Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-08
,pr rHE rRurH COME FORTH.

Yesterday we repuDlsueu III eu''o
rial from the Freeman's Journal anc
Catholic Register of New York, in which
the writer proclaims that the blood o.
Mrs Surratt, like Abels against Cain
il calling to Heaven from out OF the
ground" and further says: If we have
not mistaken the character OF the mer
of Tennessee, Andy johnson will be lei
on his stump, and General Cheathan
will be elected Congressman at large,
etc. In this morning s Avalanche ap
pears a card ito the LEDGER" in which
the writer tos plainly shows that his
partisan admiration for Andy johnson
oyercomes his affection for religion
which he seems willing TO drag into
controversy in order to defend john
sonism. We are not willing to lend any
assistance in this undertaking. Re-
ligion. of whatever creed, is too sacred
to be mixed up in political discus
sions, and no one man has a right
to SO disgrace it by a political mixture
and certainly not when that admixture
is Johnsonism. We believe the state
ments made by the Freeman's Journal
to be true in every particular with refer
ence to the brutal refusal of Andy John
son to Archbishop Spalding. OF Baiti-
more, when the latter, in the name OF
mercy and religion, begged of the Presi-
dent that few d+ys might be given to
Mrs. Surratt in order to prepare her for
the decreed execution. From the Wash
ington Star of late date we take the fol-
lowing interesting but melancholy his
tory of the foul murder. Gen. Z. D.
Mussey, of Washington, who was private
secretary to Mr.. johnson at the time,
gives his recollections of the affair:
The execution, it viii be remembered,
took place on Friday, July Z, 1866. On
the Wednesday previous, the President
said to Gen. Mussey (then holding the
rank of COLONEL, ''Well, Colonel, l am
going to look over those courtmartial
papers relating to the trial OF the
conspirators, with Judge Holt, SO
that if any one wants to see me you
NAV say am occupied with important
business" General NJ. replied, " Very
we'll. Mr.. President Some time after
perhaps two hours-the President
came out Of his private office and said
to General NJ, " Well, we have looked
the matter over, and have come TO de-
cision." BE then went on to give the
names of those who had been found
guilty named those who had been SEN
fenced to death, and said they would be
hung on Friday of that week. General
Mussey, who was writing at the time,
says that when the President mentioned
the date fixed for the execution, he
General Mussey), was impressed with
the shortness Of the time allotted the
prisoners, and said, To-day is Wednes-
day, and the conspfrators will have but
two days in which to prepare for death.
Isn't the time rather short, Mr.. Presi-
dent ?" To this the latter replied, in
substance Yes, it is rather short; but
then these people must have foreseen
their fate from the commencement
of their trial, which has been
a long one. He then add
ed: Now, Colonel. / cant see any
one on this business; if any one calls TO
see me about the matter-if any one has
any fresh information or any new evil
dencs-refer him to Judge Holt. The
thing is settled; so far as ! am con-
cerned, and | cant see any one" On
the next day Thursday the doom Of
the conspirators-Payne, Harold, Atze-
rott aud Mrs. Surratt-was published to
the world, and before nine o'clock the
friends Of the condemned, including the
Rev. Father Walter, of this city, the sis
ters Of Harold, and General Mussey
thinks Annie Surratt, were at the White
Heuse TO see the President. Acting on
the Presidents peremptory order, Gen.
Mussey naturally enough denied all re-
quests to see Mr.. Johnson. Among the
callers we're counsel for the conspirators,
who apparently wanted to see the Presi-
dent and reargue the whole case before
him. OF course they, too, we're refused
admission to the President. Before
noon kilograms in relation 10 the execu-
ton began TO be received at the White
House. Some applauded the prompt
measures Of the government, and hoped
nothing wonld occur to prevent the exc
cution Of the sentence; while others
prayed for mercy in behalf Of the pris-
oners. On Friday, the day fixed for the
execution, the number Of callers and
telegrams increased. General Mussey
was at breakfast in the White House
when informed that daughter OF Mrs.