All persons harboring or secreting the conspirators or aiding their concealment or escape, will be treated as accomplices in the murder of the President and shall be subject to trial before a military commission, and the punishment of death.

The quote, "All persons harboring or secreting the conspirators or aiding their concealment or escape, will be treated as accomplices in the murder of the President and shall be subject to trial before a military commission, and the punishment of death," was issued by Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War under President Abraham Lincoln. This statement came shortly after the assassination of President Lincoln in April 1865, and reflects the intense response of the government to the conspiracy surrounding the assassination. Stanton's words were directed at those who were believed to have aided John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirators in escaping after the murder.

Stanton’s decree emphasizes the principle of justice and accountability in the wake of a national tragedy. It asserts that anyone who helped the conspirators in any way, whether by hiding them or assisting their flight, would be treated as accomplices in the murder of the President. This harsh statement underscores the gravity with which the government sought to pursue justice, not only for Booth but for anyone involved in the plot to assassinate Lincoln.

The origin of this quote lies in the immediate aftermath of Lincoln's assassination, when Stanton took charge of the investigation and the pursuit of those involved. His statement was part of a larger effort to bring justice to those responsible for the president’s death and to prevent any further acts of treason or rebellion. The mention of a military commission reflects the urgency and seriousness with which the U.S. government sought to address the situation during a time of intense national crisis, just months after the end of the Civil War.

Stanton's declaration reveals the severity of the response to the assassination and the determination of the government to bring all involved parties to justice. It highlights the legal and military framework used to address such a significant crime and serves as a historical example of how the government responded to an attack on the nation's leader. The call for punishment and death reflects the deep sense of betrayal and the desire for swift retribution.