The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-07-15
Judge Advocate General Holt,

1t is stated in Washington that the con
temptible order Lately issued by the War
department dscbarging Hospital Steward
Tonry from the service of the United States,
for marrying the daughter Of the murdered
Mrs. Surratt, emanated from the noble soul
Of Mr.. Judge Advocate General Holt
Nothing can be more probable. Holt was
nne of the chief agents in the murder Of
Mrs. Surratt, and the whole career OF the
,ssan proves him to be capable of ayenging
his own crimes upon the victims of those
trimes, even to the third and fourth gener-
ntion. But we warn General Rawlins that
he cannot hope to escape q share of the in
siiable scorn and indignation excited by 30
paltry piece of malignity, if he suffers il
10 stand as perpetrated in his name and with
bis consent. II Is disgrace to the nation
hat such o person as Holt should be re.
tained in its service il is disgrace to the
nrmy that he should be suiferded to wear
Its uniform; it is disgrace to honorable
man that they should permit themselves
even official intercourse with him, For The
onenses by which Holt has earned the inla.
my which in history will attach to his name
have been offenses not only against the laws
OF the land, such as partisan passion might
have provoked and partisan acts OF Congress
may condone, but against the laws Of God,
of humanity, and Of honor. They drew
their origin, not from perverted intellect,
but from a corrupt heart, and they put their
9perpetrator into one category, not with the
Alvas and John knoxes, but with the Var
gases and the Jeffreys of the past. In its
small way this wretched piece OF spite, lev.
eied at the daughter Of the woman whom
he procured to be murdered by military
commission, exactly reproduces the temper
in which he dealt with grayer matters of life
and death during the war. Let single
example suffice. We violate no confidence
in relating it, for the times are fast coming
in which the real nature and not the iacti
tious repute Of men conspicuous on either
side in our late struggle will decide, as it
ought to decide. the feeling Of the people
towards themi and the true records should
begin. therefore, 10 ''leap to light At the
height OF the war, well known journalist
OF this city, who had for some time pub
lished IN his paper personal notices. of
the whereabouts and the well being of
Southern prisoners in Northern prisons,
was notified from the War Department. that
this practice gave olfense and must be dis
continued. Going 10 Washington, the jour
nalist explained to Secretary Stanton that
he was only reciprocating publications as
to Northern prisoners in the South which
were suffered 10 be made in the Southern
papers, and begged that no obstacle he in,
terposed to prevent so humane thing
Stanton, to his credit be il mentioned, de.
clared that the order had been issued in his
absence, and referred the journalist to Holt
The same explanations and representations
were made to Holt in his turn. He listened
impatiently, and, when the journalist had
concluded his statement, made this reply
which should link his name forever in tit
ting unioa with the judicial assasSns of the
gentle and noble Lady Alice Lisle These
personals, sir, are aid and comfort to the
enemy. Ifby them you should communicate
10 a Southern mother The as,cs that her rebel
son tcds dying Of consumption but cared
for, you 9ould be guilty Of treason, and /
should be for Furnishing you as traitor"
1t is satisfactory to know that this afro.
cious speech was responded to in words
quite too strong for our columns, though
not by any means too strong what words
could be so p TO brand the speaker nature.
The man who uttered them, and who on
every possible occasion matched them with
deeds as black, is restricted now, by the
altered circumstances of the times, to the
comparatively harmless amusement of dis.
charging hospital steward for honestly
marrying poor girl, whom he no doubt
would have promoted the hospital steward
for dishonesty seducing and running. But
is it fitting that even such license Of numb
ling malignity IS this should be left to such
an one under commission signed by the
Chief Magistrate of Christian people p
Nep York World.