, as II traitor, he 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 tried nor
has even an indictment been found, He
is at liberty, and so long as he is not
legally accused, we shall insist that he
remain at liberty, and if necessary we
shall find twenty hondsmen who will
: answer for his security until tried. The
principles thes same, whether ritappliest to
Davis or Weed, or oitizen Dermot arrest
ed for assault and battery. The law
has no prejudices-the Constitution no
popular" punishments.
! Certain citizens testify their appreci-
alton of the principle so conspicuously
violated in the case of Mr.. Davis by
becoming his bondsmen. Listen to the
Pharises bowling. 1t is popular to howl
; at Mr.. Davis, and henceall this loudly
echoing Indignation. What is justice
What islaw? What is the Constitution,
; What are the honor and dignity of thi'
nation? Mr.. Davis is q traitor, anC
: should be hanged! Well. johnson Isl
patriot, and why did he not hang him
The Pharisees who howl over Davi
/, huzza for johnson. So long as Davi
\ was fact, we opposed him. The Re
: bellion he led, the eslave system he cher
ished, the disunion he preached
we have warred upon. We wa
: upon them now, and shall continue t
d to do so until this land is land of uni
d versal freedom and impartial suffrage
g But Jefferson Davis is no longer a facI
:, He no longer represents armed treason
n He is our victim, our prisoner, tn
II creature of the laws, and one in who's
,r person the laws have for two years bee
t. dishonored. Against that injustice W
n have protested, against Injustice in an
Ie form, no matter how lofty or lowly tn
"A victim. This we do because we believ
l. il to be right. The Pharisees may how
5, Notwithstanding We have heard ther