The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-28
MRS. 8vRaATT. ',,-am
Letter from Cen. Hardee I'm Reply
to MRS. surrstt's Spiritual A avi.ers.

'.', ,.-,s d {. WAsH1seros, July 20.
To tie ,Agers Of tie As,ociased Press:
slR: Referring to the special dispatch to the
10th inst. Published In the Issue Of that iour-
nal OF the Nth inst. relating to the circum-
stances attending the issue of pass TO the Rev.
Mr. Walter to- attend Mrs. Surratt beg to
state the facts IN the case, which are as follows:
On the 9th inst the Rev. Mr.. Walker called
at the War Department and asked for pass to
visit Mrs. Surratt, In the Military Prison, say
ca desire to see him. l submitted the request
TO the Secretary of War, who at once said
pass might be given. Neither the Rev. Mr.
Walker nor myself then knew of the approval
of the sentence of the Military Commission in
the case of Mrs Surratt.
sent Mr.. Walter pass, but afterward fear
ing the pass signed by myself under the cir
cumstances, would not be deemed sufficient
by the officer in charge of the prisoner, in Or
der that there might be no possibility of dis
appointment in the admission of clergyman
to afford the necessary spiritual services I sent
Mr.. Barry clerk In my Office to see the Rev.
Mr.. Walter to tell him it would be better not to
go on the pass sent, but that would again see
the Secretary of War, and as he had assented
to the visit Of the clergyman to the prisoner,
would get pass signed by himself, as other
wise there was possibility Of his being put to
the trouble of going to the prison without be-
ing enabled to secure admission. -
It was also part of my design that Mr..
Barry should impress upon Rev. Mr.. Walker
the necessity of good faith In the use of the
pass when replaced @ ST.
! After thus sending Mr.. Barry to Father
Walker, ! went to the Secretary of War and
asked his own signature to pass, and referred
to the above, when upon his signing which l
said to him that was confident the pass would
be used solely for the purpose for which it
was asked, o professional visit to administer
be visited for death. .'-r'.,t
Upon Mr.. Barry's (my messenger) return
from his visit to Rev. Mr.. Walker, he informed
me of the violent and excited language of
Father Walker with regard 10 the trial and it's
result which he (Mr. Barry had heard after
went myself to see the Rev. Mr.. w., to eau
ton him as his well-wisher and as Q friend of
the church, and in my private capacity entire
", with regard to the use of language so in
fammatory as that in which he had INDUCED
at this time of great public excitement.
e introduced the conversation by stating that
he had said he had made an impression upon
the mind of my messenger, who had repeated
his remarks to me- I explained to him as
have said above, that there might be posi-.
bility of his not getting into the prison upon
my pass, and therefore asked the Secretary of
War for pass signed by himself, on giving
which said that was confident it would not
be used for any other purpose than that for
which it was asked, and wanted him (Mr. W }
to be so governed as that I would be safe in tho
assertion had made. Mr.. Walters had dis
played 90 much, excitement and temper that it
was duty of charity on my part In view of all
the circumstances to endeavor to indace him
to pursue more discreet course. and to coun.
sci him to be silent as became his place on
these topics asked him In friendly and
kind way TO promise me that he would desist
from talking about the matter. Mr.. Walters
conviction as to the innocence Of the prisoner
or the use of any proper efforts, believing her
to be innocent, to arrest her execution were
not made matters Of objection. It was to the
imfAmmat0sy character and effect of his obser-
'vations at this period. when public mind was
cessary, Idle and angry discussions and har-
argues could not but be mischievous just at
this moment, and since 1t appeared that Mr..
Walters could not approach the subject with
temper and discretion, it was better he should
let It alone. r.t.
This was confidential conversation between
myself and Mr.. Walters, a. has been seen. The
visit was not at all official, but entirely that of
. private individual. Ny motives were land
able. they were to restrain imprudent and mis-
chievous discussions, and to insure the use of
the pass to be given, in the faith intended
when 1t was signed, and then to make my as
surance good. rho visit was not suggested BY
until the present time. On this point after
what said, do not see how Mr.. Walter could
have understood me as being prompted by in
structions in my conversation. In replying
to me, Rev. Mr.. Walter was very violent and
generally denunciatory. The range of his con-
versation was quite wide. He harangued up
on the administration and the rebellion, and
Asvo Nth lHffornosa m that ho callaA mill
itary tyranny, &c. He said probably all that
he is represented in the 4th paragraph of the
article in question as having said, and very
much more than q prudent priest or loyal citi-
zen or man of common sense would have said.
During all this time was endeavoring to
counsel moderation. instructing against his
expressions and eDjoining prudence. do not
know that I sought to patroniEe Rev. Mr.. Wal.
tiers 81 all, and the phrases which allude to this
and the indignant rejoinder of Father Walters
do not bring to my mind the recollection of
the scene described.
i did not tell Father Walters that he should
not have pass if he did not promise any
thing of Mrs. 8 g innocence. Annoyed by
what he had said / was about. to leave the
room to deter giving him pass, remarking
I will send you word as to pass in two hours,
when he said, I" I promise" intended within
the two hours to see the Secretary of War and
say to him that was convinced after what had
TAKEN place mat tatner WALTERS was not IN
proper disposition and frame of mind to be
suitable religious attendant upon the prisoner
and that under the circumstances the services
of another priest should be procured for her
instead, when Mr.. Walter said he promised.
Satisfied that he had determined to be gov.
erned by considerations ofprudence had sug..
gested, and believing that he would perform
What he had undertaken, 1 gave him pass,
nor did I. when designed 10 withdraw from
Father W. without giving him the pass by
any means intend bis acts should have the eli.
feet to deprive the prisoner of the services of
clergy. ). @.j58a g. arsa5 .saL .a'-.
nv view on the contrary was only that some
other Priest should go. In fact another Priest
did 20 besides Mr.. w. 1t has been my fortune
to Sc the means of sending clergy to attend
many during the war in need Of their services,
and Inever threw q stone in the way of any
clergyman of any faith visiting > patient, loyal
or disloyal, living or dying when his services
were called for. Icould not see or know of
person ofmy own creed dying without giving
any assistance in my power to procure the ser
vices of q Priest With regard to the denials