Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-14

the memories of her sons as long as time
shall last.
Mr.. johnson will doubtless tell our peo-
plc, as he has frequently done at other
places. that he was the defender OF the
Constitution and the laws. Now let us
see how he hasa proved himself the de-
fender of the Constitution and the rights
of the citizen under it. We prefer to
Judge him by his record. When Judge
Wiley, of the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia, granted writ OF
habeas corpus in the case of Mrs. Sur
raft. com msnding General Hancock, who
| was then in command of the department,
to have the prisoner brought before him,
that the Court might determine whether
she had committed crime against the law
oflhe land, General Hancock referred the
matter to the President for instructions.
The President indorsed on. the writ the fol-
lowing: "Obeyyour orders-this De
your return !" and Mrs. Surratt was hung
in accordance with the mandate of an in
famous military commission-denied the
benefit of one of the sacred guarantees OF
the American Bill of Rights, which Mr..
Johnson had solemnly sworn to protect.
Her daughter lay for hours PROSTATE
upon the steps of the Presidential Man
sion, praying and imploring for an inter-
view with the President, that the life OF
her mother might be spared, bat the
Presidents heart was closed to every ap-
peal for mercy.
In reading the chronicles of by-gone
times, we fail to find parallel for such
heartless and unrelentiBg cruelty. From
out her cold grave the blood of the muir
derede Surratt calls for vengeance upon
the heads Of her nurderers. Mr.. John
son could have saved Der, and thereby
INDICATED the supremacy of the Constr
tuition and the laws; but he would not.
Let MS hear 70 more Of this nonsense
about defending the Constitution. What.
ever good Mr.. johnson may have done in
his life is ovsrshsdowed by this dark
deed of blood; all such talk is the meres,
balderiash, and is too transparent for
even the most erednlous. tbs the art Of
the demsgogue; the country is nauseated
with it; they understand it. There are
those who cannot be conten. with the
mer. submission of their enemies, let it
be accompanied with ever so much re-
peniance. With full Consciousness OF
their own treason to priHciple, they want
them to be stuliifed with bumiliating
sbassmsnts, and require az almost pusiL
lauiuous neekness in srder that they
usy the more readily mould them 70 their
owl purposes.
The people Of cur State hsve quietly
submitted to the infamous policy Of the
party in power, trusting and hopirg that
the future would return cur lost liberties
But, bunilisiing as our condition lie, we
have preserved orr honor through all,
and have seornsi the heresy Of negro
Suffrage, when, by advocating it, We
nigh; have purchased our freedom. 1t
Is useless Tor Mr.. johnson 70 attempt 10
sednee the people from their iine-hon-
orea principles by appealing TO their
passions and concesling the real issues
Whsu this whirlsind Of passion shall
hsve passed by, and our people are re-
stored their lost rights, We will rekindle
the fires Of Constitutional liberty upon
our affairs and rebaild the shattered fab
rie Of government We may then have
Senators to elect. bat they will be men
who will reflect the sentiments Of the
people; fsvors to confer, but they will
not be conferred upon those who have
bIsckened their souls with the double sin
of perjury and the desertion Of race
and section.
The Tail ways the Dog.
e L. I'D