The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-20

doned, and neither he nor the country has
ever been informed of the reasons for the
charge OF the abandonment of il. For two
years he was a prisoner under the other
charge-treason, and yet during all that
time he was not brought to trial thonob
the country was in state of peace and
though the Constitution guarantees. TO everv
one n speedy trial. There alwavs was
sufficient cause and evidence to sustain tbe
accusation of treason, and, perhaps, for con
vioton OF that crime. President Johnson as
serted and reasserted, officially and unofioiallv
in the most emphatic manner, that treason
was dreadful crime, and traitors should be
punished. Yet, in spite of there repeated
declarations, no attempt was made to try
Davis. Undoubtedly treason, as Wesley said
is the sum of all crimes, for the conseonences
are more deplorable and dreadful; still. the
very man who was regarded as the chief of
traitors was never legally accused After
holding the prisoner two years the Govern
ment virtually abandoned this charge also bv
releasing him on straw bail. The laws remain
unvindicated, and the Government really
avows by this last act either that there is no
such crime as treason, or that it cannot be
reached. If this be so, the Government rests
on weak foundation. Any wicked and reck-
less adventurer may plunge the country into
civil war with impunity.
The different departments of the Govern
ment have endeavored to shift the response
bility of keeping jeff Davis untried for two
years from each others shoulders The Ex-
ecutive held him completely in its power, and
did nothing. Chief Justice Chase would have
nothing to do with him, although it was his
duty to see that no one should be held an un-
reasonable time without trial. and to vindicate
the laws by seeing that no traitor should
escape unpunished. Both the rights of the
prisoner under the Constitution to be speedily
tried and the crime of treason were unheeded,
because one department of the Government
did not harmonic with the other because one
wished to embarrass the other, and all for
political effect. The people hereafter will hold
both responsible, giving, however, the greatest
blame to the Chief Justice, because he could
have demanded the prisoner and have tried
him at any time.
One of the most remarkable features con-
nected with the case of jeff. Davis is found in
the conduct of the editor of the radical organ
in this city. He was the first to go bail for
Davis. He had manifested an earnest desire
to do so for a long time previously. Under
the pretense of humanity, and sense of JUS
tice, he sought this notoriety. Inconsistent
as is his conduct in this respect with his radi-
cal dogmas and radical affiliations, it is charac-
terstic. At the commencement of the war he
advocated secession. Let the Rebel States 60
he said. 1t is quite in keeping, too, with his
con to Richmond vagaries, which nearly
ruined the Union cause, and with the radical
cry of on to specie payments, which would
bring universal bankruptcy, and, possibly,
reputation. The course that he and such like
radicals pursue weakens the arm of the Gov
eminent, makes the law farce, and threatens
us with the greatest evils in the future. The
effect is very bad upon the public mind. The
people will naturally be surprised that the
sacrifice of five hundred thousand lives, and
the creation of debt of three or four thousand
millions of dollars to put down treason, have
only ended in the virtual declaration that there
is no such crime. If the Government is to be
conducted in this manner, they may begin to
raise questions about paying an enormous debt
that has produced no better result. We can
only hope that the Government and politics Of
the country may soon be in the hands of more
practical and conservative men, who will
neither aid treason nor leave it unpunished.