Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-09

himself rather TO the right of the President, in
order to avoid wounding Mr. Woodbury. and
those in the rear, he stepped a little to his own
right, so that should the ball pass through the
body Of the President, it wonld be received by
the doorframe, or stone wall. On being asked
if he felt no trepidation during the attempt, he
replied, not the slightest, until he found that
the second pistol had missed fire. Then observ-
ing that the President was advancing upon
him, with an uplifted cane, he feared that il
contained sword, which might have been
thrust through him before he could have been
protected by the crowd. And when interro-
gated as TO the motive which induced him to
attempt the assassination Of the President, he
replied that he had been told that the Presi-
dent had caused his loss Of occupation, and the
consequent want of money, and he believed
that 10 put him ont of the way was the only
remedy 70; this evil; but to the interrogatory,
who told you this he could not identify any
one, but remarked, that his brother-inlaw, Mr..
Redfern, told him that he would have no more
business, because he was opposed to the Presi-
dent, and he believed Redfern to be in league
with the President against him. Again, being
questioned whether he had often attended the
debates in Congress during the present session,
and whether they had influenced him in making
this attack on the person of the President, he
replied that he had frequently attended the
discussions in both branches of Congress, but
that they had in no degree influenced his
action.
"Upon being asked if he expected to become
the President of the United States, if General
jackson had fallen, he replied no.
"When asked whom he wished to be the
President, his answer was, there were many
persons in the House Of Representatives. On
ho,, l,al tlara
Senate, yes, several and it was the Senate to
which alluded Who, in your opinion, of the
Senate, would make good President? He
answered, Mr.. Clay, Mr. Webster, Mr.. Calhoun.
What do you think of Col. Benton, Mr.. Van
| Buren,, or Judge White, for PRESIDENT, He
thought they would do well. On being asked
| if he knew any member Of either House Of
Congress- he replied that he did not-and never
spoke to one in his life, or they TO him. On
being asked what benefit he expected himself
from the death of the President, he answered
he could not rise unless the President fell, and
that he expected thereby to recover his liberty
and that the mechanics would all be benefited !;
| that the mechanics would have plenty of work.
and that money would be more plenty. On
| being asked why it would be more plenty, he
| replied, it would be more easily obtained from
the bank. On being asked what bank, he re-
piled the Bank of the United States. On be-
ing asked if he knew the president, directors,
or any of the officers of the bank, or had ever
held any intercourse with them, or knew how
he could get money out of the bank, he replied
no, that he slightly knew Mr.. Smith only
"On being asked with respect to the speeches
which he had heard in Congress, and whether
he was particularly pleased with those of
Messrs. Calhoun, Clay, and Webster, he replied
that he was, because they were on his side
| He was then asked if he was well pleased with
the speeches of Col. Benton and Judge White :?
| He said he was, and thought Colonel Benton
talented.
"When asked if he was friendly to General
Jackson, he replied, no. Why not? He an
swered, because he was a tyrant? Who told
you he was tyrant? He answered, it was
common talk with the people, and that he had
read it in all the papers. He was asked if he
could name any one who had told him so? He
replied, no. He was asked if he ever threatened
to shoot Mr.. Clay or Webster, or Mr.. Calhoun,
or whether he would shoot them if he had an
opportunity? He replied, no. When asked
if he would shoot Mr.. Van Buren,? He replied,
no, that he once met with Mr.. Van Buren, in
the roturda, and told him he was in want of
money, and must have it, and if he did not get
| it he Mr.. Van BUREN, or General jackson
|
present during the conversation? He replied.
that there were several present, and when asked
if he recolected one of them, he replied that he
did not When asked if any one advised him
to shoot General Jackson, or say that it ought
to be done? He replied, do not like to say.
On being pressed on this point, he said no one
! in particular had advised him.
Z" He further stated that believing the Presi.
dent to be the source Of all his difficulties, he
was still fixed in his purpose to kill him, and
il his successor pursued the same course, 10 put
him out Of the way also-and declared that no
power in this country could punish him for hav.
ing done so, because it would be resisted by
the powers Of Europe, as well as of this coun-
try. He also stated that he had been long in
correspondence with the powers of Europe, and
that his family bad been wrongfully deprived
Of the crown Of England, and that he should
yet live to regain it-and that he considered
the President of the United States nothing more
than his clerk.
ave now think proper to add that the young
man appears perfectly tranquil and uncon-
cerned as TO the final result, and seems to an
ticipate no punishment for what be has done.
The above contains the leading and literally
expressed facts Of the whole conversation we
had with him, which continued at least two
/
at different stages Of the examination, and pre-
sented in various FORMS"
1t is clearly to be seen from this medical
examination Of the man that this attempted
assassination of the President was one of those
cases of which history presents many in.
stances-a diseased mind acted upon BY a gen.
eral outcry against public man. Lawrence
was in the particular condition 10 be acted
upon by what he heard against General Jack.
son-a workman out Of mployment--needy-
idle-mentally morbid; and with reason enough
TO argue regularly from false premises lie
heard the President accused Of breaking up
the labor Of the country and believed it-ot
making money scarce! and believed it--oi
producing the distress and believed it--ot
being tyrant! and believed it--of being an
obstacle to all relief and believed it. And.
coming to regular conclusion from all these
beliefs, he attempted to do what he believed
the state Of things required him to do-take the
life OF the man whom he considered the cause
Of his own and the general calamity-and the
sole obstacle to his own and the general hap.
Iv.fy, Hall, IF 81 Il