The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-16
ANDREW JOHNSON AND MRS. SUR
RAFT.


there may be read correspondence be-
tween Judge Joe Holt and the Hon. James
Speed, who served MS Acknowledgement
in the Cabinet Of President Lincoln, and
also in that OF Andrew Johnson. II is n
correspondence that here in Tennessee, as
well as in Mississippi, will be read with
some curiosity and interest. Judge
Holt, who is Kcntuckian by birth,
began his career in Mississippi in the flush
times before the war when that State was
ovcrrunng with brainy men, and great
statesmen and greater lawyers were 80 nu-
mcrous they could scarcely move without
stepping on eacK others toes. Holt did
very well ut his profession, but ho did not
have the knack Of popularity and political
career to him was impossible and 80 he
wandered back TO bis old Kentucky home
and was appointed Commissioner Of Pat
en,s from that State by the direct inter.
ccssion Of the late Jacob Thompson, then
Secretary Of the Interior in tho Cabinet Of
Buchanan. Later Mr.. Thompson had
Holt appointed to the Cabinet, and pro-
Tossing TO be Union man he had no diff
Guilty in ingratinting himself with the
Republicans, under whom he took
office, filling the place OF Judge Adj
vocatc General OF the Army by Mr.. Lin
coins appointment. lie held this posi-.
ton when the murdcrcrs OF Lincoln were
put ON trial before a special commission at
Washington, and prosecuted the case
against all the prisoners with great energy
and success. Mrs Suratt was among the
number and was with the res, sentenced
10 bc hanged The President was be.
sicgcd by inir.mindcd aud cool.
headed people for Mrs Suratt's release,
but hc remained inncxiblc. Why. was
TOT long iimc-a puzzle 10 those who knew
how kind.hcarlcd and just Mr.. johnson
was II was assorted that q petition by
five members Of the court for the oommu.
taiion Of Mrs. surs,ts sentence 10 i'm
prironmcnt was attached to the finding OF
the commission, but this Mr.. johnson al
ways strongly declared lac did not see, that
II such document had had an existence
II had been detached before the finding
reached him, aud lac changed that Judge
Holt. for some reason best known TO him,
sell. had withheld the petition for elem
cncy. This Holt denied, and, IA far back
rs 1873, took stops 10 sustain his position
10y appeals 10 Secretaries Seward and
stanton who lac claims declared the truth
to Judge bingham Of Ohio, who also
prosecuted Mrs Surratt with specially
ycnomOus persistence Judge Holt wis
not, however. satisfied with the testimony
ii Seward aud Stanton aud coveted that oi
Attorney General Speed, who cyadcd an
answer To his repeated questioning, saying
| w hlN lahN ltNl'ls hhNNh " inuhNh' ~
pcccmbcr. 1888, tina, whOn Andrew John
son was alive hc promised that lac woul,
speak Il Mr.. johnson would give hi
conscnt Now lac being dead.
would bc wrong ior him 10 speak
The inference from this Is that Zen
Speed know that judge Holt la
not withhold the petition aud that h
knew II but preferred 10 sustain the e,
President IN falschood rather than 4
him Justice and relieve him from an odiou
change. Whether this bc ~ OF not is 70
thosc Interested TO settle among then
selves. hut II Is very strange that Holt III
no, nj the time cxculpa,c himself from III
charge Ills conduct in tho casc dttc
into tho Wild and crazy ianaiicisI
that had -circd upon the people Of wasl
, ing,on, the Federal oilicialsospccially.
hang every one and any one In the lcas, 81
pcclcd u participation In the cowar,ll
assassination Of the good, great prcsidcn
| Ntuntun. Who WINS The nuFanuitirlttuu