JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Southland Times, Issue 636, 25 February 1867, Page 2

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Speaking of Davis's trial, the New York correspondent of the " Times " says : — " In short, no more has been done with regard to the trial by the Government than there was six months ago, when the subject was first considered by the Court, and the President, no doubt, would be glad if he could wash his hands of the entire matter. Mr Davis's feeble health does not promise many months of life, especially if he is kept a prisoner, and death may at any time relieve both him and the President of a great deal of trouble. The Judges of the Court are Chief Justice Chase and John C. Underwood. The former, however, will scarcely appear in Eichmond, while the latter, when his bitter feelings and some of the expressions he has uttered are considered, can hardly be regarded as a fit person to give Mr Davis a fair and impartial trial. The ' Committee on the Conduct of the War' will be remembered by all observers of the American Civil War aa a sort of Congressional inquisition, which during the war and afterwards inquired into everything, and asked questions of everybody. Among other witnesses catechized by them was this same Judge Underwood, and the theme was the approaching trial of Mr Davis. Between the committee and the witness passed two questions and answers, which will astonish the world when it is known that this Judge is to hold the scales of justice to decide the fate of Mr Davis. They are set forth officially in the report of the Committee as follows : — Question by the Committee— Could either* Jefferson Davis or Bobert E. Lee be convicted of treason in Virginia ? Answer by Judge Underwood — Oh, no, unless you had a packed jury. Question — Could you manage to pack a jury there ? Answer — I think it would be very difficult, but it could be done. I could pack a jury to convict them. I quote this to show that such thoughts run through some people's heads ; but it is not to be supposed that Mr Davis'g counsel or the honest people of the United States will suffer the most important State trial ever held in the country to be prejudged by tampering with the jurymen,"