Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-05-03
LETTER FROM THE ASSASSIN

Ia" VI Mr. Booth The history con-
nected with 1t is somewhat peculiar. In
November, 1864, the paper was deposited
win Mr.. Clark by Booth, In n sealed en-.
veIoPe, "ior safe Keeping" Mr.. Clark he.
ing ignorant OF the contents. In Janua.
ry, last Booth called at Mr.. Clark's house
asked Tor the package, and it was given
nim' 1t Is now supposed that at that
!lmo he took out the paper and added m
II MS signature, which appears TO be in n
dIiieTent ink from that used in the hn-;n
oi the letter, and also from the lar,ora,, :,
employed could not haye ooer nni ~ 4,
riglnally. Afterwards he ret,,rnoJ I " 9ho ~
package to Mr., Clark agair ,or saso nSu oan .no
ing, scaled and be.rinc The Tvr S",e neep
Tbe i"e' i"Ia Doth, PHILADELPHIA Press.
.hy Dear Sir:-You may use this as YOU
think best But as some NAV wish to
know when, ,oho and tghv, and as know
not h0'0 to direct, give it lin the words
of your master)
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN -
Right or wrong, God judge, not man.
roi be my motive good OF bad, for one
thing | am sure, the lasting condemna-
tion Of the North,
love peace more than life. Have loy-
ed the Union beyond expression. For
four years have waited, hoped and pray-
ed for the clouds to break, and for a res.
torasion OF our former sunshine. To wait
longer would be crime. All hone for
pesce is dead. Ny prayers nave proved
as idle as my hopes. Gods will be douo.
go to see aud share the b litter end.
have ever held the South were right
The very nomination of Abraham Lincoln,
four years ago, spoke plainly, war-war
upon Southern rights and institutions.
his election proved it. Await an overt
act Yes, till you are bound and plum
dered. What folly! The South was wise
Who thinks ofargument or patience when
the finger of his enemy presses on the
trigger! In a foreign war !, too, could
say, country. right or wrong" But in
struggle such as ours (where The brother
lrles to pierce the brothers heart,) for
San,f eonn;ry SAKE AXE choose the right. When a
side, she forfeits the allegiance Of every
honest freeman, and should leave him,
untrammeled by any fealty soever, to net
as his conscience may approve.
People Of the North, 70 hate TYRANNY.
to love Liberty and justice, to strike at
wrong and oppressioa, was the teaching
OF our fathers. The study ofour early his.
tory VIZ not let me forget it, and may it
uever.
I.rls country was formed for the ,chite,
! not for tho black man. And looking up
on african slavery from the same stand
point held by the noble trainers of our
Constitution, |, for one, have ever consid-
cred il one Of the greatest blessings (both
for themselves and us) that God ever be-
slowed upon favored nation. Witness
heretofore our wealth and power witness
their elevation and enlightenment above
their race elsewhere. have lived among
it most of my life, and have seen less harsh
treatment from master TO man than have
behe!d in the North from father to son.
Yet, Heaven knows, no one would be will
ing to DO more for the negro race than /,
could but see way to ShHJeher their con-
dhion.
[ But Lincon'S policy is only preparing
the way for their annihilation. The South
are not, nor have they been fighting for the con-
iinuance of slavery. The first 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 we allow they were wrong at
the beginning of this contest, cruelty and in
justice have made the wrong become the
| right, and they stand no,0 before the won.
der and admiration of the world) as a no.
BILE band OF patriotic heroes, Hereafter,
! .onJ;no of ,L,,. J,cy, Ia, bo
! forgotten,
When | aided in the capture and exc
cution OF John Brown (who was mur-
derer on our Western border, and who
was fairly tried and convicted, before an ian
partial judge and jury, Of treason, and
who, by the way, has since been made n
god, | was proud in my little share in
the transaction, for | deemed it my duty,
and that was helping my common coun-
try to perform an act Of justice. But
what was n crime in poor John Brown is
now considered 10y themselves) as the
greatest and only virtue OF the whole Re-
publican party. Strange transmigration !!
Vice to become virtue, simply because
more indulge in it.
| thought then as nor, that the Aboli-
tioniSts wes tic 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 endeayored to
use 10 effect that abolition. If Brown were
living doubt whether he himself would
set slavery against the Union, Most or
many in the North do, and openly curse
the Union, if the South are to return and
retain a single right guaranteed to them by
every tie which we once revered as sacred.
| The South car make no choice. 1t is
either determination or slavery for them
selves (worse than DEATH TO draw from. l
know my choice.
have also studied hard to discover up
on what grounds the right Of State to Sc
ceed has been denied, when our very
name, United States. and the Declaration
OF Independence, both provide for Seces--
sion But there is no time for words, !
write in haste. know how foolish