Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-09-21
THE GREATEST CRIME IN MODERN
HISTORY.

and gladly turns from their contempla-
ton. But as General Andrew Johnson
has obtruded himself upon the people Of
Tennessee as a candidate for Congress,
and demanded an Endorsement of his
official career, all the facts connected
with this foul and atrocious crime win
he held up in all their hideOus enOrmity.
When we alluded to the hanging of
Mrs. Surratt a few days since, it was an
nounced by the friends Of General An
drew johnson that he would, in his
speech, e~xculpate himself Of all
completely with this hellish crime.
For the sake Of humanity We earn
estly hoped that General johnson
would, in his Memphis speech, prove
that his hands were not stained with the
blood of this womaD. We had heard
that General johnson could make a
satisfactory explanation-on that would
bring tears to the eyes Of his audience,
and elevate him in the estimation of all
just men. But General johnson came
to Memphis; he delivered his proposed
speech; his friends told him that he
must free his skirts of the odium Of
hanging Mrs. Surratt, or defeat was in
evitable. General Andrew johnson,
with all his ingenuity, could invent
nothing to excuse or extenuate his crime,
and he boldly admitted that he hung
Mrs. Surratt, that he refused to pardon
her. He Is, therefore, cOnfessedly re-
sponsible for this great crime. And
what is its origin and history? When
Lincoln was assassinated the rebellion
had collapsed. The rebels had surren-
dered, and were returning to their desc
lated homes. The civil authorities were
not disturbed in Washington. Mrs.
Surratt was an old woman; her head
white with the frosts Of many winters:
her face wrinkled, and her hands pal
sled. She was struggling to make an
honest living, and kept in Washington
a respectable and fashionable boarding
house. She was no more responsible for
the schemes cORcocted at her house
by her boarders than the proprietors of
the Peabody Hotel are for the conduct
Of a gang Of burglars who might happen
10 congregate there. But blood was
demanded, and the infuriated mob cared
not whether the victim be an innocent
woman, venerated for her years and
Christian purity of character, or the real
assassins. A military court wa impro-
vised for the occasion. Pictured wit
nesses, hired to swear away the life Of
an innocent woman, and since convicted
Of crimes, performed well their contracts.
Mrs. Surratt was dragged before this
irresponsible tribunal, in chains, and
dressed in the most hideous costume.
She went through the mockery Of a
trial. There she sat, isolated in her
innocence, and no doubt feeling con-
scious that a just and righteous God
would finally protect her from the
knaves bounding for her blood. But
the ways Of Providence are ~inscrutable.
The court was known to be uncon-
stitutional, and its fat void, worth
no more than the decree of any other
mob. In this dark hour Mrs. Surratt
appealed to the sacred writ Of babeas
corpus. Andrew johnson said son
with the dance" on with the execution
Then the faithful and loving daughter
frantically rushed to the White House,
10 beg, on Bonded knees, for pardon, for
respite, for anything to secure the time
necessary TO show the unoonstitution-
ality Of the court, and the innocence of
the condemned mother. What q tenn
pest and whirlwind of agony filled the
poor girls bosom when she was rudeIy
spUrned from the Executive Mansion!I
She went there with hope. She could
not believe Andrew Johnson was going
20 hang her pure, Christian mother,
guilty Of no crime. She knelt upon the
marble steps, and the grove resounded
with her prayers for admission into
the mansion. The birds, making
sweet music in the ~luxuriant
grove, paused to listen to wailings,
sad but sweet, as the notes of
angel harps. The poor daughter was
dragged from the gates Of the man rich
in resources for relief, but niggardly in
use. Sick, fainting and broken
hearted, Miss Surratt was taken from
the door Of the Executive Mansion. In
her bewlderment, sheeried, she begged,
she implored TO see Andrew johnson,
who alone could interpOse. All her acts
were but the refuX Of the mighty tide
fux had borne her forward TO /
save; the ebb Of the mighty sea Of des- I,
pair, whose crested pillows were about
to be Redeemed with a mothers inno- I
sent blood. But there is nothing so G
fierce and hardy as cOwaTdice, where it !
las nothing to fear for itself; and while
Miss Surratt was weeping, praying, q
,egging, entreating and fainting at the
loor Of Andrew johnson, he felt no q
more concern than in taking his break d
asst. There he sat royalty cruel, and i
cit about as much sympathy r
or the poor girl as the tiger exhibits r
While toying with the agonies i
f its victim, or c~runching its bones like i
mpassive stubble. Mrs. Surratt was q
hanged. Andrew Johnson aided in her Y
conviction, aud refused the poor woman t
me Of those contemplate pardons he n
ioled out to TRAITORS" But we had a
ather be Mrs Surrattdead than Andrew G
Johnson living. She died like 8 hero, a 4
Jhristian and martyr. For years she a
lad been a devOut Catholic. With ri
and eternity staring her in the h
ace, and an unjust and unrighteous =
world, cursed with such monsters as h
Johnson, Holt and ConoveT fast reced- ;
ng from her view, she told her priest >
hat she was innocent Of any completely, r
knowledge, or even intimation Of the J
crime for which she was to suffer such 4
An ig%nominiOus death. Her murderers !
lad nerves of steel and hearts of stone; n
put she had Christian faith and Christian \
iortitude. The wasp can sting once .
AFTER it has lost its head: INIT )
Mrs. Surratt, after the breath !,
las been choked out of her and her neck =
has stung Andrew johnson al
thousand times, and will continue to :
sting him until he asks and receives I
3 pardon, not one Of those worthless
3 pardons {" of his own which be vaunts !
n the face Of the public, but "pardon"
that God who can " pardon a .