The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-04

"came to the sticking point" and he
was not there, but on his way to
Canada and fancied security; or else
that he had been sent off in advance, as
his part of the work, to clear the way and
find a safe refuge for the other conspira-
tors for OF course men who could be silly
enough to suppose that the murder of a
President and his entire Cabinet and the
Vice President would be the means of
securing the independence ofathe South,
would naturally conclude that in neigh
boring nation unfiiendly to the country
they would be secure from pursuit. Surratt
did think this, for his guilty conscience at
once impelled him across the Canadian
frontier, ola st. Adams, and tonight, at
st. Adams, he will tell the story of his
flight and adventures, and try to ex-
cuse his conduct in not returning to
save, or perish with, her to whom he
owed his life. His excuses about not hav-
ing learned of her fate until it was too late
for him to do anything, are not valid, and
will not be accepted by the chivalry Of
Virginia. His place was by her side in
that supreme hour-aud all the world of
honor will so declare it--no matter what
he might have thought the chances were
for or against her; and the fact that lie
was afraid to expose himself to danger for
her sake, shows how conscious he was of his
own guilt. Had he come forth from his
hiding-place, proclaimed himself, surren-
dered to the authorities, and made the
statement he now does, the chivalry of the
act, and nobleness of the devotion, would
have challenged the admiration of the
country and saved both son and mother.
We would willingly have permitted this
matter to have passed by in sience,--but
the impudent and injudicious course of the
subject has forced these harsh structures up
on his conduct. He should have been con-
tent to have remained in that quiet to
which the mercy of his country had per-
mitted him. to retire. There he might have
lived to an old age, and died unnoticed -
descending to a grave which coed acts
and repentance might still have made an
honorable one but he was not content
lie wanted fame He thought the time had
come when he might proclaim himself
martyr, and be received as such by part
at least, of the American people and,
therefore, he must take the consequences
of his own indiscretion.
History will embalm his memory. He
has the advantage of most of US in that
respect. While the name of Lincoln brigh-
tens its pages with CLEAN of the
sunshine of glory, two dark and hideous
shadows will cross that radiant beam, and
in them posterity will execrate the names
of Booth and Surratt.
| We have finished what we have to say,
and now ask the good and honorable peo-
pie of Richmond, who only admire deeds
that are done boldly and chivalrously In
the broad light of day, and despise those
who work in darkness and by hidden
means, to crowd st. AL bans hall to- night,
and give grand ovation to the hero of
the hour, JOHN II. SURRATT.
Below we give some extracts to show
what was thought Of him in New York
while lecturing there
| IN. Y Timesl
| The public showed a correct appreciation Of John
III. Surratt by leaving him unotced. He talked to
beggariy array OF empty benchesin Cooper Institute
and succeeded in convicting himself of being a
traitor and coward.-the virtual murderer of his
MOTHER If not one of the murderers of President Lin
| coin. man who, according to his showing was
apartcipstor in conspiracy which ended in assassi
natio l. and fed from the country escape the gal
lows, which was, after ALL cheated out of its due
| now mounts the platform and invites people to
| listen to story which has already consigned him
to nfamy The effrontery and indecency of the pro-
ceeding are equalled only by its folly.
N.Y. Worldl
We are glad to note that the decency of Now
York SO far prevailed its pruriency that surratt
was attended by an audience not numerous enough
to defray his expenses. The object which he tran
gully acknowledges himself to have in view in his
"lecture' is therefore defeated here, as it is to be
| hoped it may be everywhere else. convicted thief
once put in to his judge plea Of the same sort az
Surratts. swell, your Honor, must ive;" to
whom the clear headed jurist responded, Il see
necessity for that" 1t does not even to have
occurred to Surratt that between dying and living
by such means as he proposes to himself the former
is clearly preferable. OF the two Alternatives let us
commend suicide to him being much more credita-
bic to him and mmeasurably more edifying to his
fellow citizens. Judas Iscariot had the grace to
hang himself, even after he had got his money. We
see no reason why Surratt, who has not got his
ey which he has made himself abomination for,
should not emulate his example II
N. Y Commercially
Some frauds succeed very well in New York but
for class like the miserable fellow surratt it is
very poor place His exhibition at the Cooper Insti-
tute was complete fzzle Less than a hundred
people gathered to hear tho brazen faced heartles
wretch who fled like dog and permitted his moth
er to die an infamous death. The fellow if re had
aspark OF manhood, never would show his face in