The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-22


Illustrated mt Washington.
The trisS. before military court Of the gang
of assassins cencerned in the reasonable plot
involving the murcsr Of President Lincoln has
been denounced by the copperhead press and
certain milk-and-water Ft65uiaerite humanita-
rians as lawless and most outrageous ,isurpa-
ton. There has been wild and fanatical cop
perhead hue and cry over this trial of a lot Of
civilians by a court martial as a fearful prece-
dent of military despotism. We have been told
that not only was it a proceeding without au.
thority in tho constitution, but without neces-
sity, inasmuch as the civil tribunals of the
country were amply sufficient for the ends of
justice. The result of later trial in Washing
ton, however, for the crime Of murder, before
civil tribunal, ought to be sufficient to silence
all these senseless clamors of affected indigna-
ton over the military trial of Mrs. Surratt and
her confederates, and the consequences.
Their trial before court martial was clearly
within tho discretion Of the President, as COM
mander-in-chief of the army and navy, consid-
ering the ruling purpose Of the conspirators
and the time and circumstances under which
they attempted to carry out their terrible de-
signs. The results Of the trial, too, including
the summary execution of the four principal
offenders, are perfectly satisfactory to oil loyal
men whose minds have not been warped into
that maudlin scntimentalism which would spare
the bloodiest OF murderers out of respect 10 the
sacredness of human life. The officers COM
posing the military court in question were men
of chara cter, learning and intelligence. They
fully comprehended their grave responsible
ties in tie discharge of the solemn duty assigned
them. The trial Of the prisoners placed before
them was open, and deliberately and fairly
conducted. The counsel and the Witnesses for
the accused were allowed wider latitude in
time, testimony and argument than is accorded
in ordinary courts ofjustice. But the evidence
against the prisoners was overwhelming, and
their respective sentences and their prompt
execution, have given, we repeat, perfect salts
faction to the great mass of the American
people.
Thus much for the military trial of some of
the conspirators concerned in the murder Of
President Lincoln. But what would have been
the result had they been tried before criminal
court of the peace establishment The trial of
Miss Harris will probably furnish the answer.
This person was clearly guilty Of deliberate
murder, committed in broad daylight, In the
Treasury Department. Her victim, whatever
he may have meditated, had committed no
wrong against her greater than the breach of q
marriage promise. Her vengeance was out of
all proportion to the offence for which she
sought to punish her faithless swain, and for its
reparation there were the remedies of the law.
She is indicted for the murder-she is tried be-
fore one Of the established courts of Washington,
her counsel put in the plea Of 'insane impulse"
the case is submitted to the jury, and the jury
bring in, amidst the enthusiastic shouts Of the
multitude, their verdict Of mot guilty" the faint
ing murderess is carried away in triumph, the
curtain falls, and the farce is ended.
This is the justice which in these days of pub
lie decentralization OF Washington, resulting
from the war, is accorded passionate young
woman, guilty Of murder, tried before court
of the civil establishment Would it not have
UCCu 90 Cucy GSAOlO ouSh . SVAA 0hu July "a
the secession heated atmosphere Of Washington
to have made out can insane impulse, for Mrs.
Surratt Payne, Harold and Atzerott? What
else but insanity could haye led them to their
insane conspiracy for the overthrow Of the gov
eminent of the United States by q half dozen
murdersi But where would have been the
safety Of tho government had the license Of in
sanity given to Miss Harris been extended to
the confederates Of BOOTH These fearful
blunders in the way Of mercy, if committed,
would surely have been followed by fearful
outbreak of vengeance from an outraged loyal
public opinion.
Thus we sec, from the result of the Harris trial
at Washington, that the trial of the assassination
confederates of Booth before military court
was wisely adopted by tho President, in view Of
the ends of justice, decorum, dignity, law and
order.