The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-05-03

tody it now remains. From a perusal
Of this paper it seems to have been pre-
pared by Booth as vindication of some
desperate act which he had iu coutem.
pla,ion; and, from the language used, it
is probable that it was a plot to abduct
the President aud carry him off to Vir.
ginia. IF this was meditated it failed,
and from making prisoner Of tho Pres.
ident to his assassination WAS an easy
step for man Of perverted principles
1t also appears that Booth was one OF the
party who was, engaged in the capture
and execution Of John Brown Of Ossa.
wattomie, at which time be doubtless
imbibed from Wise and his associates
those detestable sentiments Of cruelty
which have eliminated in an infamous
crime. The letter is as follows:
My DEAR Sin: You may use this as
you think best. But as some may wish
to know phcn, ,cho and ehy, and us
know not ho,o to direct, give it Gin the
words of Jour mastery
TO whom it may concern"
Right or wrong, God judge, not man
For be my motive good or bad, Of one
thing AIN sure, the lasting condemna.
ton Of the North.
love peace more than life. Have
loved the Union beyond expression. For
four years have l waited, hoped and
prayed for the dark clouds to break, and
for restoration Of our former sunshine
To wait longer would be crime. All
hope for peace is dead. My prayers have
proved as idle as my hopes. Gods will
be done. l 60 to SEQ and share the bit
ter end.
have ever held the South we're right.
The very nomination of Abraham Lin.
coin, four years ago, spoke plainly, war
war upon Southern rights and institu.
tions. His election proved it. "Awai,
au overt act" Yes, till you are bound
aud plundered. What folly The South
was wise. Who thinks Of argument or
patience when the finger Of his enemy
presses on the trigger? Iu q foreign
var I, too, could say" Country, right or
wrong But in struggle such as ours
(where the brother tries to pierce the
Brothers heart.) for Gods sake choose
the right. When a country like this
spurns justice from her side, she forfeits
the allegiance Of every honest freeman,
and should leave him, un,rammellcd By
any feal,y whatsoever, to act as his con.
science may approve.
People of the North, to hate tyranny:
to love liberty and justice, to strike at
wrong and oppression, was the tcachiug
of our forcFa,hers. The study of our
early history will not let me forget it.
and may it never.
This country was formed for the white
and not for the black man. And look.
ling upon African slavery from the stand
point held by the noble trainers Of our
Constitution, /, for one, have ever con.
sdcred it one Of the greatest blessings
(both for themselves ard u.) that God
ever bestowed upon favored nation.
Witness heretofore our wealth and pow.
or, witness their elevation and enlight.
enment a bove their race elsewhere.
have lived among it most Of my life, and
have seen less harsh treatment from
master to man than I have beheld in the
North from father to son. Yet, Heaven
knows. that no one would be willing to
do more for the negro race than /, could
I but sec way to still better their con-
dition.
But Lincoln's policy is onlyprcparing
the ray or,heir total annihila,ion. The
South are not, nor have they been fight.
ing for the continuance Of slavery. The
frSt battle Of Bull Run did away with
that idea. Their causes since for war
have been as noble and greater far than
those that urged our fathers on. Even
should VIC allow they we're wrong at the
beginning Of this contest, cruelty and
injustice have made the wrong become
the right, and they stand now (befsrc
the wonder and admiration Of the world)
as a noble band Of patriotic heroes
Hereafter, reading Of their deeds, Their
mopyle will be forgotten.
When l aided in the capture and exc.
cu,ion of John Brown, (who was mur.
derer on our western border, and who
was fairly tried and convicted, before an
impartial judge and jury, of treason,
aud who, BY the way, has since been
made a god) vas proud Of my little
share in the transaction; for deemed
it my duty, and that I was helping our
COM mon country to perform an act OF
Justice. But what was q crime in poor
John Brown, is now considered 10y
themselves) as the greatest and only vir.
tue of the whole Republican party
Strange trausmigratiou Vice to be-
come a virtue, simply because moro IN.
dulsed in it.
l thought then, as now, that the Abo.
litionists were the only traitors in the
land, and that the entire party deserved
the same fate Of poor old Brown; not
because they wish to abolish slavery, but
on account of the means they have ever
endeavored to use to effect that abolition.
If Brown were living, doubt whether