The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-04-18
Prisoners OF State.

stand In the position Of Prisoners OF State 10 the
United States government. One Of them 10 An
drew johnson, President OF tho United States,
now being tried by the Senate, the highest court
in the land, Of high crimes aud misdeanors :"
the other Is Jefferson Davis, a little while ago
ihe l'resideR, Of Confederacy sought 10 be set
up in opposition 10 outs, and the head and front
ol tia, terrible rebellion aud war from
which the country has jus, emerged. To be sure,
by law these men are presumed To be innocen,
until proved guilty but there Is no man in tue
country who does not believe that jefferson Da.
Wis melted treason and insurreeiion against the
government, or that Andrew johnson violated
the laws Of the land by the attempted removal
OF Secretary Stanton. II man steals dollar
or anocks another man down OF violates law In
any way, the law requires his arrest and coE-
inemeui, or bonds TO be given securing his APP
pcaranee when wanted for trial. Ia all civilized
countries murder is held TO be 50 fearful crime
that no amount Of bail is sufficient to secure the
personal liberty Of him who wilfully takes anoih.
90 ifci he Is confined, strictly guarded, until
isiAl takes place. Our Prisoners Of State have
committed great crimes. One OF them has con-
nivcd at the slow torture OF men who had been
captured in honorable combat, and who were
entitled To lair aud humane treatment as prison.
cfs Of war. Treason IL capital offence 10 en-
deavcr 10 ovcriurn existing government aud to
inciic To instruction are offences for which many
u man has suffered the highest penalty Of the
law. Jefferson Davis did all this, and more ;
FOR 10 his crimes In this rcsl Get must DO added
IL. attr a
thousands Of ihem-rere murdered, starved TO
DEATH shot, In the prison-pens Of Salisbury and
Andcrsouvillc, and is not jefferson Davis re-.
spon'ihlc, in great degree, for III There was
evidence enough Of the cruel treatment received
by our soldiers when prisoners OF war 10 hang
Wiriz, but why should he be punished any more
than Davis Wiriz was the mere iool-the exc.
cuiive OF the orders received from men higher 10
authority than himself Davis was the head Of
the government OF the Southern Coufederacy,
aud as such responsible for its doings, and he
vii! ever be held by the American people as
guilty OF the fearful crime Of allowing our brave
soldiers To s,arvc in their place Of confinement.
le, he is at liberty. \ mere nominal sum is
required 10 insure his attendance for trial Il is
promptly given and this most consummaic
traitor is allowed to walk abroad, free man, as
j. 'icrc was no weight ofgu, depending on him.
Nay, more. be is the feied aud pAmpered favor.
tic q those who aided the rebellion aud who
now mourn it asa Lost Cause"
The militia Of loyal STATE, in law parade.
dof theiT caps and lower their swords and ren.
der him marching salute when passing a
window in their line Of march at which be is sit.
linz. Ia this tehi' Why is he not tried for the
crimes with which he is charged, aud IL he is
guilty. punished II innocent, released Aud
Wh, II be las committed the foul wrongs as.
cribcl 20 him, is lie allowed his liberty while
awaiting iriall Il he any better ihan the criini.
nal uo~ lodged in our county Jail, without the
ben hi o. bail, or was bis crimes Of lesser mag.
ui,ale The difference between them Is this -
osc i' Jcif. Davis the late head Of bad cause
and aa unholy rebellion, one who carried on
""r against the government whose laws be had
ieieaiedly sworn 10 support, and through whosC
treason the land was baptized in blood aad
thousands Of Its bTavest and best consigned 70
Hn,iney graves; the other Is q poor lrishmAu
who in a Ct Of temporary insanity, perhaps
slsrl his hand aud struck down a fellow-crca
iure There is sii II further difference between
ihcm; paws elories in his action and only
satloNs because the cause in which he was en-.
gagged 'al!cd oisuccess the other criminal has
fepcn,ed OF his deed in ''sack-elo,h and ashes, -
aud would give worlds, IL he had them At com.
mand could he undo the sad work Of that Que
moment Of nnhallowed desperation. The noted
e. tna ats 81
h! crimes, is at liberty bailed out by his friends
the poor, repen,ani. conscenee-s,reken criminal
Is confined in stone walls aud iron bars, refused
las liberty IL the wealth Of the State were offered
on his bond.
Tho other Prisoner OF State, Andrew johnson,
Ps,sdeni Of the nation is now on his trial. lie
is charged with n wilful disregard Of his oath oil
oiiicc--wi,h having failed to execute the laws Of
the land-wilh having tried to nullify those
laws. lfhe is proved guilty, the punishment, to
be Reied GU, TO him will be fearful disgrace
and he will be convicted Of wilful perjury. But
yet, Notwithstanding the enormiiy Of the Often.
rei with which he is charged. be is at perfec, lib
,s'y no, cvca under baltimore, Is executing
thl dulles q his Office. Daily We read Of hin
giving entertainments and receptions 10 hi.
ft.,ud.-how his levees are attended by foreign
ministers and native ioadies and elegantly dress.
cd womtn, with some sycophaniic jenkins
ir'sei' 10 tell how Baron Won Ilumbug had hi,
bis ouF,i and Count Noiworihacurse his mus.
rci trimmed and how Misses Jones and Smith
APPEARED in their fancy dresses. All this while
'ic ycg, stability Of the nation IL trembling in
Ii. balance for II Andrew johnson is acquitted,
We might as well repeal all laws or give ineum.
bouts Of Office unlimited license to cons,rue OF
A'cute them az they please.
l;n' we do not believe that Andrew johnson
sill he allowed To 20 unpublished, a problem
however, which few more days will decide
Ills is case Of no ordinary magnitude, and up
on II. result much depends, either for the wcA
OF woe Of ihe country. Before the Senate cat
acquii him, !, must,
Fra.--Decde tina, the laws Il has passed arr
unconstitutional:
&raad THAT the Constitution is unconstiiu.
tonal
''r 10 the face of this instrument In the presence
Of The Senate, without iis consent aud 10 violn.
ton OF that provision which requires the consent
ofihe Senate 10 make valid bis Official acts, b,
hlr tXcrcised the appointing power. The Sen.
ate wisely giving him every facility for proper.
,y a,fending himself-has repeatedly extended
no, time for his appsarance-has allowed him to
hc rtrfesenicd by eminent eounsel-has listened
aiienisely To his witnesses, aud has even per.
rnilled his own construction Of his acts, as re-
tailed on, to bis avortes. TO be given In evidence
But the Senate Of the United States is an abls
body Of patriotic men-msn who love their
coun'r, aud who have always stood by Il, aud
when lhr time comes for action, nsy seiH aei We
confidently look fur the Impeachment Of Presi.
dent johnson by the vote Of every Republican
in tIr Get.t. tV. .a..... a.. n...,...,. 4,