“The Execution” (from The Youth’s Companion, July 20, 1865; p. 116)

THE EXECUTION

Of four persons, one of them a woman, because of the part they had in the murder of President Lincoln, is the most melancholy event that has taken place in this country since it has had a national history,—but it was demanded by justice, and government deserves thanks for having had the firmness to do an unpleasing duty. No doubt President Johnson signed the death-warrants with a reluctance that he found it difficult to conquer, but he proved his fitness for his high office by sacrificing his own feelings to his sense of duty. He is a conscientious man, and sets a good example to the rising generation, who can see in his history what follows from adhering to the path of integrity.

The execution of the four criminals took place at Washington, on the 7th of July. The persons executed were Mrs. Surratt, Lewis Payne, David Harold, and George Atzerott. These persons were all associates and tools of the murderer Booth, by whose hand President Lincoln fell. Mrs. Surratt was even more guilty than the three men who were hanged with her, as she was of mature years, and had the ability to understand the peculiar wickedness of the abominable crime that was plotted. The plotters used to meet at her house, and there they held their consultations, and formed their plans, to all of which she seems to have been a willing and a useful party, her own son being one of the conspirators. Had she told the authorities of what was going on, all bloodshed and executions would have been avoided, and President Lincoln would, no doubt, have been alive at this moment. Her miserable end was the natural end to her miserable conduct.

Payne, as he is called, but whose real name was Lewis Payne Powell, was the man who entered Mr. Seward’s house on the night of the 14th of last April, while Booth was killing Mr. Lincoln, and assaulted that gentleman, and his son, Mr. Frederick Seward, and a nurse, Mr. Robinson. All these persons he endeavored to kill; but, though he wounded them all, they have recovered. He was a terrible ruffian, and though but twenty years old, was a very hardened sinner. It is wonderful that so young a man could have been so determined a criminal. He was sheltered by Mrs. Surratt after he had committed his wicked deeds, a circumstance that helped to prove her guilt.

David Harold was also a youth, and with but just enough of intellect to be made a tool of by so bad a man as Booth. He was deep in the plot, and aided Booth in endeavoring to escape from justice. He was unsuccessful. Booth was shot by one of the soldiers of the party which had found his hiding-place, and Harold was captured, tried and condemned. His fate was well earned, though it is probable that he might not have been a criminal had he not been tempted by Booth, who exercised over him much the same strange influence which he wielded over Payne.

It was the purpose of the plotters to kill every prominent member of the government, in order to throw the country into confusion. Individuals were appointed to murder Vice President Johnson, Secretary Stanton and Gen. Grant; but only President Lincoln and Secretary Seward were attacked. Atzerott was appointed to kill Mr. Johnson, but he had not the nerve to undertake the terrible task. But he was concerned in the conspiracy that led to Mr. Lincoln’s murder, and therefore he was justly hanged.

Four other conspirators have been sentenced to imprisonment. Three of these—Dr. Mudd, Arnold and O’Laughlin—are to be shut up for life, in the Penitentiary at Albany, (N. Y.) The fourth, whose name is Spangler, is to be imprisoned for six years only. These men had subordinate parts in the conspiracy, and so they were not put to death. Besides, it is not customary to send all parties even to the worst of conspiracies to the gallows. Some discrimination is ever exercised. Severe examples are made of the worst criminals, but others are treated with more mildness. But in this instance even the secondary punishment ought to satisfy all. To be shut up for life at hard labor,—to be cut off from all hope of being restored to freedom,—is a dreadful doom, and those who are to suffer from it will often have occasion to regret the fate of their dead associates.

The whole history of the awful crime that has now been expiated is a practical sermon on the text, that the way of the transgressor is hard. Had the criminals conducted themselves with ordinary honesty, and observed the law’s requirements, they might have been decent and respectable members of society, instead of being in bloody graves, or immured in prison cells. But they chose to disregard the law, to become men of violence; and they have their reward in early and disgraceful deaths, or in perpetual deprivation of freedom. Their fate should be a solemn warning to all those who are disposed to idleness, sin, and criminal ways. It should make the thoughtless thoughtful. Even good can be made to come from this tremendous tragedy, if men will but lay its sad lessons to heart. It shows how necessary it is to walk uprightly, to live quietly, soberly and precisely, and to resist the first temptations to do evil that present themselves to the mind. We cannot trust ourselves, but we should rely upon a higher power to guide us through the mazes of a sinful world.