The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-07-14
Joseph Holt.
[Fron the Aug. Ga, Constitutionalist.

[Fron the Aug. Ga, Constitutionalist.
Among the living persons who are
mainly guilty of the death of Mrs. Sur
raft, Joseph Holt is By long odds the
most conspicuous and the most thor
opgbly detestable. Not satisfied with
his tremendous crime Of helping to
hang an innocent woman, he has recent
ly added to the infamy OF the first dark
deed by the preparation of another
which almost matches, in degrading
insolence, the matchless outrage which
has made his name notorious. If the
Washington reports are to be believed,
and little of discredit attaches to them,
Joseph Holt is the author of the das-
tard order which caused the discharge
of Hospital Steward Tonry," because
of his marriage with Surratt. From,
the oblivion which seemed to have
Overtaken him, 1t was cffaritably pre-
sumed that Holt had repented of the
part he played in the murder of Mrs..
Snrratt. But this was an GORGEOUS
mistake. He has gone beyond the
mark OF repentance permitted by
Heaven he has deliberately chosen
evil to be his good. Even the memory
of his victim has no terrors for him /;
and SO he seeks to justify her dreadful
taking off by heaping, 80 far as such a
wretch can, insult, OblOquy and dis
tress upon her poor daughter. Aud
yet this man wears the garb of a Uni
ted States soldier God save the mark
and is one of the princes of the new
dispensation. If such are the rulers of
the land by consent of the people, what
must the masses he upon whose shout
ders they sit in authority9
The New York World contains this for
chile illustration of the base characteris-
tics of man in comparison with whom
Jeffreys had some affinities with sucking
doves; 5.-.. t,..s.s-
LET a single exampl., suffice. We vio-
late no confidence in relating it, for the
times are fast coming in which the real
nature and not the factitious repute of mel.
conspicuous on either side in our late
struggle will decide, as it ought to decide.
the feeling of the people towards them
and the true records should begin. there
fore, to leap to light At the heiglith of
the war q well-known journalist of this
city, who had for some time published in
his paper personal notices of the wherea-
bouts and the well-being of Southern pris-
oners in Northern prisons, was notified
from the War Department. that this prac-
tice gave otfense and must be discOntin-
ued. Going to Washington, the journalist
explained to Secretary Stantcn that he
was only reciprocating publications as to
Northern prisoners in the South which
We're suffered to he made in the South, aud
begged that no obstacle be interpnsed to
prevent so humane a thing. Stanton to
his credit be it mentioned, declared that
the order had been issued in his absence,
and referred the journalist to Holt. The
same explanations and representations
were maae to Holt in his turn. He LISTEN
ed impatiently, aud, when the journalist
had sOncluded his statement, made this re.
ply, which should link his name forever in
d fitting union with that of the judicial
assass!ns of the gentle and noble lady Alice
Lisle: These personals, sir, are aid and
comfort to the enemy. If by them you
should communicate to Southern mother
the news that her rebel sen was dying of
consumption, but cared for, you wonld be
guilty of treason, and should be for pun.
ishing you as a traitor
When Stanton, even Stanton, had truth
and pity, Joseph Holt had none. Preston
King, Detective Baker and other accom-
pliees of Holt, in the Surratt affair, have
gone to their places In the other world,
with unsavOry premonitions of the hot
jurisdiction to which their evil accomplish
ments entitled them But none of these
parties could equal Holt in superhuman
cruelty. If they Jared SO badly in the end
how can Holt hope for a better finale to
his dismal days9 When atrocity in a hui
man being touches the sublime, Providence
sometimes defers adequate punishment,
and as it were in mockery, PERMITS s,l-
perior malefactors to close their accounts
on earth with apparent sanctity. So
Becky Sharp, in the fiction, simulated an
angel of charity at a religious fair. Who
knows but Joe H 1T will take holy orders.
and become a selfappointed apostle of the
gorillas. The great master who drew
PANTY Fair told US not of the last act in
Becky Shirp's pious fraud. Even Joe
Holt may be case of mysterious disap.
pearance in his presumed gorilla apostle
ship. Or, if ever found in his theological
jingle, it may he when some new Du
Chaiilu shall arise to startie the universe
with discoveries of novel monster.