The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-03-21

remained in Washington, by order Of President John
SON. during the days Of the trial OF tho eonspratcr
aud until after their execution Much interest has
been exhibited In this part OF bis service and the
prominence Of his position has in the minds Of some
ignorant people, made his connection with the
ton OF tho prisoners more intimate than is true It
must be remembered that no was In command OF
force in and about the Capitol OF about hundred
thousand men, having practically only the Secretary
of War and the President as his superiors With the
details Of the guarding and care the prisoners he had
nothing whatever to do They were confined In tho
Arsenal and tho commander there was General Hart
rant, who took the position by order Of the sccre-
tary OF War. A military commission, ordered
by the President, tried the prisoners, found them
guilty, condemned some OF them to death,
and the findings OF the military court were
approved by the President. II was unqucstionably to
bo amentod that they should have been thus tried.
The conviction Of the guilty could in all probability
have been effected by jury. But the nation was In
bloody struggle for existence and martial law pro-
Vailed for armies yet III the held. twaspaf-
tculofIy to be lanentcd that one OF the condemned
persons and the regretis thedeener w'ien
in camcr times people who consider the case care
fully are convinced that SO far as the crime of
sinaton concerned, she was gultless. The exc
cution had been ordered for the sh day of July. on
the 9th Mcssrs. Aiken and ciamptt, the counsel of
Mrs suratt went before United States Justice wylie
| and procured writ OF hoJeos corpus. This was
served by the marshal OF the district General Han
cock as the military head OF the division. As was his
duty he forwarded 1t to his SUPERIOR the President OF
| the United States, and the Commander In Chief.
President johnson at once Issued the following proca
nation;
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, JuyT
| To Major General Hancock. Commander etc.:
!, Andrew Johnson President OF the United States,
do hereby declare that the writ OF hobeos corpus has
been heretofore suspended IN such cases rs TINS; ana
d. hereby especially suspend this writ and direct that
you proceed and execute the order heretofore given
YOU upon the Judgment Of the military coinission
and you will give this order In return TO this writ.
This was Endorsed on the writ, and, accompanied
by United States Attorney General Speed, Genera
Hancock presented himself before Justice wye and
/ made return TO the writ. The execution took place
the following day. General Hancock saw that the
only hope for Mrs sufratt lay In the power Of her
daughter to move the Presidents heart, and he SO
informed the daughter, and gave her every facility
In his power TO gain to the President. sogreat
was his anxiety IN regard to the iookedfo for pardon
or repreve that he placed line Of mounted senncls
from the White House to the place Of execution, that
tho words of grace spoken at the last minute should
go surely and swiftly. But such words were spoken,
and to the now almost universal regret OF the people
Mrs. Surratt died.
In the latter part OF July, 1885, General Hancock
was promoted to the command Of the Middle Depart
nent, with headquarters at Baltimore, having pre-.
vio,isly been breveted Major General In the Regular
Army for gallant and meritorous services at spott
sylvania" In July 1866. he received the full grade
of Major General In tho Army. and assumed COM
mand OF the Department Of Missouri. conducting
several Important and arduous campaigns against Thu
hostile Indians In Kansas, Colorado and the Indian
Territory. with his command OF the Department o
Missouri his active military life may be said t.
have ceased and his civil services for his country Il
have commenced. Although briefer In regard to tim
and unattended with exposure and personal danger
they of the highest Importance to the welfare
the country and alone would entiffe him tote rencw
of n statesman. and a benefactor.