The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-07-02
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.

One of the strongest features OF the re-
publican party is its inconsistency. 1t has
already made its appearance in the present
campaign. Only day after General Ham
cock was nominated they began to abuse
him With his connection with the hanging of
Mrs. Surratt, everybody knows the circum-
stances Of that unfortunate affair.
The Philadelphia Times says of this:
General Hancock was in command in
the Valley when the country was thrown in
to excitement by the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln, aud he was Immediately sum.
moncd to Washington by President John
son and assumed the military command at
the capitol. 1t was in this way he wss asso
catei with the trial by the military court,
and the subsequent execution, of the alleged
conspirators, including Mrs Surratt. Much
interest had been exhibited in this part of
his service, and the prominence of his pos
ition has, in the minds of some ignorant
people, made his connection with the exc
cution of the prisoners more intimate than is
true. 1t must be remembered that he wss
ip command OF force in and about the
capitol of about 100, 600 men, having prao-
tically, only the Secretary of War aud the
President as his superiors. With the de.
tail of the garding and the care of the pris-
oners he had nothing whatever to do. They
were confined in the arsenal, and the com.
mander there was General liartranft, who
| took the position by order of the Secretary
of war. A military commission, ordered by
the President, tried by the prisoners, found
them guilty, condemned some of them to
and the findings of the military court were
approved by the President. The execution
had been ordered for the Sth day of July
On the 9th Messrs. Aiken and Clampitt, the
counsel of Mrs. Surrstt, went before the
United States Justice Wylie and procured a
writ of habeas corpus. This was served by
the Marshal of the district on General
Hancock as the head Of the military divis
ion. As was his duty he forwarded it to his
superior, the President of the United States
aud the Commanderin chief. President
johnson at once issued the following procla-
nation:
Executive Office, July Z.
To Major Genera Hancock, Commander
l, Andrew johnson, President of the
United States, do hereby declare that the
writ of habeas corpus has been heretofore
suspended in such cases as this aud l do
hereby especially suspend this writ and d-
rect that you proceed and execute the order
heretofore given you upon the judgment Of
the military commission, and you will give
this order in return to this writ.
| This was indorsed on the writ and, ac-
companied by the United States Attorney
General Speed, General Hancock presented
himself before Justice Wyle and made re-
turn to the writ, The execution took place.
the following day. General Hancock saw
that the only hope of Mrs. Surratt lay in
the power of her daughter to move the presi-
dents heart and he so informed the daugh-
ter and gave her every facility in his power
gain acces to the President. So great was
his anxiety in the lookedfor pardon or re-
prieve that he placed line of mounted sem
tinels from the White house to the place OF
execution, that the words of grace, if spoken
at the last minute, should 90 surely and
swiftly. But no such words were spoken"
Had General Hancock resigned his posi-.
ton to escape the performance of his duty,
he would have been denounced as coward
and traitor. Had he refused to obey the
orders of his superiors he would have been
court-martialed and dismissed from the SER
vice in dis-honor, or perhaps in the excite
ment OF that time, have been sentenced to
death. And yet the same partisan press that
at that time howed for the execution of an
innocent woman. whom trial and sentence
was the work of a republican administration,
now attempt to avail themselves of the cir
cumstance by starting the cry against Gem
eral Hancock that he hung Mrs. Surratt."
Consistency is indeed jewel that does not
sparkle In the crown of republicanism.