Outcome
Ms. Surratt's trial outcome had an ever-lasting effect on this nation. Not only was she the first woman executed by the United States setting a new "equality" standard in society, but the discussion of her trial in later years has showed the nation that each person put on trial should receive a fair judgement. Her trial showed that the responsibility of our government is to uphold the rights of citizens in trial, no matter how guilty they may seem. Each citizen should receive a lawyer dedicated to the case and a jury that will not be partial to the prosecutor. Mary Surratt's trial showed the nation how unfair trials can sometimes be in extreme situations and that it is only right to give fair trials in these difficult cases.
"For the lawyer as well as the soldier, there is an equally imperative command. That duty is to shelter from injustice the innocent, to protect the weak from oppression and, when necessity demands, to rally to the defense of those being wronged. 'At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some transatlantic military giant step the ocean, and rush at a blow? Never! I answer, if danger ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.' Those words were spoken by a struggling young attorney. His name? Abraham Lincoln. Do not permit this injustice to Mary Surratt by sacrificing our sacred rights out of revenge. Too many have given their lives to preserve them"
~Closing statement by Frederick Aiken
"For the lawyer as well as the soldier, there is an equally imperative command. That duty is to shelter from injustice the innocent, to protect the weak from oppression and, when necessity demands, to rally to the defense of those being wronged. 'At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some transatlantic military giant step the ocean, and rush at a blow? Never! I answer, if danger ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.' Those words were spoken by a struggling young attorney. His name? Abraham Lincoln. Do not permit this injustice to Mary Surratt by sacrificing our sacred rights out of revenge. Too many have given their lives to preserve them"
~Closing statement by Frederick Aiken