The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-07-28
Secretary Stanton and Mrs. Surratt

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WASHINGTON, July 16.-On thursday morn
ing, the 10th inst, the Rev. Father Walter,
pastor of St Patricks Church, iu this city,
went to the War Office to ask for pass, igno-
rant Of the fact that she had already been con-
demned TO suffer death on the following day.
lie had never previously visited Mrs. S, nor
did be know her except BY reputation On ap-
plication, he was informed by Gen. Hardie A.
A. O.. to Secretary Stanton, that he could not
give him pass without first consulting Mr..
Stanton, who was out at the time Father
Walter returned home, and at l o'clock a m,
on the same day, received a pass to visit the
prison, signed, by order Of the Secretary of
War, Gen. Hardie, A A. G.
The messenger who brought the pass to Fa-
ther Walter, being an intelligent Irishman, Fa-
ther w. entered into conversation with him on
the subject of theexecution, firmly asserting his
belief in Mrs. Surratts innocence. IL half, or
rerhaps an hour afterward, Gen. Hard:e him
self called at the residence OF Father Walters,
and after some irrelevant conversation, said:
"Father Walter, you made quite an impression
on the mind of my messenger in regard to the
execution Of Mrs Surratt," to which Father
w. remarked that lie was firmly impressed
with her entire innocence. Gen. Hardie then
said: ''Father Walter the pass you have will
not admit you to the military prison to-mor-
row, because it is not signed by the Secretary
of War. / want you to make me a promise
to say nothing of Mrs Surratts innocence, and
! will give you the necessary pass
Father Walter, naturally indignant, immedi-
ately refused to accedc to Gen. 8.'s demand,
giving him to understand, in the plainost kind
Of language that no officials, civil or military,
could enforce his silence on this point; and re-
marked shat he knew under whose authority
he (Gen. H was acting. Gen. Hardie-a
converted Catholic, by the way-then said,
patronizingy, that as yet there were no char
ges lodged against him, Father w, at the War
Department to which the latter reoined that
he might tell bis master Stanton, that he con-
scientiously believed Mrs. Surratt guiltless;
that he should proclaim his belief, and that the
War Department might hang him if it thought
proper.
Gen. Hardie was about to go without giving
Father w the pass, when the latter said:
Gen. Hardie, cannot suffer Mrs. .Surratt 80
die without administering the sacrament; say
yes to your proposition; give me the pass"
Gen. Iardie then drew from his pocket a pass
duly filled and signed by Edwin NJ. Stanton,
admitting him Father w, to the prison until
after the execution.
Previous to the removal of Mrs. Surratt
from the Carroll to the military Prison, Fa-
ther w. had made application to the War Of
flee for pass to visit her, she being very i'll,
but in every instance bis applications were de-
MED, and up to the very day before the execu-
ton Mrs. S was deprived by the Secretary Of
War Of spiritual attendants.-New York Tn
6uae July II.
NEGRO VS.. WHITE MEN-The Legislature Of
Rhode Island has passed resolutions in favor Of
allowing negroes 10 vote In the reorganization
of the Southern States The State of Rhode
Island does not permit naturalized foreigners
to vote uuless they own a certain amount of
property, and when at the last election it was
proposed to permit those who had served hon
orably in the army of the United States to vote
withont the property qualification, the PROPOSE
ton was rejected by a large majority of the peo-
pie. Negroes who hold Il sufficient amount Of
property are permitted to vote in Rhode Island,
but white naturaIzed foreigners, even though
they may be soldiers in the army, are not per-
mitted to vote unless they have been fortunate
6IOu5iI 10 dGtiuil6 SOulS WcdltI ANU StO tLldL
State feels called upon to upbraid the President
for not forcing unlimited negro suffrage upon
the Southern States in defiance of their clearly
understood rights and in violation Of his oath,
WANTED 70 GO SoUrH AGAIN.--A Confeder-
ate officer who was on his way back to his home
in Georgia, was out near the Nashville depot
Yesterday. He was suddenly surprised at be-
i
recognized him and jumped down from their
wagons to run and meet him They were div
ing Government teams He recognized them
as his own negroes, who had followed the Fed
eral army off They begged him to take them
back home with him, and they would be ''de
best niggas he eber seed" if he would. Ar
rangements were made and master and negroes
all left on the train for Georgia together last
night y Louisville Dswocrat, Juns 90, 1865