Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-09-08
The Evidence vindicates Black.
From the Philadelphia Press.

From the Philadelphia Press.
Following remarkable interview
with Mr.. Jefferson Davis, the PTess
startled and astounded the country
with a revelation from Judge Black. Ii
was at once and generally recognized
that the most important chapters of the
history of period which was neither
peace nor war, but the prelude TO
causeless and savage assault on the
Union, were being seriously disturbed
if not utterly destroyed.
1t is human propensity to hold with
stubborn teuacity to that which has
come down as history, though subse
uuent evidence may shake or overthrow
il. The history of war as made in
war is necessarily hasty, crude and in
accurate it is the better office of peace
to overhaul, sift and perfect it. 4 few
men live who, in the highest official
circle, helped to make q history which
has been written from many stand
points, generally with partisan or sec
tional bias, never with the sole aim to
be true and fair and just. In the be-
lief that the country was as ripe as the
time was auspicious for a review OF the
record, the Press thought it we'll to tap
these sources Of information before they
should be forever dried up.
Without previous knowledge of what
Judge Black would say, if he consented
to speak at all, and with no intimation
from any source that he could and
would, however reluctantly, produce
documentary evidence to unsettlc &C.
cepted history. the Press invited and
urged Judge Black to speak. What he
said the puOhc knows. His utterances
through these columns have been criti-
cised, weighed, violently assailed, re-
iected in some quarters, and in Others,
the least expected, accepted as conclu.
sively establishing his loyalty to the
Union.
A point strongly urged against Judge
Black is that he Is unfortunate in his
choice of tme-that what he says now
would have been better said twenty
wears ago, when the facts were fresh and
the witnesses were alive. Twenty years
ago, or even fifteen years ago, Judge
Black would not have been listened to.
To-day the country accords him re-
spectful hearing, and though some bit.
terness remains. there is some fairness,
try ia lust. The Press has not overlook.
ed the living witnesses. Among others
we have called to the stand Ex-Governor
Philip Frank Thomas, OF Maryland, for
a time Buchanan's Secretary OF the
Treasury. He confirmed Judge Blacks
testimony. This was not enough. 1t
was said that if Holt or Stanton were
living either of them could settle the
question, and it was confidently assert.
ed that the settlement would not be in
Judge Blacks favor.
To day the dead speaks. Since the
last act OF a tragedy in which Judge
Holt, as an officer OF the government,
played a prominent part, he has been
dead to the country. His associates in
public life thought he had passed away.
Judge Black, we think, has numbered
him with 1.-The great majority" Not
a hundred people in Washington know
that he lives among them. Judge Holt,
the pronounced Union man, the loyalist
beyond suspicion, the Cabinet officer of
Buchanan and Lincoln, the trusted
friend of the martyr President, and
Judge Advocate General of the army
during and after the war Judge Holt
freely and fully vouches for Judge
Blacks loyalty and his services to the
Union during the days OF weakness
and conspiracy. "Mr. Stanton, Judge
Black, and myself" says Judge Holt,
swere in perfect accord upon the duty
of the government toward the Seces.
sionists and in perfect harmony as to
rights Of States under the Constitution.
## No man could have been more
ardent or earnest in his attachment Ia
the Union, or more persistent in urg
ing those things calculated to save II
from the designs of Southern men than
Judge Black"
Could an Endorsement be stronger
A man whose loyalty has stood as an
example places Judge Black beside
himself and the honored Stanton in
devotion to the Union. Unless it can
be shown that Judge Holt has traduced
Stanton and slandered himself. his ties
timony may be given full credence in
arriving at the verdict. Judge Holt
can have no reason beyond the honest
Judge Black. He does not owe him 90
much as the grace Of personal friend
ship. Since the issue of the trial OF the
conspirators the two men have not been
on speaking terms.
BY the testimony, oral and documen
tary, which has been submitted through
the columns of the Press IL 10 estab
lished:
That as the Cabinet officer under