Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-09-29
ANsMER To ror.oArnonc.

In yesterdays AualUsche we are as
sailed In q communication as mean a.
it Is malignant, for referring in our &C
cusations Of Andrew johnson for the
murder Of Mrs. Surratt, to the fact that
she was q Catholic lady. The disgrace
full and dishonest attempt is made by a
"Non-C atholien to excite again in our
land Protestant prejudice against Cath
olics. We are held up by this anony-
nous scribbler, a. claiming forthe Cath
ole professor more merit than for q
Protestant disciple. That correspond
ent well knew that nothing We have
written Is capable Of such a construc-
ton. Our reasons for referring to the
particular faith OF the victim Of
Johnson's unconstitutional and ar
bitrary acts are obvious to the
most limited intelligence. The
viIlainy Of an Illegal condemna-
ton, the horror Of an unconstitutional
trial, can never be so appreciated, and
the necessity Of requiring Of all in au-
thority the administration OF the law Is
It is written can never be made so sppa-
rent, as in a case where the innocent have
suffered by reason of the violation 4
law by the magistrate. It IL the limo
cent victim Of the irregular and illegal
processes Of a Scroggs OF Tinville, not
the guilty one, that impresses the mind
with the great crime Of departing from
the law in the administration Of punish
ment. To make the offense Of Andrew
johnson ia the Surratt execution
emphatic to the mind of the pub
lie, and develop its enormity, it
was Legitimate in Us to show how guilt
less the poor woman was Of the crime
charged on her. Every fact that tended
10 make her innocence manifest, We had
the right to use. We could not reprint
the evidence before the Civil Commits
sion. That would be % voluminOus
for the mass Of our readers 70 peruse.
We, however, cited the criticism Of
Butler, Of Massachusetts,, who could be
accused Of no Partially for the Surratts,
pronouncing the evidence addueed ut
terly insufficient 10 establish guilt.
We referred TO the triumphant
scquittal of her son, tried for par
ucipating with her in the alleged
conspiracy and the complete mani
fsstation Of her innocence on that trial;
We have referred to her generally
conceded innocence Of the imputed as
sassination. But all this with many
might not be as satisfactory as
the fact that she had ali her life been sn
active Catholic professor, and, in her
last solemn confession TO her priest,
ayOwed her innocence. Those who
know and understand the discipline and
tsnets Of the Catholic Church, in the
Of the Confessional, will under
stand that no true protesting Catholic at
the hour Of death will pour into the ear
Of the attending priest q falsehoOd
To such we a offer no better proof Of
ler innocence than her devoted Catholic
life, followed by an avowal in her
confessional Of her innocence. Yet
. y on-CathOlic" p~rofessesto regardsuch
on our part as not german to
he point, and pretends to intimate
hat we are actuated by the same
city, mean and malignant sectariau-
sm that is the animus of his communi-
alton. He falsely charges Us with
mixing politics and religion" The
ruth is that If is evident that he has no
ympathy with Mrs. Surratt because
be was a Catholic. Doubtless It
-ould be pleasure to him 10
ct rid Of all Catholics by military
ommissfons. Our reference to this
DOR woman's religious faith and her
vowals OF innocence made in the prac-
ce of that faith were entirely legiti-
tate in argument, and not made for
he purpose Of exciting sectarian feeling,
is evidently the purpose Of the COM
.unication Of "Non-Catholic.n Ifhe 5
TO array the Protestant against
e Catholic in this latitude, bis despi-
.bIe aim will be defeated. The Protest. {
It can no more be rallied to johnson
an the Catholic. Both have learned 1
appreciate each other during the late +
At, and, like all classes in the South, J
eept Johnson and his s~oreheaded :
ew, wish the harmony and peace Of v
lspeI charity, and not the riot Of evil P
o