The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-08


Execution.
The curtain has fal len on the last scene
of the melancholy drama that began with
the murder of President Lincoln in April
last. Harold, Mrs. Surratt, Atzerott and
Payne paid yesterday with their lives
the just penalty for their share in that
atrocicus crime, and all but one Of the
other criminals, whose completely in the act of
murder was less positive. are perhaps already
within the walls that they will never leave
alive. There have not been In great many
years any executions as to the proprlety and
justice of which the public mind was SO settled
as about these All of those hanged confessed
their guilt; but these confessions hardly sur
prise any one, and do not affect public opinion.
The conviction of guilt was so deep and dis
tinct that confession seems like a superiority;
and if the fact of confession relieves any
minds at all, it is only the minds Of those who
rejoice that these poor wretches did not 60 out
of the world with the weight Of that horrible
secret on their souls ,4r
There are some remarkable points in the his
tory of this trial. One of these is the modera-
ton with which the people have marked its
progress The murder Of Mr.. Lincoln thrilled
this country with the grandest paroxysm Of
popular passion ever seen. Every loyal man
who heard the news felt 1t like personal
blow. And yet, though 1t was evident rom
the first hour that these conspirators were ar
raigned that they were the guilty parties;
though it was as clear as possible that those
persons were the ones who had plotted and
planned, day after day and week after week,
bastard blow at the country through the life Of
that great man, there has not, from the first to
the last, been the least tendency toward any
popular violence. If there ever was . case in
which the most sudden and terrible appeal to
natural justice would have been almost blame
less, it was this; and the forbearance that gave
these persons due time for defence and every
possible facility to make out case, to impugn
witnesses, and to defeat justice by legal
technicality, is one of the most striking in
stances on record OF the admirable moderation
Of the people. scr
This is even the more remarkable since 30
bad use was made of the chance thus given.
Certain of the defences were the most impu-
dent ever made, and were insulting alike to
the court and the country. On behalf Of one
it was pleaded that he acted from conviction.
He thoughthe did right Mrs. Surfstt's counsel
thought he could answer all the evidence by
showing that his CLIENT certainly the worst
spirit in the party, was "a good Christian"
And general defence was set up for the whole
crew by . press conducted in their interest,
which questioned the Jurisdiction Of the court,
and now denounces its members as murderers.
Society does not generally pay much at
tention to the way the criminal at
the bar reads the law that bears upon
bis own case, and DO It took little heed OF the
screeches Of the press that it knew to be the
mouthpiece of those murderers. But in the
future the patience with which 1t looked upon
all this win seem the strangest part Of the story.
One notable question is settled by this execu-
tion-a woman can be hanged when justice
requires it. The laws against crime do not
discriminate between the sexes; but public
opinion does. No good reason can be given
why bad woman should be spared where a
bad man would die; but . sentimental notion
does not stand upon reasons, and it seemed
possible that such . notion might have favor
able effect on Mrs. Surratt's fate. It is healthy
sign when the law cannot be swsyed from its
straight course by such means.
Sanders and the Rebel Conspirators in
Canada-His Omcfal Report to JeM.
Davis.
We publish this morning . communication
from Geo. N. Sanders to JEFF Davis, under date
of March T. 1855, in which that fussy intriguer
details his connection and association with the
rebel conspirators who have for the past year
congregated in Canada Sanders has evidently
become alarmed at the position which he now
occupies before the public, and has resorted to
writing letters, and unesrthing those previously
written, for the purpose Of throwing the stigma
of from his own shoulders and placing 1t upon
those of his associates. This letter comes to US
printed in the primer form, and has appa-
rently been sent out for the express purpose Of
convincing the public of his innocence. II
will be seen that be gives general idea of the
schemes that he has undertaken since his
arrival in Canada, and the politicians whom he
has manipulated. Singularly enough, almost
at the very outset he gives a Hfng at Thomp.
son, and insinuates that he (Thompson) Is the
originator Of the raids on our borders, burning
our cities, and other revolutionary proceed
ings. The language of Sanders on this point
is plain. "Mr. Thompson" he says "would
not enter into my views; he had no confidence
in political movements; he believed in nothing
but stirring mp rebellion in the Northwest
thus directly charging Thompson with being
the instigator Of the revolutionary proceeding
of the Sons Of Liberty in the Northwest, under
vallandigham, and the raids on our borders.