The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1869-08-07
The Government and the Sur
rats.


The conduct Of the U. S. Gov
ernment toward the Surratt fam
lily is a scandal to the age we live
in. Mrs Surratt was murdered.
A woman was murdered in her in
nocence. She was murdered with
accompanying circumstances OF
the most heartless cruelty and
brutal atrocity. Her daughter, a
worthy young woman, of good
standing, sought to see her moth
err before the murder blow should
fall. She was refused. She beg
ged and entreated. She was re-
pulsed. She clung with tears and
groans to the knees of those who
had power to grant her prayers.
She was driven out with violence.
One would have supposed that
when the tragedy was over, when
years and years had gone by, and
when the guiltlessness of the MUIR
dered victim, murdered as so
many other victims have been by
that horrid engine Of murder, the
military commission, was univer-
sally recognized throughout the
country, all the Jacobinical agents
in the murder, if they had not the
hearts Of flends, would feel deep
Fenorse and almost weep great
tears of blood that they could not
find some means of partially atom
ing before God and man for their
fearful work, the dread thought of
which must have, knocked dole
fully night and day at the doors
Of their hearts, ,,. s1
But how was it with them? A
few weeks ago, Miss Sprratt, the
young woman so cruelty spurned
years before when praying Tor one
last gaze into the face Of her
mother, was married to q Mr..
Tony, q supporter Of the admin
| istration, occupying an official p0-
| sition at Washington. She was
poor, she was an orphan, made an
orphan by murder, and she accept
1 ed a protector. But the controll-
| ing spirits of Jae0hlnism. at the
Capital, maddened at the thought
of the murder they had done, and
set on fire by the peopled hell they
, bore in their =bosoms, instantly
; hurled her husband and protector
from his Office. Having murder
ed the innocent mother by rope
! they intended, if possible, to mur
) der the innocent daughter by star
vation. They would make wal
t upon any one for giving to her
J loaf Of bread or cup Of cold wa
ter. 500 taft 5tAtf 8a
/ Now the murdered Mrs. Surrat
was not charged, before the Mill
tary Commission, with being
} principal or even q prominent &C
cessory in the killing Of Mr.. lin
t coin. She was accused only 0
) aiding her son, John H. Surratt-
!, of being an accessory Of an acces
sorry. John III. Surratt, as tn
1 only means of escaping trial by
; tribunal organized for murder
! fled across the. ocean. A Theav.
! reward was offered By the Govern
: ment for his arrest. "A hundred
r agencies were set to work at hom
n and abroad for his capture. Ii
$ was brought back from Asia a
n great public expense. The r.
e ward advertised for him was pait
1 And then what? Why after
s good deal Of fuss, he was di'
} charged as one whom it was IN
It possible to convict. And he hs
: been at liberty ever since. Il
b walks the streets of Wasbingto
Y as free as Gen. Grant. He invite
Il arrest. He defes it. He virtua
r ly says to the Government, Hyo
e published me as q murderer, yc
o hung my mother as a murderess {
1t account Of her alleged complicit
It with me, you brought me fro
IS the other side of the world as
70 murderer at heavy cost, and no
D. here I am. Try me. You turn
worthy man out OF Office for ma
rying a young woman guilty /
" the crime OF being my sister 81
2. the daughter OF q lady whom yS
"a Murdered on q charge OF aidii
n and abetting me, and now y
i may do7your best and your won
e with me. confront you.
y challenge you. I dare you.
flout you.o And the Governme
| stands it. For what else can I
y Government do?- Coarter-Jo'
Y, 1qT. #trf1SntFaE AtB48 Ya s8&tbt
~ j. g. Kathman, late Chief oft
US pnraou nf Tumi grafton. has III