The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-07
PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND JUDGE
HOLT.


There is in the current number OF The
North american RrricC a letter from Mr.,
John Speed, in answer to the publication
by Judge Holt, in previous number OF
that periodical, Of q statement that Presi-
dent Andrew johnson had accused him
(llolt) Of tearing from the official copy
OF the findings Of the Military Commis-
sion that tried Mrs. Surratt aud the other
assassins OF President Lincoln, the recon-
mendaton Of her by that Commission TO
mercy and Executive clcmoncy. Judge
Holt asserted in his paper in The North
Am0icaa Rericw that Mr.. Speed, as At
torney.Gencral in Johnson's Cabinet,
knew that he had not done this
das,ardly deed and he begged and impor-
tuned him TO say so much, but Mr. Speed
refused and died without doing 50. Now
comes Mr. Speeds son and makes answer
for his father, practically admitting what
Holt charged and stating that the ex-
Attornoy-Gcnenl "wouid only say that
in his judgment Judge Holt needed
no vindication and that matters
which came to his (Mr Spced's)
knowledge by reason OF his position
rs Cabincs officer he would not detail.
Such matters he regarded as confidential,
and he would neither write nor talk on
the subject" There can be only one con-
struction put upon this, and that is that
Holt was guilty ~ charged by Prcsi-
dent Johnson This view is sustained
by a quotation made by Mr. John
Speed, irom speech made by his
father at banquet Of the Ohio Com
mandcy Of tho Loyal League, OF which
Mr.. Speed WIS member, held at Cncin-
natl, ON the ith Of May, 1857, when the
cx-Attorncy-Gcncral, responding 10 the
toast Abraham Lincoln, referred TO Holt
as his distinguished friend, saying that ~
the judge Advocate General OF the Army
who prosecuted lincoln'sassas5ins she per-
formed his duty kindly and consiicmtcly
In every particular hc was just aud fair.
This know But Judge Holt needs no
vindicltion from me nor any one else. |
only speak because know reflections
have been made, and because my poition
cuablcd me TO know the facts, and because
! know the perfect purity aud uprighlncss
OF his character" This is MI very well rs
far rs II goes, but il docs not 20 far
enough Il still leaves Holt with the brand
put upon him by President johnson Of
pursuing NIn. Surralt aud
from him the recommends
ion TO mercy In her behalf made by the
Military Commission. There WIS nothing
o hinder Mr.. Speed from saying whether
Or not President Johnson spoke the truth.
No sense Of proprioly could rightly
intervene 90 prevent him from JUST.
iying his distinguished friend" In
that matter "a hc had justified
him In the conduct OF the ease.
Mr.. johnson had set him mn example. In
making the charge, that official silence was
no longer to be- held sacred when It was
necessary for personal vindication to
break IT, The cx.prcsidcnl stated ii to
be an official fact that a recommends
ton for mercy In behalf Of MrA Sur
raft had ncvCr reached him, anl
that II had boon distracted In
tho Transmission Of tho finding Of
tic Commission 10 himby Judge Advocate
General Holt Encouraged by tho plain.
ness with which this charge was made aud
10y Us repetition tho Attorney General
should have had mo- hcsi,aucy, aud We be-.
lic,c would have had none, hut that he
could not cxoncmt1 Holt, aud would have
been compelled TO sustain Mr. johnson.
Holt must Therefore 60 TO his grave, Mr..
Speed failing him, with the brand put upon
him 10y President johnson burned In.
ILiiNuis u rcgarlcd ~ one of the States