The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-24
GEN. HARDIE AND FATHER WALTER.


in the War Department. He is a
Roman Catholic-by conviction-and
upon the close of the trial of Mary E.
Surratt, he did his part toward supply
ing her with a spiritual adviser of her
own faith: for she too was Catholic.
The clergyman selected, unfortunately
was priest named Walter, of Wash
ington, who, it would seem, is an I'M
reasoning rebel, with bats eyes. The
General approached him like Christian
man, and sent his servant afterwards to
tame him; but the priest persisted in
being pig-headed, and not content with
disappearing the War Department in
general and General Hardie in particu-
lar, and the servant, he INDUCED in q
good deal of CAB about the trial, and
finally he went to the country through
the New York 2ri6une-a journal
which has been engaged for year back
in organizing crusade against the
Catholics in America-and charged that
the War Department admitted him to
Mrs. Surratt's cell only upon certain con-
ditions, namely, that he should make
no proclamation of her confession. We
printed the Walter-Tribune story, as we
print ten thousand other things in the
course of year, without believing a
word of the compound. The Tribune
falsehood having gone through the
country, Gen. Hardie follows it over the
telegraph wires, and with what effect
will be seen by perusal of his calm
letter. How forbearing he is under the
provocation! We commend the conduct
of " Father Walter" to the Arch bishop
of Baltimore; and especially that point
in his Tribune story in which he goes
before the spirit-rapping, table-tossing
readers of that sheet with the declara-
ton that he had to make a compro-
mise" Does he suppose that that point
is to be overlooked? 1t may be, by the
shawl-bearing and long-haired philoso-
pher of Spruce street, but everybody in
this world outside of that set knows that
no MAN In America expected "Father
Walter" to repeat Mrs. Surratt's confess
sion. We follow up His Reverence on
these points, because it is due to truth
that his bad temper led him into i'm.
prudence, and his hatred led him into
fellowship with the infidels of the Tri
bame. We give Gen. Hardie's letter in
full. 1t will be owned that it is
marked by much moderation, christian
forbearance and truth L.
WAR DEPARTMENT, July 20, 1865.
To D. IT. Craig, General agent Of 1850
ciated Press, Nea0 York:
SIR: Referring to the special despatch
to the New York Tribune, from Wash.
ington, of the 18th inst, published in the
issue of that journal of the 18th, relating
to the circumstances attending the issue
of pass to the Rev. Mr.. Walter, to at
tend Mrs. Surratt, / beg to state that the
facts in the case are as follows:
On the 9th instant the Rev. Mr.. Wal
ter called at the War Department anC
asked for a pass to visit Mrs. Surratt in
tHc LulIltdIy pllSou, say Ing, IL all Ilo'
mistaken that she had expresseda desire
the Secretary of War, who at once said
that pass mightbe given. Neither the
Rev. Mr.. Walter nor myself then knew
of the approval of the sentence of the
Military Commission forthe case of Mrs.
Surratt. l sent Mr.. Walter pass, but
afterwards fearing that the pass signed
by myself might not, under the circum-
stances, be accepted by the officer in
charge OF the prison, in order that there
might be no possibility of disappoint-
ment in the admission of q clergyman
to afford the necessary spiritual services
/ sent Mr.. Barry, clerk in NV offica
to see the Rev. Mr.. Walter, and to teIi
him that it would be better not tn On ~,
the pass sent, but that would again SOC
the Secretary of War, and as he had "a.
scented to the visit of the clergyman to
the prisoner, would get pass Signed bv
himself, as otherwise there was a posi-.
bility of his being put to the trouble Of
going to the prison without being ena-
bled to secure admission. 1t was also a
part of my design that Mr.. Barry should
impress upon Rev. Mr.. Walter the ne
cessity ofgood faith in the use of the pass
when replaced.
AltcI thuS SCIuluS NIL. Dairy W dtUe
Walter, went to the Secretary of Wa
and asked his own signature to pass
as referred to above upon his signin.
which I said to him that was confiden
the pas would be used solely for the pur
pose for which it was asked-a profession
al visit, to administer the sacrament
and to prepare the person to be visite,
for death. Upon Mr.. Barry's (my mes
senger to Rev. Mr.. Walter) return h
informed me of the violent and excite
language of Father Walter with regar
to the trial and its result. which h
(Mr. Walter), it appears, had heard al
ter leaving the War Department..
On this went myself to see the Rev
Mr.. Walter, to caution him, as his we
wisher, and as friend of the church
and in my private capacity entirely
with regard to the use OF language so in
f1ammatory as that he had INDUCED in q
this, time of great public excitement
I introduced the conversation by Stain
that what he had said had made an i'm
preston upon the mind of my messen
ger who had repeated his remarks to me
I explained to him as have said above
that there might be a possibility of hi.
not getting Into the prison upon my
pass, and that therefore asked the Secre
tary of War for pass signed by himself
upon giving which had said that was
confident that 1t would not be used for
auy other purpose than that for which n