The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-07-07

on account of the age and sex of the
prisoner. that, If possibly consistent with
your view of the case, you commute the
sentence from that OF death 10 that of Inn
prisonment for life.' That is the substance
of il, although not the exact phraseoiogy."
do you know, General, that this petition
was ever submitted to President JohnsonY'
mo. sir; have no personal knowledge on
the subject, but have every reason to be-
lieve that
IT WAS SUBMITTED.
On the afternoon of the execution of the
coDspirators / called on General Holt, Judge
Advocate General of the Army, and held
conversation with him relative to the mat
ter, and he informed me that he had sub
united the memorial to the President, to-
gether with the records of the case, but that
il had not been fsvorably considered"
Did not President Johnson claim that he
never saw the petition2' asked the scribe.
Yes sir; it was alleged by President John
son afterward that the memorial had never
been seen by him."
What do you think individually on this
pointy'
81 never doubted for single moment the
statement Of Judge Advocate General Holt.
IL was confirmed and proven to my mind
by variety of circumstances and incidents.
Much might be said on this branch OF the
subject, but IL is neither necessary nor ad-
visoble."
There was some talk OF this sfterward,
was there not?"
"Oh, yes In 1867, after President John
son had so materially changed his views, the
question was brought up and discussed in
public. General Holt maintained that he
had presented the paper in person, and
President Johnson said that
HE HAD NEVER SEEN 1T.
1t was during this discussion that General
Holt wrote me the following letter concern
ing the interview that I had with him on
the day of the execution, and, as il was still
fresh in my mind, 1 wrote to HIM and EN-
bodied the substance OF the conversation"
Here General Ekin read the following let
ter from General Holt:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
BUREAU OF MILITARY JUSTICE
WAsHINGroN, ID. c Aug. "a 1857.
General James A. Ekin:
GENERAL-Recalling TO your attention an
interview which took place betw cen us soon
after the close of the trial OF the assasins of
the Military Commission had participated.
beg that you will be so good as TO state, as you
may remember 1t, the the time of this inter
view, also the circumstance which led to IT,
and our conversation, especially in relation to
the petition to the President for the commu.
taJion OF Mrs. Surratts sentence, which had
been signed by yourself and four other men,
bers OF the Commission.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
j. Holt.
To which he replied ss follows:
WASHINGTON, d. c., August 26, 1867.
Brigadier General ]. Holt u. s. A. Judge Adj
vocate General, Washington, ID. c.:
DEAR GENERAL-I have respectfully to &C.
knowledge the receipt late upon last Saturday
evening OF your letter of the oath inst, calling
to my attention an interview which took place
between us soon after the close of the trial OF
the assaSslns of President Lincoln, and re-
questing me TO state my remembrance of said
interview, especially in relation to the petit
ton to the President for the commutation of
Mrs. Surratts sentence, which petition had
been signed by five members OF the Commits
sion, including myself. OF the interview to
which you refer have no distinct recollection.
1t occurred at your office either upon the day
OF the execution OF the asSassins or within
day or two thereafter. Having been a member
of the Commission detailed to try Mrs. Sur
raft ard others, felt DESTROYS of learning the
impression made upon His Excellency, the
President, by the records and papers of the
trial. which had been submitted for his judg-
ment and approved.
ain the course of the interview you re.
marked to me that the entire case, including
ali papers, had been placed before the Presi:
been directed TO the recommendation of GER
tain members for the Communication of the
dentl mad carefully scrutinized and considered
the case, including the recommendation of
mercy on behalf of Mrs. Surratt, but that he
could not accede to or grant the petition for
the reason that there was no class In the south
more virulent in the expression and practice
of reasonable sentiments than the Rebel
women that he, by his residence in that Sec
tien of the country, has been better able to
judge OF and appreciate, and that he (the Pres
identl was better Informed as to the disloyalty
of such women than the members of the Com
mission could be, and that he, with all respect
for the judgment OF certain members OF the
Commission, considered that the interests OF
be made which would act as a summary check
upon and corrective OF female disloyalty, and
that he had therefore approved the findings
of the Commission. and had ordered the exc
cutIOn of Mrs. SurTatt.
THE foregoing includes the substance of the
conversation to which you refer.
with sentiments of high esteem, remain
your ooedient servant. JAMES A. EkIN."
"Whst official position did General Han
cook hold at the time of the trial?''
He was simply the officer in command
OF the Department of Washington"
Did it devolve upon him to carry out the
sentence of the Commission, or could he have
escaped it?''
GENERAL HAECoCK's POSITION.
General Hancock was ordered by the
President, the Commander-in Chief, to exc
cute the sentence of the Commission, and
he did so. There was no alternative for him
and no way of escaping the duty, save by
resigning his position in the army"
What do you think of General Han.
cock's action in the natter"
II am utterly at loss, sir, to understand
how or why any unfavorable criticism
can or should be made relative to
General Hancock's action. He simply per.
ormed his duty under the orders of superior
authority, and should be commended, as he
certainly is by all who thoroughly under
stand the case. He had not the slightest dis
cretIon in the matter; he simply executed
the mandate OF the Court. as directed by the
President"
you have probably noticed the position
taken by Mrs. Surratts daughter. She says
that she visited General Hancock before the
execution, and that his treatment was not
only unnecessarily rough, but positively
ungentlemsnly. What do you think of that
statement?'
81 know nothing whatever of the inter-
view between the two, bat what know of
General Hancock would lead me to aisbe-
lieye the rumor Ha ia potad