The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-11

be match for the United States In conflict
on the American continent.
Tho Arrest Of surratt and the ConovsS Case.
In the long list of causes celebres, we do not
remember one which has excited more interest
or given rise to more speculation, than the case
| of John III. Surratt. With him 1t is believed
rests the power of clearing away the doubts
which exist as to the guilt of his wretched
mother, and, what Is far more important, Of
solving the question rs to the completely OF
JEFF Davis and his Secretary Of State, Benja-
min, in the assassination plot The case OF
Conover, ut present arraigned for perjury In
connec ton with the latter Of these charges,
acquires fresh importance from the arrest Of
surrstt. So much mystery attaches to the pro-
ceedings in which this man Conover was con-
cerned, and so completely did he succeed in
humbuggine Judge Holt as to his power of
throwing light upon the guilt of Davis, that the
chances which arc now presented Of thor
ough calculation Of the facts are regarded with
very general satisfaction.
Much, Of course, will depend on the willing
ness Of Surratt to CRAFTY tho anxiety which
exists on this subject If he remains obstinately
silent but little will be CLEANED in addition to
the evidence already In our possession. We
much mistake the character OF the man, how
ever, If he does not make clean breast of It.
The c,wardly part which he played in tho de-
sertion Of his mother shows that he is per-
son of weak nerve. The fear Of death and
the hope of Communication Of punishment in
return for the disclosures he has 1t in his power
| to make, will, therefore, we feel convinced,
| bring him to a full confession.
On the trial Of the assassins who have paid
the penalty of their crime the escape Of Sur
raft was frequently commented upon as remov-
| ing from the reach Of the prosecution one of
| the most important links in the chain Of evil
dence which the case presented. Much was
expected from his arrest His infrmities Of
! character, his want Of moral courage and the
! lengths to which he would have gone In the
efforts to clear himself would all have proved
so much additional help to tho prosecution.
Had he been captured and convicted there is
/. good reason 10 believe that we should now be
1 possession Of all the facts connected with
n 9 visit to Richmond. 1t was so important to
IN government to ascertain the share, If any,
WI ch the rebel authorities had taken in the
ASA ssination scheme that It would have will
lima commuted his sentence to get at IL.
TN 1T Surratt was the medium of communica-
ton between the rebel authorities and the
consd 'rators there can be no question. His
visit IA Richmond and his report OF his confer
ence vM til Davis and Benjamin are deposed to
by otIn Witnesses than Conover, whose testi-
mony LIN been proved to be wholly unreliable.
Bit then Q is nothing to show that either Mr.
Davis or. Mr.. Benjamin had any idea that assas-
sination as contemplated. The construction
put by q mover upon the dispatches from
Davis, and Benjamin to Jacob Thompsoa was
d by any Of the facts that trans
prod So far o. the rebel government was
concerned the abduction Of Mr.. Lincoln and
Of the chiel members Of bis Cabinet was, we
believe; tsei limit Of il instructions. The On
thusiasm .! q, fanatic, as often happens in such
GASES, pushed plsn,- which In warts always
considered justiiable. 70 the point Of cow
ardly assassin alton.
II is,trus thst we have Il asserted by Mon
treal paper, on tho alleged authority Of the
person who gave the information which led to
the arrest Of Suirstt that the prisoner stated to
him ths4 tho murder of AA4Lincoln wasplanned
In Richmond, and that 10 6ad tho assent Of Mr..
Davis This We entirely dfsbslieve. In the
first piscs II Il not likely that Surrats would
make any confession in regard TO the natter
until be knew II could to made conducive to
his safety; and in the next, ~ medium through
whiohs the story reaches us ID mot . rsiiabls
one. All rumors OF this kind should be No
ceivedf for the present with great oautisr. It
must be remembered tsax' those who have
special osuses Of hostility against Mr.. Davis ape
Interested in circulating them, and that in Nom
trcal especially he has Some bitter personal
enemies. Against such statements we srOuld
balance the fact that tke-Dsst rigid invvsti.
CATION BY the governments has hitherto, failed
TO bring home to him aBr ccanivance With tho
plot
If Mr.. Davis. then, as Nc believe, is wholly
innocent Of the charge, he will rejoic. more
than any Of us at the capture o. Surrau- To
the nation, and, indeed, 10. the world su large,
it is an event Of political and historical inter-
est To the unfortunate captive at Fortress
Monroe II Is something more. II offers him not
only prospect Of speedy release, but the re-
deuption of his reputation from ths toulest
stain that could rest upon 1t.
ALLEGED TRACES o. PRE-HrsroRrclL CIVIL
zsnoS IN MINNESOTA --Squier and Davis and
Stephens have abuadantly shown, that in
tercsting traces Of Pre-historical civilization
exist in Central and North America. Bus
the letter which we yesterday published
hom correspondent at St. Anthony. Min