Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-11-18
WASHINGTON.
EX-President johnson Replies to
the Attacks OF Judge Holt.
Andrew JOhnsOn's Reply TO Holt

Andrew JOhnsOn's Reply TO Holt
WASHINGTON, November LEX
President Johnson has addressed a
communication TO the Washington
Chronicle in reply to that of Judge
Holt, published in the same paper in
August last on the subject of the exc
cution of Mrs. Surratt as one of the as
sasins of President Lincoln. After
reviewing the evidence adduced by
Judge Holt, johnson says,in Ills search
for testimony, Holt succeeded in dis
covering only one witness who said he
saw the record of the case with the
petitiOn attached, in the Presidents
office. This witness is Hon. Jas.
Speed, then Attorney-G who is
undoubtedly mistaken i'm his state
ments, for as is already shown. the
findings and the sentences of the court
were submitted on the 5th of July. he
aud being alone, were then and there
banded to the Executive ; and taken
bV the Judge Advocate General to the
War Department, where, on the same
afternoon the order to carry them into
effect was issued. Mr.. Speed doubtless
saw the record, but it must have been
i'm the Department of War. and not in
the Executive office. The record of
the court was submitted to me by
Judge Holt in the afternoon of the fifth
day OF May, 1865. Instead of entering
the Executive mansion in the usual
wav, he gained admission by the pri-
vate or family entrance to the EXecu-
tive office. The examination of the
papers took place in the library, and
he and / were alone present. The SEN
fences of the court in the cases or Her
aid AtZerott and Payne were consider-
ed in the order named, and then the
sentence in the case of Mrs. Surratt.
In acting upon her case, no recon-
mendation for a communication of her
puuisoment was mentioned or sub
mltted to me, but the question of her
sex, which has already been adverted
to and discussed 10y the newspaper
columns. presented itself and was
and myself. With peculiar force and
soiemnity, he urged the fact that
though the criminal was woman. it
was in itself no excuse or palliation.
That when woman unseXed herself
and entered the arena of crime, it was
rather an aggravatiun than mitigation
OF the OIIeDcSs 4 lidl the law WIS ilOl
made TO punish men only, but all,
without regard TO sex, who violated Its
provisions. That to discriminate in
favor of Mrs. SUrratt and against Her
aid, Atzerott aud Payne who were Sell
fenced by the same court and at that
time to suffer the penalty Of death,
would be to offer premium to the fe-
male sex to engage in crime and bride
the principal actors in its commission.
That since the rebellion began, ia
some portions of the country, females
had been prominent in aiding and
abetting traitors, and he thought the
time had come when it was absolutely
necessary, in case SO clearly and con-
clusively established, to set an exam
pie which would have salutary in
fiuence He was not only in favor of
the approval of the sentence but lis
execution at the earliest practicable
day.
Upon the termination of our eoIsul-
tati0n, Judge Holt wrote the order APP
proving the sentence of The court. and
| affixed my name to it, and, rolling
up the paper, he took his leave, car
rying the record with him, and de-
parting as he came, through the FAM
lily or private entrance.
From the above statement, IL will be