The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-05-12
LETTER OF JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.


From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The following verbatim copy Of letter.
in writing which is the hand writing of
John Wilkes Booth, the murderer of
President Lincoln, has been furnished us
BY the Hon. VIM. Milward, U s. Mar
sial Of the Eastern Distric. Of Peunsyl.
y.na. Ii was handed over to that officer
by John S Clarke. who is a brolher-in
law to Mr.. Booth. The history connected
with it is somewhat peculiar. In Nov.
1864, the paper WAS deposited with Mr.
Clarke by Booth. in sealed envelope, for
"safs keeping" Mr. Clarke being ign GRANT
Of the contents In January last Booth
called at Ciarke's house, asked for the
package ana it was given him. 1t is now
supposed tla. 1T ,ha, time he took out
the paper and added TO it his signature.
which appears to be in different ink
from tina. used 10 the body Of the letter,
and also from the language employed
could no, have been pu: to it originally
Afterward lie returned the package to Mr..
Clarke for safe keeping, sealed and bear
ing the superscrip,ion 81 Wilkes Booth"
The Enclosure was preserved by the
family without suspicion Ct It's nature
After the affecting information of the as
sassination of tbs President, which came
upon the family Of MIR. Clarke with
crushing force, it was considered proper
to open the envelope. There were found
in it the following papers, with some
Seven~ihirty United States bonds, and
certificates Of shares in oil companies.
Mr.. Clarke promptly handed the papers
[ over to Marsha! MiIlward, in whose Gus
tody it how remains From a perussl of
| this paper it seems TO have beer prepared
b. Booth as an indication OF some desper-
ate act which he had in contemplation ::
AID from the language it is probable
! that it was plot to abduct the Presiden,
and carry him off to Virginia If this
was meditated, il failed, and from making
a prisoner Of the President to his assassi-
nation was an easy step for a man Of per
verified princi Piles. 1t also appears ,ha;
Booth was one of the party who vas en-
gagged IN the capture and execution OF
John Brown, OF Nssawa,tomie, 1T which
time he doubtless irnbibe1 from Wise and
his associates these deteslable sentiments
of cruelty which have eliminated in al
infamous crime The letter is as follows j:
-, -, 1864.
Ny DEAR SIR You may use this as
you think best. But as scn2e may wish TO
know schen, sgho and arhy, and as | know
no, how to direct it, give it On the words
of your master
"Io WHOM 1T MAY CoNCERN."
Right or wrong, God judge NE, not
man. For be my motive good or bad of
one thing am sure, the lasting condem
nation OF the North.
love pe.ce more than life. Have loved
the Union beyond expression, For four
years have | waited, hoped and prasei for
the dark clouds 10 break, aud for a resto>
ration of our former sunshine TO wait
longer would be crime. All hope tor
pesos is dead My prayers have proved
as idle as my hopes. Gods will be doue
60 to see and share tho bitter end.
| have ever held the South were right
The very nomination of Abraham Lincoln,
four years ego, spoke plainly, war-war
upon southern riglts and institutions, HIS
election proved it. Await an over, act"
Yes, ill you are bound and pIundeIed.
What folly The South vas wise. Who
shiaks OF argument or patience when the
finger of his enemy presses on the trigger?
! In a foreign war l. TOO, could say, "coun-
try righ, or wrong" But in struggle
such AS ours (where the brother tiles to
pierce the brothers hearty for Gods sake
choose the right, When "a coun,rv Ike
this spurns justice from her side she fol-
feils the allegiance of every honest free
man, and should leave him un,ramme!ed
by any fealty soever, to act as bis con5ci-
eaca may approve
People OF the north, to hate y ranny, to
love liberty and justice, 10 strike at wrong
and oppression, WAS The teaching our
fathers The study Of our early histor,
viii not let me forget it, and may it new
This country was formed for the white,
not for the black man. And looking up
on African slavery from the stand point
held by the noble trainers OF orr Cons,itu-
tI''u, l, iot one. nave ever CONSTITUTED IL
one Of She greatest blessings (both for
themselves and us) that God ever bes'ow
ed upon a favored nation. Witness here
tofoIs our wealth and power; witness
| their elevation and enlightenment above
their race elsewhere. have lived among
1t most Of ny life, and have seen les
harsh treatment from master TO man than
| have beheId in the North from father to
son. Yet, Heaven know.. no one would
| he wllling to do more for the negro race
| than |, could but see way to still bet
| ter their treatment.
But Lincon's policy is only preparing
the way for their total aunlbIlalion. The
South are not, nor have they been fight
ing for the continuance of slavery. The
first battle of Bull Run did away with that
idea. Their causes, since for war, have
oeen as noble, and greater far, than those
OF our fathers. Even should We allow
theg were wrong at The beginning # this
contest. cruelty and Injustice have made
the wrong become the right, and they
staad now (beiore the wonder aud ad,nr
alton OF the worId) AS Il noble band OF
patriotic heroes Hereafter, reading Of
their deeds, Thefmcyylae will be forgot
ton.
When | aided in the capture and exc
cuiIOn OF John Brown tWho was a muir