Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-04-20
THE EVENING STAR
LETTER OIL WILKES BOOTH.
His Crime PremedItated-JEstif OF
the Intended Act.
Prom Philadelphia Enquirer ]

TYron Philadelphia Enquirer
re following verbatim copy OF q letter, IN
wiring which is the hand. writing OF John
wines Booth, the murderer OF President Lin
solE, has been furnished us by the Hon. VIM
Elfw6rd, United States Marshal Of the East
ere District of Pennsylvania. 1t was handed
ever % that oficer by John - Clarke, who is &
eyotheT- In-law OF Mr.. Booth. The history
connected with it is somewhat peculiar. IN
Eovsm Der, le6i, the paper IS deposIted WIN
NJ Clarke by Booth, in sealed envelope e. IOs
contents. In January LAST, Booth caIleo ~
M CIsrkes house, asked for the pScAage, ana
II was given mp to him t6a nsnsr s1d asa
ed "a ms signature, which appears 10 be in g.
aIF.rsnt iu z from that used in the body of the
sstter. and also, from the language employed
|opId not have been put TO IL originally. At
rewards ne returned the package TO Mr.. Clarke
asaln for safe keeping, sealed, and bearing the
ssp,rscription -. Wilkes Booth
Tne enclosure was preserved by the family
rithou. suspicion OF its nature. After the at
aicf ny information OF the assassination of the
Pre- ,ident, which came upon the family O. Mr.
CLARKE with crushing force, 1t was considered
proper 70 open the envelope. There were
fsund N il the following paper, with some
ksyen-thirty United States bonds, and certif-
safes OF shares in oil companies. Mr. Clarke
promptly handed over the paper to Marshal
Eillwa ard, IN whose custody il now remains.
From s. perusal OF TINS paper II seems TO have
been prepared by Booth as g yindication OF
some desperate act which ne had in CoIcem-
plation; and from the language used tits proha-
Die tAEI il was 3 plot 10 abduCt the President
and carry him of to Virginia. If this was
meditsted IL failed, and from making q pris-
oner OF the President TO his assassination was
AZ easy step for 8 man OF perverted principles
II also appears that Booth was one OF the party
" no was engaged in the capture and execution
Of John Brown, OF Oss8wattomie, at which
time he doubtless I'M oibed from WISE and mis-
associates those detestable sentiments OF cruel
ty which have eliminated in an irfn-~~"''s
crime. The letter is Is follow
n, uEAR SIR: You may use this as you
think best But as some may wish to know
nan tcto, and lrby, as know not bolc 70 direct
] give it Gin The words OF your MASTER
Z" To ;rk0Ts Il may concern -
Right or wrong, God ludge ne, not man.
Tor be my motive good or bad, OF one thing /
Ena sure, the lasting condemnation Of the
North.
TnJon beyond expression. For four years have
! waited, hoped. and prayed for thu dark
CLOUDS 10 break, and for restoration OF our
former sunshine. To wait longer would be a
crime. All hope for peace is dead. Ny prayers
have proved as idle as my hopes. Gods will
De done. go 20 see and share the bitter emo
have ever held the South were right. The
very nomination OF Abraham Lincoln four
wears ago, spoke plainly, war-war upon
SOU nern rights and institutions. His election
proved it, await an overt act" Yes till
YOU are bound and pIundered. What follyl
The South was wise. Who THINKS OF argu-
ment or patience when the fingers of his enemy
trigger 7, l.,
could say, country, right or wrong But IN
q struggle such as ours, where the brother tries
20 pierce The brothers heart for Gods saks
Ghoose the right. When a country like TIM.
xpurns Justice from her side, she forfeits the
allegiance Of very honest freeman, and should
leave him, untrammeled by any fealty soeyer
10 act as his conscience may approve.
People OF the North, 10 hate tyranny, to love
Liberty and Justice, 10 strike at wrong and
oppression, was the teaching OF our fathers.
The study OF our early history will not let me
forget IL, and may il never.
This country was formed for the 7giite not
3or the black man. And looking upon african
sIdrtry from the same standpoint held by the
noble trainers OF our Constitution, l, tor one,
have ever considered IL one OF the greatest
blessings (both for themselves and isl that
God ever bestowed upon favored ma
ton. Witness heretofore our wealth and
power; witness their elevation and eulighteH-
nent above their race elsewhere. ! have lived
among il most Of my life, and have seen less
harsh treatment from master 70 man than
have beheld in the North from father TO son
Yet, Heaven knows, no one would be willing to
do mere for the negro race than l, could but
see way TO stu better their condition.
But LIncolns policy is only preparing way
for their total humiliation. The South are no?,
nor lGre hey been fighting for the continuation
OF slavery. The first battle OF Bull Run did
away with that idea. Their causes since for
97er have been as noble and greater far than those
tAdt urged our fathers on. EgeB should we al
low they were wrong 81 the beginning OF this
8oncest, cruelty and injustice have made the
ID
tbefore the wonder and admiration of the
world) as q noble band OF patriotic heroes
Hereafter, reading OF their dseds, ThermGpyl,e
VIII be forgotten.
When l aided in the capture and execuci w
Of John Brown, who was murderer on our
Western border, and who was fairly tried and
connected, before an impartial Judge and Jury,
OF treason, and who, by the way, has since
been made god,) i was proud OF nv little
ehare in the transaction, for deemed II nv
duty, that was helping our common country,
10 perform an act OF Justice But what was
crime IN poor John Brown is now considered
fby Ihemselves) as the greatest and only virtue
OF The whole Republican party. Strange trans
migration rice so became q vtrtGe, simply be-
cause more INDUCED in.
! thought then, as nolO, that the AboIitionists
9gers The only traitors in the land and that the
entire party deserved the same fate of poor
John Brown, not because they wish 10 abolish
slavery, but on account OF the means they have
ever endeaVOred to use to effect that abolition
II Brown were living, l doubt whether he
hisssey would set slavery against the Union
Most or MANY IN the North do, and openlv
curse the Union, If the South are to return and
retain single night guaranteed to them by eyery
tie which we once reUersd as SGcTed. The South
can make no choice. 1t Is either determination
or slavery for Themselves worse than DEATH to
draw from. ] know my choice.
i nave also studied hard to discover mon
what grounds the right OF State TO secede has
been denied, when our very name, United
States, and the Declaration of Independence
SO;A provide for secession. But there is no
time for words. ! write In haste. know how
foolish shall be deemed for undertaking such
. step as TINS, where, on the one side, i have
many friends and every thing TO make me nan.
Ply, where my profession alone has gained .ae
An Income OF mere than twenty thousand dol.
lars year, and where my great personal am.
billion IN my profession has sach great field
for labor. On the other hand, the South have
never bestowed upon me one kind word: a
place now where 1 have no friends, except be-
meath the sod; place where l must either be-
Gene private soldier or besgar. To give
up all OF The former for the latter, besides NV
mother and sisters, whom love so dearly
isI:hough they so widely differ with me in
opinlon,) seems insane; but God is nv iudre
love justice more than 1 do a country that
disc WINS II; more than fame and wealth: more
iheaven pardon me IL wrong more than a
happy home. 1 have never been upon bat
Sle- neid; but my countrymen! could you all
see the reality or effects of this hoTrid war, as
j nave seen them, CH erery State, save Vir-
gina, know you would think like me, and
%ouid pray the Almighty to create IN the
Northetn mind sense of right and justice,
Leven snould II possess no seasoning OF mercyj
ADO ma no would dry up this sea Of blood be-
tween os, which is daily growing wider