The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-29

- "" No y . rSO, euoe IiS ApeC-
retary Of War had interfered with the
attendance of Mrs. Surra,t's sHiritual
| adviser, the New Y ork -Tinu> and an
obscure Philadelphia journal took oc-
cason, without any knowledge OF
S'cts, to denounce it as a malicious
fabrication. The suhjoined statement
was obtained from the very best az
thority, and neither the Times or the
Secretary of War dare DEFY it.
On Thursday morning, the 9Th inst,
the Rev. Father Walter, pastor of ST..
Patrick's Church, in this city. went to
the War Office to ask for a pass to
visit Mrs. Snrratt, ignorant Of the fact
tIat she had already been condemned
tossufer death on the following day.
lie had never prcviouslv visited MIS-
S, ncr did he know her except by re-
putaton. On application, he was
informed by Gen. Hariie, A. A. &. to
Secretary Stanton, that he could not
give him a pass without first consult
ing Mr.. Stanton. who was ort at the
time. Father Walter returned home.
and at o'clock p. NJ. on the same
day received a pass to visit The prison
s'gacd. by order Of the Secretary OF
War, Gen. iIardie, A. A. tr.
The messenger who brought the
pass to Father Walter, being an in
teIli"cnt Irishrnan. Father W. entered
into conversation with him on the
subject Of the execution, firmly assert
ing his belief in Mrs. Surratt's inuo-
rence. In half or perhaps an Hour
a'terward, Gen: Hardie h,mself called
at the residence of Father Waller,
ana after some irrelevant conversation,
said: Father Walter, YOU made quite
an impression on the mind OF my mes
sen9er in regard to the execution o!
Mrs. Snr:att. to which Father W. re
marked that he vas firmly impressed!
with her entire iHnocdpcr. Gen.
Hardie then said: Father Walter, the
pass you have will not admit Won to
the military prison morrow. because
1t is not signed hy the Secretary Of
War. | want you to make me Il
promise to say nothing Of Mrs 7Sur-
rats Innocence. and l will give YOU
the necessary pass
Father Walter, naturally Indignant,
immediately " refused to accedc to G..n.
HIS demand, giving him 20 under
stand, III The plainest kind Of language,
t"at no official, civil or military, could
enforce his silence on this noint; aud
remarking that he knew under whose
authority he (Gen. II. .was acting.
Gen. lIard'e-a converted Catholic,
blythe way-,hen said, patro,izinsly,
that as yet there were no charges
lodged against him. Father W., at the
War Department; to which the later
rcjolned that lie might tell has master,
Stanton, that he c6n>cieutiously be
lieved Mrs. Surratt guiltIess; that he
should proclaim his belief, and that
the War Department might hang HIM
if it thought proper.
NeH. l1arole WAS aooHt 10 60 VIII
out giving Father w. the pass, when
the latter said: Gen. Hardle. cannot
suffer Mrs. SurrAtt to die without adj
mnlsterng the sacrament; say yes
to your proposition; give me the pass
Gen. Hardle then drew from his
pocket pass duly filled up and signed
by Edwin NJ. Stanton, admitting hin
Father W., to the prison until after
the execution.
Previous TO the removal OF Mrs.
Surra;t from the Carroll to the Military
Prison, Father w. had made apple.
ton to The War Office for pass TO.
visit her, She being very i'll, but in
ovorv ipst,rco b:o ,D,,Iio,t;o,. .