Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-20
WILL LEFT. DAVIS BE TRIED.

When it was announced to Mr.. Lin
coin that the Confederate armies had sur
rendered and that J eff. Davis was making
his way out Of the country, and his in
formers urged him TO offer reward for
the apprehension OF Davis, he is reported,
when giving his consent to do SO, 10
have expressed himself to the effect that
it would be decidedly better for the Re-
publican party if Mr.. Davis should make
his escape. Mr.. Lincoln foreSaw that in
capturing Davis, his administration would
have on its hands huge elephant, with
out the ability, to get rid OF it in any
thing like a croditable manner. Those
who thirsted for Mr.. Davis blood would
not take the hint thrown out by Mr..
LiRcoln, to let "the arch Rebel" es-
cape, but urged on the troops
until they captured him. The readers
of the public journals are familiar with
the spasmodic efforts that have been
made TO get rid Of Mr.. Davis. The Radi-
Gals now begin to see the matter in the
light in which Mr.. Lincoln viewed it
more than three years ago, and they
would gladly get rid of this elephant if
they could. The New York SuR which
is edited 10y Mr.. c. A. Dana, who was
Assistant Secretary Of War under Stan
ton. and an intense Radical, argues that
Jeff. Davis will not he tried That paper
says:
THE next term Of the United States
Circuit Court at Richmond opens on the
fourth Monday Of November. There, d
anywhere, jefferson Davis will be tried
There he is indicted, and has been
for a long time past-indicted fol
treason against the United States. But
Jeff. Davis will not be tried. There
IS not enough in the case to pay for trying
it. No capital would be made ont Of Il
by ANYBODY. il would be a farce II
which the actors would necessarily
render themselves ridiculous. Why
Because, in the first place, the war has
been a long time over, and 20 hang maI
for treason committed in Waging 1t would
seem something like executing man II
cold blood, after twenty years of lmprls
onment. Hanging TO be graceful ano
Christian, should bo done quickly ate
the preparation Of the Oitcnsc. Their
would be nothing gained 10y the cNecu
ton of jeff. Davis. l. the motive be T.
inflict physical suffering, he suffers NOR
from that dreadful neuralgia, which has
blinded one Of his eyes and nearly blinded
the other: he suffers more from that agony
prolonged from day to day and year TO yea
than he would from dangling for few
moments at the end of 4 rope, until al
interesting group of physicians standIn
around should explore the pulse an
pronounce him dead OF all the million
who committed treason, is it any object &
pick out one and hang him, merely becauS
he had the misfortune to be elected IN
President of their sorry Coniederacy
lie would not be hung If convicted. MI
Johnson has as good as promised to par
don him If he is convicted during hl
administration and Gen. Grant is nc
going to turn hangman, and do up in
hanging Jobs left over by johnson, a
soon as he gets into tho White Hous,
The indictments against Jefferson Dav'
might as well be sold TO the paPc
makers for three cents pound. The
will never be tried. The cloQUence I
Mr.. Evarts will never be wasted on tn
living skeleton of q dcfunct Contederacy
with a strong probability Of disagree
ment Of the jury, and pardon virtual
promised beforehand in case OF conylC
ton"
The Stm is frank enough to comics
that if Grant were President he Won.
not hang JEFF. Davis. That paper won.
have done itself credit lift had confessed
what must now be apparent to every
body. that its party is afraid to try JET
Davis. The Radical party know that
trial Of Mr. Davis would involve III