New-York tribune., 1867-05-14

2 RlCUMOND, May l3-At last tAe Ohc'" r'"'0
EoyeFnment has nd ITSELF Of its elephant ana M
Jefferson Davis for the first time IN maAy-a month";
feels himself a free man. He can appropriately iee
90 for no one who witnessed sOdays proceedings IN
the United States SuIneme Court will deny but that
% all intents and purposes the eXRebei Chief is as
free from any further mOestatOn on the part OF the
Government as any Loyaiist in the North Conse-
esmeDtly the pecpe ef Richmond andtor that matter
4he South because he sentiment which exists IN
This city does not die ont beyond its precincts, feel
ss if the agony was over, and thar once more they
are indebted to the clemency and magnanimIty OF
the pcople of the Government whiet they endeavoTed
90 destroy, The opinion was almost universal last
evening that Nj Daeis would be'aent to-day to the
Libby OF some other prison, bur long before the
Court mot this morning il easily Observable that
this feeling had van she'd, and that their CHIEF would
soon bc restored tothem. The Court was to meet IT
eleven ocleek bat long before that hour the street
in front Of the SpOtswoOd Hotel was crowded,
~ moch so that it took a squad of cavalry and
policemen to keep the passage-way epeD for
carriages and foot passengers. This crowd
was mostly composed of negroes, wishing to gTauiy
their curiosity by seeing the prisoner yet there was
number Of white citizens who wanted to gratlty
IKE desire. and at the same time do homage to
fallen cheftain. The arrangements for Transferring
abe prisoner from the hotel directly opposite
30 those made for the carrying of the same person
from the steamboat to the hotel on Saturday that
they We're highly commendable. On Saturday every
thing was done unintentiOnaly, no doubt. which
woud attract attention to the prisoner and give
chance to the people to render him that tribute
which his position entitled him TO. To-day the same
persons were anxious to do the same thing over
again, and they were not at all satisfied when it was
told around the crowd that Mr.. Davis had left by
rear entrance and was at that time at the door Of
she Court Room some three blocks distant. Hence
he crowd rushed 10 the latter building. but
hev were disappointed. for the prisoner
vas transferred from the carriage TO the
Court Room in less time than 1t takes to re-
cord the fact A battalion OF infantry and a SQUAD
pf POLICEMEN had been on the ground, and had Kept
the pasSageway open from the street TO the entrance
of the Custom House in which the Court was held
The crowd around this building was larger than
around the hotel. Not only The street pretty
well throngtd but the Capitol grounds IN front OF II
contained many people. As Mr. Davis was taken IN.
most Of the whites raised their hats as mark o.
respect but beyond this nothing was SAID or done
When Nh Davis entered the Court it was within
few seconds of IL o'clock. and he found there a
crowd of between three and four hundred people,
white and colOred of both sexes The prisoner w9s
seated within the box the left-hand side OF the
Judge WKh Gen. Burton on his right and Deputy
Marshal Duncan on his left At about the same time
Judge Underwood entered. The Comt-R0om then
presented curious scene To the right of the Judge
k$t the Grand jury composed OF both whites and
blacks and containing such prominent cid
zens as John Minor Bolts and Joseph Segar.
Immediately in front was the table for the
counsel and distinguished persons and around 1t sat
such men as Charles OConor, William b. Reed
George Shea, William VI. Evarts, District-Attomey
chandler and his assistantJ T. Hennessey, Governor
ierpont Horace Greeley, Augustus Schell' James
gons, distinguished LAWYER of Virginia, Judge
did and Others On the left were members of the
-ess and citizens generally. Many OF the latter
ere distinguished gentlemen. Generals Fitzhugb
ee and Imboden of cavalry fame, Judge Meredith.
AIRY Gilmor. and others scattered among the
ndience and attfacted attention. When Mr.. DAVIS
as brought in of all eyes were turned toward
i'm but he paid not the slightest attention. He was
ressed in plain white and black plaid suit, with
ack coat wore green kid gloves and carried cane.
fhe Conrt was opened by the Marshal when Judge
Underwood said that because of the presence of so
many of the nations defenders, the usual premin-
ary routine would be dispensed with, and he would
instantly hear from Gen. Burton. The General then
took the prisoner to the vicinity, of the bar, and
handed to Charles O'COnor the order of President
johnson, directing hlm to surrender the pris-
Oner. Mr.. OCOnor then read it, and moved
that the Court discharge the prisoner lie
then handed the papers to District-Attorney
Chandler, who, after examining them, sent them TO
Judge Underwood The Judge stated that he
found the papers correct and paid a iattering
compliment to Gen. Burton. who, he said acted with
as much wisdom he displayed upon the battlefield
in putting ,down Etreason the authority holding the
prisoner being insufficient when civil law was in
force The Judge ordered that the General be re-
leased from all further charge of him. Marshal Dun
can Immediately presented the Norfolk indictment to
the prisoner, and SAID that under that he now ar
rested him. Mr.. Davis took the paper and hand1 d 1T
10 Mr. OConor who, after reading it and finding it
correct said that the counsel of Mr.. Davis were
ready for trial, and that they hoped there would
be no unusualI delay. Mr.. Davis had been Tor
along time anxious for trial. but account Of tle
perous condition of the country. that had been de-
oied him. and he therefore, without wishing %
rowd the Government Immediately TO e trial, wOub
sk that axl early day be set for it Mr. EvaTts, IL
,ehalf of the Government, said they were not now
eady for tIal and then named NOv as day they
gould be. This was agreed to by Mr.. OConor
Then came up the question of disposition
# the prisoner. and in this more interest
vas centered than in anything else. All
Kinds of stories had been circulating
around Richmond about the alleged yindictiveness
Il judge Unde1 wood, that he would decide, no mat
r bow the lawyers argued that the crime of treason
vas not q bailabe ofense and that consequently ne
would refuse to release Mr.. Davis and he would be
tseated much the reverse to what the general 0pn
i@i was. This news did not travel very fast fog
fRily three-fourths of those in the Court did not
krow what would be the course of the authorities
until Judge Underwood said he per-
1sat1y willing to take bail. Very little discussion
was had on the point, Mr. oConOr taking for granted
that It was conceded hat it perfectly legitimate
In as1iEg that sum might be named. He cOmpli-
mented Gen, Burton for the care taken of Mr. DAVIS
n "a Al