The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-05-15
AT LAST.

Whatever might be the legislation of Con-
gress, however ready the obedience rendered
to that legislation by the Southern States, the
public mind of the South could scarcely have
looked forward with confidence to the work Of
| reconstruction while JEFFERSON DAVIS was
held prisoner of war in Fortress Monroe
| For as long as that Imprisonment continued
there was not one man who had participated in
the late civil contest who was not at any mo-
ment liable to similar arrest. 1t is true that,
practically, he might be permitted to 60 freely
about his business, and might safely calculate
upon public policy of forbearance in his indi-
vidual case. It is true that one after another
of the eminent men who had been imprisoned
were released but only SO much the more dis
tinctly did Mr.. DAVIS become the representa-
tive of the south-a whole people were fettered
in his chains and confined in his dungeon.
When, therefore, on last Monday, he was de-
livered by the military authorities into the Gus
tody Of the civil Courts, when he stood as
freeman before jury of his countrymen to de-
fend his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor.
from an open charge, protected and aided by
the principles of that common law which in all
the history of our race has been sure refuge
against the pursuers of blood, then indeed we
might rejoice that for us the first sad chapter
in all civil revolutions had closed. Now indeed
the day of vengeance has passed, and whatever
justice may require it will be justice openly
and fairly administered, without fear and with
out favor.
We think it, however, scarcely probable that
Mr.. DAVIS will be put upon his trial for trea-
son. 1t is now fully two years since the word
of peace went forth to all this ''tortured
land'-two years, since the yietors in this
long and bloody strife, amid the triumphant
exultation Of saved and grateful people,
marched proudly back through crowded high
ways and illuminated cities, to replace, in the
National Capital, the banner which victory
had glorifed-and the vanquished returned
sadly and wearily by desolated fields and
burning ruins to homes in which the conqueror
had left nothing sacred but sorrow. But in
these years victory and defeat have both been
teaching the lessons they always teach. Not
completely yet, but surely and slowly is the
American mind learning that in their great
civil contest they have only been repeating the
| experience of other and older nations. That it
seems to be one of the laws of national life that
no people arrive at maturity without civil war,
that this war was inevitable, and that
| earnest and patriotic men might well hold con-
rictions as honest as they were different, and
be constrained to the discharge Of duties as
strong as they were conflicting.
Until the people of the North reach this con-
viction they will not fully have appreciated the
magnitude of their own achievement. The
historian who should to-day talk Of CROMWELL
or BoNApARTE as traitors, would be considered
by the world, and justly, as very affected
fool. That the royalists, at the Restoration,
treated with ignominy the remains of the great
Protector-that the legitimists should have
| executed Marshal NET-is natural enough, be-
cause human passion, which executes Gods
will, very seldom understands Gods purpose.
But what Englishman or Frenchman, rejoicing
in the glory and power of his country, would
refer to either act Of cruel injustice as making
treason odious. In this country as in those,
two great parties, holding different views of
the character of their Governments, reached,
as all such parties will do, after years of con-
troversy, q point Of final issue. With equal
heroism and endurance they fought over that
issue, nnd. one was conquered; and however
the personal bitterness, which every such con-
test engenders, may, for the moment, distort
the truth, yet history will find that friend and
foe have only been working to one common
end
We believe that the release of Mr.. DAVIS is
the first recognition of this truth, and that
sooner or later the Northern people will recog
nize the great fact, that the result of this war
has settled the character of their Government,
has solved questions which have been in doubt
from the beginning Of its existence, and has
made of these United States Government to
which in the future the loyal obedience of
whole people will render treason odious.
While for the country we hope that the re-
lease of Mr.. DAVIS is the dawn Of a brighter
and better day, for him we rejoice with joy
unfeigned. With his release from Fortress
Monroe, his great career has ended. Hence
forth he belongs to history. He must expect
that as time passes by, men will ask why in his
hands great cause failed? Whether to him
or to its inherent weakness it was owing, that |
great armies in vain achieved heroic victories, |
that the blood and treasure of what might well
be called great nation was poured out use
lessly, that self-sacrifcing enthusiasm which |
has never been surpassed died away in despair?
History will ask these questions-let history |
answer them.
To us, he is sacred from censure. He was
our chosen chief In our hour of proudest |
hope we felt that he was worthy of the place
we gave him, and in our hour of darkest gloom
his worn and handcuffed figure was the symbol
months since the close of the war, while we
have been trying to rebuild our fortunes, he
has paced his narrow dungeon; the memories of
the past have been with him in the stiffness of |
midnight, and the burden Of the great rcspon-
sibility we put upon him has weighed upon his
spirit Whatever may have been the errors of
his judgment, we believe that he was sustained
by the conviction that he had been true 10 the
cause he loved and to the people who loved
him.
And to-day, wherever his declining years may
be spent. he can feel assured that throughout
this suffering land-in its cities Scared with
ire-in its vallies where the grass is growing
green over q thousand graves-on the hill side