The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-05-24
RELEASE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.

RELEASE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.
A most noted instance of the sacrifice Of
Jaw and justice to political cowardice, says
the New York World Of the l4.h, ap-
preached termination yesterday at Rich
nond by the release of Mr.. DAVIS on bail
20 appear at the November session Of the
Court. The political cowardice which has
KEEP. him so long in custody without trial
was, however, only mitigated, not sur
mounted. There is no serious intention
ever to try him. but the government had
NOT the courage To say -. aud direct a nnNe
proseqni Nobody doubts that the security
for his appearance would be Just as com
plete if he had been set at large IN his own
recognizance but the Court burst not do
this. and 20 demanded the heavy bail of
sf00, 900, and, with an ostentation of need
less precaution, one half of this sum-was
required to be subscribed by the people of
Virginia. These whole proceedings
binding him OYER TO appear at the Novem-
Der session of the Court, under the pretence
hat he will be tried then. and thetakingsuch
ample secnrity-are sham, tub thrown
20 the whale. Mr.. DAVIS may congratulate
himself that two years imprisonment with
Out trial is all that the political cowardice
II tho administration and the courts has
cost him. Had he been tried two years ago
by military commission, ike poor Mrs.
SURRArT, and hurried into his grave, the
public opinion Of that excited period would
have sanctioned the act.
Mr. DAVIS was brought before the Court
y. Richmond by writ of hnbens corpus
There has been no lime since the Presidents
nroclamation revoking the susnention of
that writ. when II might no. have been is
sncd; ard not a reason can be given for its
issue now, w@ch was not equally good eight
cen months agn. 1t would be ridicu-
lous to pretend that the Court had not the
same authority to bail him then which it
has exercised now. His crime has been
rendered neither greater nor less by the
NIL the evidence against him on the day of
his arrest that it has to day; for the thing.
on which the charge of treason is based were
no. done in corner. ..r a
The hacking DOWN Of the government. so
far as it has vet hacked down. has been in
sneaking. discredifable way. The un form
method Of proceeding has heen, to apollo.
Size for a lesser scandal for not committing
greater one. The government did not
wish to try Mr.. DAVIS by military COM
mission. So they loaded him with irons and
tormented him with the perpetual presence
Of sentinels. When the public passions had
somewhat cooled, they felt that they could
not meet the public demand for Mr. DA-
vrs's condemnation, so they sought to ap-
pease it by illegal detention without trial.
When it had, been secretly decided that he
was to be released on bail at'this term of
the Court, they affected hesitation and un-
certainty which they did not feel. and Judge
UNDERWOOD sought to propitiate the Rad
icals in advance bv the abusive trade which
he delivered at the opening Of the Court
az a charge They burst not enter noHe
Jrosqui; so they pretend the trial is to
come off in November. They feared the
odious lenity of releasing him on his own
recognizance, so they required unnecessary
bail with superhuous precautions respecting
the residence of the bondsmen. 1t is sup
posed that the feelings which these cow
ardly maneuvres are designed to rrcpitiate,
will gradually wear out, when nothing more
will be heard Of the pretended trial of JET
PERSON DAVIS.