The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-07-02

| @A @EWA w lIn tulDtOrCo u W98 expected
decisive blow, in 4ne direction or the
other, woald be struDk, and General Han
cock was under orders TO b readT "a move
g few hour1 notice, either on Lynch
barg, % coOresat4 NieA the Army df4e
| Potomac, or to take transports for the
| Southern coaat 20 cp-opeyute With Gen
eral Sherman, as the exigencies Of the
campsign should demand. The sudden
breaking of Lees lima at Petersburg and
the surrender at APpomastox, rendered
neither of these movements necessary.
This, the last part Of bis active military
service, while marked with no sheck Of
opposing forces, waa, nevertheless, des-
tined 70 be . period of great excitement
to himself ~ well rs ahe coantry. While
his headquarters were still in the Valley
of the Shenandoah, in April. 1865, the
conspirators aginst the lives of the Presi-
dent and his CAbia6t eonsamnsated. in
part, their plot, and President Lincoln
was murdered. Secretary Seward was
nearly stabbed to death, and the country
was panic-stricken by the sudden evidence
of widespread, deep-laid plot 70 destroy
the entire government by the abominated
and uncivilized method Of secret and con-
certed assassination. The millions who
still live to remember that day viii testify
that the Northern people were never be-
fore 80 shaken anil unneryed, even when
confronted with the severest disas ters in
the field, as on that dreadful Friday. in
April, 1865. 1t seemed TO most patriotic
people as though the sun Of liberty had
gone into perpetual eclipse A feeling of
such universal fear and distress pervaded
the nation, that men looked in each 9th
er's faces with the despair which comes
over the soul when nature experiences
some awful cataclysm, and when there is
no longer any hope formaRkind. Happily,
this feeling was only temporary, but whileus
1t lasted it was universal and real. Gen.
Hancock was summoned at once to Wash
ington. The extent Of the conspiracy soon
became known, and the measures taken
by him to confront the secret peril were
thorough, and contributed greatly to allav
the terror. When Hancock's presence in
Washington was known over the country.
~ 1t soon was announced by telegraph.
men said to each other, e Thank God. =
man is in Washington now who can be
trusted In any emergency" Gen. Han
cock remained in Washington. by order
Of President johnson, during the days Of
the trial Of the conspirators, and until
after their execution. Much interest has
been exhibited in this part of his service.
and the prominence of his position has, in
the minds Of some ignorant people, made
his connection with the execution of the
prisoners more intimate than is true. Il
must be remembered that he was In COM
mand of the forces In and about the Capi-
tol. of about 1O0, 900 naen, having. prscti-
cally, only the Secretary of War and the
President as his superiors. With the de-
tails OF the guarding and care of the pris-
oners he had nothing whatever to do
Ihey were confined In che arsenal, and the
there was Gen. Hartranft,
who took the position by order Of the Sec
retary OF War. A military commission,
ordered by the President, tried the pris-
oners, found them guilty, condemned
some OF them to death, and the findings
Of the military court were approved BY
the President IL was unqnestIouablv to
be lamented that they should have been
thus tried. The conviction of the guilty
could in all probability have been effected
BY . jury. But she nation was IN bloody
stFuGgie for existence, and martial lAw
prevailed. It was particularly to be Ia
nented that one of the condemned persons
vas woman, and the regret is the deeper
when, in calmer times, people who con-
Iidered the case carefully are convinced
hat. 30 Ear ~ the crime of assassinstiou
vas concerned, she was gniltlesa The
execution bad been ordered for the sth dav
lay OF July. On the Bth Messrs. Aiken
lad Ciampitt, the counsel of Mrs. Surstt.
wens before United States Justice WyHe
md procured writ OF Aa6eas corp,ss-
This was served by the Marshal Of the
District on Gen. Hancock rs the military
head OF the division. As was his duty.
be forwarded it to his superior ofscer. the
President of the United States and the
COmmapder-in-C Chief President Johpson,
It once issued the following proclama-
ion:
ExEcUzIvE OPY1cx. July I'D Ma;br Gan
Eat Aaaesek, C6usmaA1ev, ste.:: L Andrew John
on, President of the United States, do hereby de-
'tafe th4s the wris OF AGoedA corpus has been here
Ofore suspsnded in sneh eases as this ansa d
hereby especially suspend this writ and direes
bat you proceed and execuse the order heretofore
Elven Jon upon the Judgment Of the MflifzTy
commission, and yen viii give this order IN M
urn % this writ
This was endorsed ON the writ. and. 90
by United States Attorney
aeneral Speed, General Hancock pre,
Iented himself before Justice Wylie and
made return TO the writ. The execution
iook place the following day. Gen. Han
sock saw that the only hope for Mrs. Sur
ratt lay IN the power df her daaghter 20
move the President's heart, and he 80 IN
formed the daughter and gave her every
|scilty in his power TO gain access 10 the
President. So gress was his anxiety In
'egard 70 the looked6or pardon OF re-
prieye. that he placed line of mounted
sentlnels from the White House 20 the
place OF execution, that the words of grace.
I spoken at the hast minute. should 90
surely and swiftly. But no such woFdn
we're spoken, and to che now almost uni-
lied. :
In the latter part Of July, 1866, Gen
sraa Hancock was promoted to the CON-
nand Of the Middle Departmeua, With
headquarters at Raltsmore, having pre-
Vlously been breyettea Major General in
The regular army for Z gallant and meritO-
rious services at Spottsylvania." In yuly.
Ises, - Fsesised the fun grade Of Major
Geserai IN tie army, and assumea eoan-
1and Of the DepaxtmAnt Of Missouri ,can-
ducting several important snd ardnous
49,. = - ~