The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-29
The jon Davis Bail Bond-Seeds Of . Revo-

The jon Davis Bail Bosd-seeds OF . Revs-
lHtion.
Seven years ago, when Jefferson Davis and
his Southern colleagues arrogated to them
selves the right to withdraw from the con-
federation of States and break up the Union,
on the principle Of the absolute sovereignty
of the individual States and the natural right
of revolution, they found . certain set OF
coadjutors in the North who aided them in the
preliminary movements which produced the
bloody four years. war Of the rebellion. These
accessories before the fact were distinct from
the copperhead democracy whose political
afinities put them in direct sympathy with the
rebels, and induced the latter to count with
confidence upon their active cooperation in
an attempt upon the life Of the nation. The
assistance to which we allude came from .
different source-from Greeley, Chase and
Stanton, who were strongly identified with the
opponents of the South, and recognized as
leaders in the anti-slavery party of the
North. These men justified secession, and
their action was the more dangerous
because Of the services they had rendered in
the cause Of universal freedom, and on
account Of their prominence in the republican
party. While the democrats tremblingly hesi-
taied to fulfil the expectations they had held
out to the South, Greeley and his associates
openly concurred in and supported the South
ern arguments in favor Of the right of seces-
sion. They declared that If a majority Of the
people Of sovereign State decided 10 with
draw from the Union they had the power and
the right to do so, and protested against CON-
polling the allegiance Of any State by the
power Of the bayonet.
The secession they had justified came
upon us, and was followed by the terrible war
which involved so much loss and suffering upon
the nation. The people Of the loyal North
resolved that the government should not be
destroyed, and their voice was so unanimous
| that the radical Northern advocates Of the
right Of secession were compelled to give
way. The copperhead democracy, 1t is true,
continued 10 make feeble effort to para
lyze the power Of the North and to
aid the rebel arms; but their SYM
patty was unproductive Of any real benefit
to the Southern cause, and exhausted itself In
| q foolish declaration In the Chicago Conven-
ton that the war was failure. Greeley,
Chase and their associates became the fercest
denouncers OF treason, and insisted not only
on putting down the rebellion and preserving
the Union, but on debating to the army and
managing its campaigns. But now that the
war is over, instead Of acting on the principle
upon which IL was carried on-the right Of the
nation to crush q rebellion and punish the
traitors who created it--these same men have
associated themselves with very singular set
Of persons in securing the release Of Jef Davis
the representative head Of the whole rebellion
on straw bail. and his escape from punishment
Chase, as Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court
Of the United States, has quietly suffered the
great culprit to slip through his fingers, while
Greeley has united with Gerrit Smith, Ben
Wood, John Minor Bolts and others Ia curious
hotchpotch called bail bond, In order "
! effect the liberau yof The ex-leader Of the