The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-05
By Telegraph.
nsrosrrp roR rur DA1Er>ARGus.
.CH1cAeo, Angus GA Washington

CHICAGO, Angus o. washington
f IS. j Ssse pierpont yesterdayin his argu-
ment to the jAry in the surfast case made
n important statement when <he verlhed
| by producing an orignai record relative TO
! the execution of Mrs. ourratt. 1t has been
ebarced,it viii be remembered, that an order
| Far Mrs Surratt's execution was handed to
Tho President by1a member of the cabinet,
and TINT it was signed without consultation.
The allowing verbatim extract from Judge
Pierponts speech, tells the story:
al have not come here for the purpose of prov
ing that Mrs sSurratt was guilty or that she was
innocent. do not understand why-th subject
was logged into this in the mode it has
been nor do understand why the counsel de-
nounced the military commission who tried her
and thus indirectly censured in the severest man
ner the President of the United States. The
counsel certainly knew when they wore talking
about that tribunal and when they were thus de-
nouncing it that President johnson ordered, with
his own hand, that commissions that the Pres
ident signed the warrant that directed the execu
ton that President johnson, when that record
was brought before him, sent for his cabinet and
that every single member voted upon it; that
| they voted to confirm the sentence and that the
President, with his own hand, wrote his confirma-
ton of it, and with his own hand signed the war
| rant. No other man, as it appears from that
paper, ordered it; no other one touched this pa
per.
"When it was suggested, by some members of
/ the commission that in consequence of the age
| and sex of Mrs. Surratt it might possibly be
right to change their sentence to imprisonment
for life he signed the warrant for her death with
| the paper right before his eyes. There it is
| (handing the paper to Mr.. Merricx) "my friend
| can read for HIMSELF 9
| WASHINGTON Aug 5th.-There is the best
authority for contradiction ofthe statement
that President johnson has decided to re-
move Collector Kellogg of New Orleans.
Santa Anna is still in prison. Nothing
has been heard of Marquee yet. The for
eign ministers were unmolested. The Pres
ident. was advocating general amnesty,
but all agree that a severe punishment
should be meeted to Marcquiz, LaCunze,
LaRaze and others.
| New York, August 5.-The New York
Times Fl. Harker special says:
The Indians killed seven men, yesterday,
six miles from here. The men killed were
railroad laborers. After scalping two men,
the savages proceeded to Big Creek stage
station and ran off with twenty horses and
mules. This was committed in broad day
light, and while exposed to the fire of fifty
infantry and dozen stage employees, 800
yards from them. 1t is considered the bold
est dash the Indians have made. Captain
Ames started Immediately in pursuit and
overlook the Indians last night, but found
them too strong to attack with his force, and
sent back for reinforcements, which were
forwarded.
The New York Heralds Key West spe-
cial, of the Sd, says:
/ Everything is in readiness to lay the ca
ole. The paying out began to-day. The
line will be opened about the 18th of Aug.
| ust.
The New York Tribune's special says:
The old story of the resignation Of Stan
ton is being revived. This time there seems
to be good foundation for it. 900
The Presidents contemplated removal OF
Sheridan is opposed by Stanton and Grant
The President stated last week that he would
remove Stanton first and then Sheridan
Some doubt is expressed as to the Presi'
dents power to remove a cabinet officer I'M
der the civil tenure of Office law. His
| friends say if he can't make Stanton resign
he will suspend him until the meeting Of
| congress. The whole matter has been the
| subject of much talk here within the last
, twenty-tour hours, 1t not having become
known until then that there really was a
quarrel between the President and Stanton
General Grant has had several INTERVIEWS
during the week with the President and
Sec'y Stanton on the proposed removal OF
Sheridan. 1t is said that General Grant
construes the reconstruction act to place or
him part of the responsibility for its faith
ful execution by the officers under him, and
under his command, and hence his opposi
ton to Sherdan's removal. He is opposed
to Sheridan's removal, and when consulted
by the President gave his opinion that in nc
one could he place more trust than Sheri
| dan
. ST. Louis, Aug. 5.-Henry Syzock, /;
, years of age, clerk in in drug store, com
mitted suicide yesterday by taking poison.
r Ny. Times special says The recon-
mendation for Mrs. Surratt, made by the
members of the military commission which
4 tried the assassination conspirators, has a
, last been unearthed and reads as follows:
The undersigned, members of the military
commission detailed to try Mary E. Surratt
and Others for the conspiracy and the muir.
T der of Abraham Lincoln, the late Presiden
of the United States, &C., respectfully pray
the President, in consideration ofthe sex ant
age ofthe said Mary..E. Surrattr;ifhe can,upol
all the facts of the case, find 1t consistent
with his sense of duty to the country to com
mute the sentence of death which the cour
has been constrained to pronounce, TO i'm
prisonment in the penitentiary for life
Respectfully submitted.
(Signed) ID. ID. Hunter
Maj. General, President;
August Konntz,
Brig l. BIT Major General j;
r. l.. Foster,
Brig. & Bvt Major General;
James A. Ekan,
| -E|%E yeZsE Il,.t A. u a.. Co,1 &