The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1872-10-10
Andy Johnson and the Surralt Case.

Aiug OOliilSOu AHA JilC DulldIU Clht,
In our issue Of last week we promised
to reply to quite n lengthy editorial in
the Groonyillo Seaiilel anil Reporter, of
the LIST inst, which editorial attempted
to rebuEe and censurc us for what tho
editors of that sheet were pleased to call
n RECKLESS charge made to the effect
that Andy Johnson was a murderer.
We have nothing to take back, but roit-
crate the charge heretofore made, not
only in these columns, but in the col
umns Of many papers throughout the
State. This charge, we insist, can be
proven to the satisfaction and under
standing of any impartial mind. We
shall then come right square to the work.
There is no controversy over the fact
that Mrs. Surratt was hung pursuant to
the finding of u Military Commission,
and that sud Commission was convened
by the direction Of Nj. Johnson. There
is further scarcely any doubt but that
Mr.. johnson dd approve of said find
ing by the said Military Commissions,
and that Mrs. SUrratt was hung at his
instance and direction. In fact being
President of the United States, and by
reason thereof the Commauder-in-chic
OF the Army and Navy, lie became the
creative and controlling power Of said
Military Commission, and hence he is
alone the responsible person for the
hanging Of Mrs. Surratt.
1t is insisted by the Sentinel and Re-
porter that the trial Of MIS- Surratt was
all regular. That charges were prefer
red against her, That she had tho ben
eft of council, and was confronted with
tho witnesses, &c. The paper further
says that "no evidence has ever come to
light to prove her innocence of the
charges" For the first time has the
dead been called upon to establish their
innocence. This proposition is just
about in keeping with Johnson's candi-
dacy for Congress.
After said Military Commission had
terminated its labors, and with periurod
testimony found Mrs. Surratt guilty,
whatdo We find Mr.. Johnson, the So
called Constitution adviser, doing? This,
remember, was in July after the wal had
closed, and the "robcls" had gone home
to prosecute the civil avocations of life.
Judge Wiley, Radical, had granted a
writ OF habeas corpus, requiring that
Mrs. Surratt be brought before him that
the cause of her detention might be en-
CURED into according to law. Where
is there II man that loves law and order
that could have objected to this proceed
ing us required by law? No one but
he who is destitute of human feeling and
sympathy could have done so!
Here is what Andy Johnson done.
Let the enlightened and civilized world
be o enlightened on this subject, and
let tho world judge whether or not this
act should consign the perpetrators to
lasting inlamy:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, July T., 1SG5.--To Major
General Hancock, commanding, crc: 81. An.
drew johnson, President of the United States.
40 hereby declare that the writ of habcas cor
Pns mas been heretofore suspended in such
cases as this; dad DO hcreJy suspend hi, 1rrif,
ana direct that yoU proceed 10 ercciie lie o,6cj,
heretofore girca upon the judgement of q mill
ti"ry commission, and you will give this order
In return to this writ.
ANDK&w JOHNSON, Presid ent.
This order of Mr.. johnson to Cener-
!" Hancock was in keeping with lis
aVowed purpose Of making treason obi
GUS lie knew, as docs the Sentinel and
"'po'1f', that tho hanging Of Mrs. Sur
raft was directly antasonistic to the
provisions Of the Constitution of The
United States as cxpoundcd by Tie Su,
preIne Court in the Mi!ligan case. Hence
it necessarily follows, unless Mr.. John