Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-07-21
A Gard from Gen. Hardie - The
Question OF Refusing a Pass 10
Father Walter 10 Visit Mrs. Sur.
ratt. -

FatL & -
~ r., 1-~. WASHINGTON, July 20.
Agent Of the ASSOCIATED Press: -i--''-.-s -
. Referring to the special dispatch to the
New York Tribune from Washington OF the
18th inst, published in the issue of that
journal Of the 18th relating to the circum-
stances attending the issue of pass to the
Rev. Mr.. Walter to attend Mrs. Surratt, |
beg to stateithe facts in the ease are as fol-
lows: "@"'' ehTgS if"E
y On the 9th inst, the Rev. Mr.. Walter call
ed at the War, Department and asked 'fof. a
pass to visit Mrs. Surratt in the Military
Prison, saying, If am not mistaken, that
she had expressed desire tn see him.
submitted the request to the Secretary OF
War, who at once said that pass might be
given.2 Neither the Rev. Mr.. Walter nor
myself then knew Of the approval of the
sentence OF the Military Commission In the
case OF Mrs. Surratt. 1 set down to write a
pass, but afterward, fearing that the pass
signed by myself might not, under the cir
cumstances, be accepted by the officer in
charge of the prison, in order that there
might be no possibility of disappoint-
nent In the admission of clergy
man to afford the necessary spiritual
services, sent Mr.. Barry, clerk in nv
office, to see the Rev. Mr.. Walter, and to tell
him that it would be better not to use The
pass sent, but that would again see the
Secretary Of War, and If he assenteditO the
visit of the clergyman to the prisoner,
would get pass signed by himself, as 9TH
erwise there was a possibility of his, being
without being enabled to secure admission.
IL was also part of my design that Mr.
Barry should impress upon Rev. Mr., Walter
the necessity OF good faith in theuse of the
pass when replaced. After thus sending
Mr.. Barry to Father Walter, went to the
Secretary OF War, and asked his own sig
nature to pass, as referred to above.
When, upon his signing which: I said to-
him that was confident it would be used
solely for the purpose for which it was ask
ed-a professional visit to administer the
sacraments and to prepare the person to be
visited tor death. Upon Mr.. Barry's (my
messenger to the Rev. Mr.. Walter) return,
he informed me of the violent and, excited
the trial and its result, which he (Mr. Wal
ter) had heard after leaving the War De-
partment. On this went myself to sec
the Rev. MIR. Walter, to caution him, as his
well-wisher and as friend of the church,
and in my private capacity, entirely with
regard to the use oflanguage so infammato-i
ry as that which he had INDUCED in at this,
a time of greatpublic excitement. Intro
duced the conversation by stating that
what he had said had made an impression
upon the mind of my messenger, who had
repeated his remarks to me-. L explained
to him, as l have said above, that there
might be accessibility of his not getting in
to the prison upon my pass, and that there
tore had asked the Secretary of War for a
pass signed by himself; ;aon, giving which;
had said that xyac nnr tlott that ~ x,,o,fl
not be used for any other purpose than that
for which it was asked; and wanted him.
Mr.. Walter, to be so governed as that
would be safe in the assertion / had
made. Mr.. Walter had displayed so much
excitement and temper that it was a duty
OF charity, on my part, in view of1all the
circumstances, to endeavor to induce
him to pursue a more discreet course,
and to counsel him to be silent, as be-
came his place, on these topics. l asked
him, in friendly and kind way, to promise
me that he would desist from talking about
the matter. Mr.. Walters convictions as to
the innocence OF the prisoner, or the use of
any proper efforts, believing her to be in
nocent to arrest her execution, were not
made matters of objection. 1t was to the
intlammatory character and effect of his
observations at this period, when the public
mind was agitated, that my attention was
directed. Unnecessary idle and angry dis
cussions and harangues could not but be
mischievous just at this moment. And
since it appeared that Mr.. Walter could not
approach the subject with temper and dis
cretion, 1t was better he should let 10 alone.
This was aconfidential conversation between
myself and Mr.. Walter. has been seen,
the visit was, not atall official, but entirely
that of private individual. My motives
were laudable. They were to restrain i'm
prudent and mischievous discussions and to
insure the use of the pass to be given in the
faith intended when twas signed, and then
to make my assurance good. The visit was
not suggested by the Secretary of War, or
even known to him until the present time.
On this point, after what had said, do
not see how Mr.. Walter could have under
stood me as being prompted by Instructions
in my conversation In replying
to me the Rev. Mr.. Walter was
very violent and generally denunciatory.-
The range of his conversation was quite
wide. He harangued upon the Admins
tration and the rebellion, and dwelt with
bitterness on what he called military tyr
amy" &c. He said probably all that he is |
represented in the fourth paragraph of the
article as having said, and very much more
that aprudent priest, a loyal citizen or
man of common sense would not have said. |
During all this time l was. endeavoring to |
counsel moderation, instructing against his |
expressions and enjoining prudence. l do |
not know that i sought to patrouize the |
Rev. Mr.. Walter at. all, and the phrases |
which allude to this, and the indignant re-
joinder of Father Walter, do not bring to |
mind the recollection OF the scene de- |
scribed. wlt" a't
Ididnot tell Father W. that he should not |
have pass if he did not promise to say |
nothing of Mrs. Surratt's innocence. An
noyed by what he had said, was about, |
however, to leave the room and to defer |
giving him the pass, remarking, 81 will |
send you word as to the pass in two hours" |
when he said, "I promise" l intended |
waiting the two hours to see the Secretary |
of War and tell him that was convinced |
after what had taken place, that Father w. |
was.not in the proper disposition and frame
of mind TO be suitable religious attendant
upon the prisoner, and that under the cir 1
cumstances the services OF another priest !
should be procured for her instead.
. When Mr.. Walter said that he promised, |
satisfied that he determined to be governed /
by the considerations Of prudence had
suggested, and believing that he would
perform what he had undertaken, I gave
him the pass, nor did !, when designed to |
from Father Walter without CIV
ing him the pass, by any means intend that |
his acts should have the, effectto deprive |
the prisoner Of the services of clergy. NV /
view, on the contrary, was only that some |
other priest should go. In fact another
priest did go besides Mr.. W.. 1t has been