The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-12

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tary now stands bound by the most solemn, OF,
rather the most blasphemous declarauon mace
during the Presidential tour, that neaVen anu
earth might pass away pHu Ihe '1e P,epsSen must be
fulfilled. The American people nave come 10
different resolution, and they will look to Con-
gress TO see that no Mexican compllcatlons,
however urged by political intriguers and reck-
less spectators, shall be allowed to interfere
with the accomplishment of the national will.
Arrest of surratt and the COnOver Case.
From The Herald.
In the long list of causes ce'ebreS, we do not
remember one which has excited more interest
or given rise to more speculation, than the case
of John II. Surratt. With him it is believed
rests the power of clearing away the doubts
which exist as to the guilt OF his wrctched
mother, and, what is far more important, OF
solving the question as to the completely OF JEFF.
Davis and his Secretary of State, Benjamin, in
the assassination plot. The case of Gonover, at
present a1raigned for perjury in connection with
the latter of these charges, acquires fresh i'm
poItance from the arrest of Sur1att. So much
mystery attaches TO the proceedings in which
this man Conover vas concerned, and so com
pletely did he succeed in humbugging Judge
Holt as to his power OF throwing light upon the
guilt of Davis, that the chances which are now
presented of a thorough elucidation OF the facts
are regarded with very general satisfaction.
Much, of course, will depend on the willing.
ness OF Su1Iatt to crafty the anxiety which
exists on this subject. II 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 II,
The cowardly part which he played in the de-
sertion OF his mother shows that he is person
of weak nerve. The fear OF death, and the hope
OF communication OF punishment in return for
the disclosures he has II 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 indrmites 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 the prosecution.
Had he been captured and convicted, there is
good reason to believe that we should now be
in possession of all the facts connected with
his visit to Richmond. II important to
the Government to ascertain the share, it any
which the Rebel authorities had taken in the
assassination scheme, that 1T would have Will
ingly commuted his sentence to get at it.
That SuTratt was the medium OF communlca-
ton between the Rebel authorities and the con-
spirators there can be no question. His visit to
Richmond, and his report of his conference with
Davis and BENJAMIN, are depOsed to by other
witnesses tnan C0nOVer, whose testimony mas
been proved to be wholly unreliable. But there
is nothing to show that either Mr.. Davis or MIR.
Benjamin had any idea that assassination was
contemplated. The construction put by Conover
upon the dispatches from Davis and Benjamin
to Jacob Thompson was unWarranted Dy the
facts that transp!red. So far as the Rebel Gov
ernment was concerned, the abduction OF MIR.
Lincoln and the chief members of his Cabinet
was we believe the limit OF its Instructions.
The enthusiasm of fanatic, as often happens
in such cases. pushed a plan, which i'll war Is
always considered justi6able, to the point OF
coWardy assassination.
II is true that we have 1t asserted by Mon
trea paper, on the alleged authority OF the per
son who gave the information which led to the
arrest of Surratt, thatsthe prisoner stated 10 him
| that the murder of Mr.. Lincoln was planned in
| Richmond, and that it had the assent of Mr.
| Davis. This we entirely disbeieve. In the
| first place, il is not likely that SurTatt would
until he knew 1t could be made conducive 10
| his safety and in the next, the medium through
which the story reaches us is not reliable one.
| All rumoIs of this kind should be received lor
the present with great caution. 1t must be re-
membered that those who have special causes
| of hostility against Mr.. Davis are interested
| in circulating them, and that in Montreal espe-
| cially he has some bitter personal enemies.
| Against such statements we should balance the
fact that the most rigid investigation by the
| Government has hitherto failed to bring home
| 10 him any cOnnivanCe with the plot.
| If MIR. Davis, then, as we believe, is wholly
| innocent of the charge, he will rejoice more
| than any of us at the capture OF SUrratt. TC
| the nation, and indeed, to the world at large
It is an event of political and historical interest
To the unfortunate captive at Fortress Monro(
it is something more. 1t offers him not only
of his reputation from the foulest stain tina
| could rest upoD il.