Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-07-16
Tall Special Pleading.

sOme Vi Iuo uOSt tlnRSHiouo Vi bno lOauOAe
of that party framing all manner of frivo-
lous excuses in order to evade the grave
responsibilities they have incurred.
During the progress of the SURRATT trial
the Radicals, including the old dotard who
acts as Judge, have used every available
means to secure conviction. A class OF
the lowest creatures with which our coun-
try is infested were called as witnesses
to swear up case, and whilst their evil
dence was being reported the Radicals
were jubilant. But so soon as the defense
succeeds in showing up these witnesses in
their true character, the Radicals all at
once begin to look for some possible es-
cape from the responsibility of numbering
Mrs. SURRATT.
The partisan Judge, who has disgraced
the judiciary during this investigation, by
refusing to permit witnesses to be recalled
in order to call their attention to circum-
stances and conversations that would ena-
BILE the defense to convict them of the gross
est falsehoods, under the pressure, is be-
coming more amiable.
In numerous instances, this Judge has
refused to permit these detestable witnesses
to be recalled, for the purpose of calling
their attention to statements made by them
totally inconsistent with their evidence.
But even with all this unfair conduct, and
the extraordinary efforts of STANTON, who
is laboring to save himself from universal
execration, the Radicals begin to feel that
even forced conviction is not probable.
The Ne,o York Tribune, in treating of this
subject in recent issue, remarks:
The trial of John H. Surratt derives a
peculiar interest from the fact that not
only the life of the accused but perhaps the
honor of the Government depends upon the
issue. There Is unfortunately an impression
on the public mind that whatever Surratt's
connection with the death of President
Lincoln may have been, he was unques-
tionably neither more guilty nor less guilty
than the other unfortunate wretches who
for their completely with Booth were
hanged in the jail-yard at Washington !;
that it the jury declare John Surratt inno-
cent of murder, they by the same verdict
will virtually denounce the execution of
his mother as an outrage upon Justice. We
say this is unfortunate, because in the eyes
of persons who hold to this impression, the
course of the prosecution is made to appear
unfair and vindictive, and the witnesses for
the Government as men who are bound, in
halter round the neck of the prisoner; the
District-Attorney seems to be defending
the United States, and the counsel for the
accused to be prosecuting the Military
Commission and the Secretary of War.
"A little reflection will show that there
is no necessary connection between the
issue of this trial and the justice of the sem
tences already executed upon the conspi-
rators. If John H. Surratt is hanged, the
guilt of his mother will not thereby be
made any clearer, and if he escapes, it will
not follow therefrom that all the accom-
plices of Booth ought to have escaped too.
The course of certain copperhead newspa-
pers in holding up Government officials to
odium in the character of relentless perse-
cutors of the unhappy young man
who stands at the bar pleading
against a heinous charge, is scarcely
less uni ust than the rashness of the jour-
nalists who comment upon the evidence,
and tear the witnesses to pieces, and fore
tell the verdict, and predict that the pris-
oner will come to the gallows. 1t is a
pretty serious matter to meddle with
mans chances when he is being tried for
his life. For our own part, we are by 10
means pleased with everything that has
been done during the progress of the case,
by either side; but we should be sorry to
believe that the decision of the jury can af-
feet anybody but the prisoner himself;
sion at this time about what that decision
ought to be-"
Now, how comes it that the honor of the
Government "depends upon the issue P"
Remarkable state of affairs in Republi-
can Government, where man is tried for
his life with ''the honor of the Government
depending" upon his conviction.
Why not disclose the truth? Why not
honestly confess that Mrs. SURRArT was
cruelty, barbarously murdered, and that
the Government is trying to convict her
son by fair means or foul, in order to JUS
tify that murder? Why whine like craven
hearted towards about the honor of the
Government depending upon SURRATT's
conviction? Can a crime be justified
by establishing another crime? If
Mrs. SURRATT was guilty, that does
not affect the case in the least.
She was denied Constitutional
more right to take her life in that way than
a man has to murder any fellow man upon
the pretext of political difference. If
Mrs. SURRATT was guilty, why was she not
legally tried and convicted? The whole
transaction is a barefaced outrage, and
wholly ineXcusable. The editor of the
Tribune says that cit is unfortunate that
the District Attorney seems to be defend
ing the United States" Well, yes, it is un-
fortunate. Radicalism is unfortunate to
the country in every respect and more
especially when engaged in illegally exc
cutting woman. and then trying by means
OF partisan judge, to force conviction of
her son in order to palliate the crime.
Then follows the special plea of the Tri-
bune. The Radicals, in view of the proba-
BILE discharge of SURRATT, are extremely
anxious that this case should in no way
reflect upon the conduct of the Govern
ment. The whole article shows clearly
the pitiable condition of these cruel
wretches who have involved the nation in
this disgraceful crime. But few days
ago, they were exulting that SURRATT
would be convicted and claimed that that
would vindicate the lawless acts of his
mothers murderers, and now, when the
current has set in in an opposite direction,
they are loud in their protestations that
this verdict shall in no way reflect upon
their acts.
With the honor of the Nation depending
upon JoHN's conviction and partisan
Judge, his chances for fair and impartial
trial is truly fiattering.
If SURRATT is guilty, wo hope he will be
convicted; but it is due the Nations honor
that he should have an impartial trial. And
it is to be hoped that this after-piece of the
double tragedy, with which BOOTH and
company have panied and disgraced the
Nation, will have tendency to demonstrate