, 1865-06-09
A Letter by j. Wilkes Booth.

months ago. The Press pretaces 1t as follows:
We have just received the following letter,
written by John Wilkes Booth, and placed by
him in the hands of his brother-in-aw, J. S.
Clarke It was written by him in November last,
and left with J. S. Clarke in sealed envelope,
and addressed to himself in his own handwriting.
In the same envelope were some United States
bonds and oil stocks This letter was opened by
Mr.. Clarke for the first time on Monday last, and
Immediately handed by him to Marshal Milward,
who has kindly placed it in our hands. Most
unmistakably It proves that he must for many
months have contemplated seizing the person
Of the late President It is, however, doubtful
whether he imagined the black deed which has
plunged the nation into the deepest gloom, and
at the same time awakened it to a just and right
eous indignation;
My Dear Sir You may use this as you think
best But as some may wish to know whO, When
and ,ohy, and as know not how to direct it,
give it (n the words of your mastery ''TO whOm
ii may concern"
Right or wrong God Judge me, not man. For
be my motive good or bad, of one thing am
certain, the lasting condemnation 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. Ny prayers have
proved as idle as my hopes. God'swll be done.
| 7 ro +o see and share the hitter end
l 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.
sFAwait an overtact." Yes; until you are bound
and plundered What follyl The South were
wise. Who thinks of argument or patience
when the finger fhs enemy presses on the trig-
ger2 In a foreign ,oar, too, could say, "Coun-
try, right or wrong" But in a struggle such as
ours (where the brother tries to pierce the broth
ers heart), for Gods sake choose the right.
When a country like this spurns justice from her
she forfeits the allegiance of every honest free
man, and should leave him, untramelled by any
fealty soever, to act as his conscience may ap-
prove.
People Of the North, to hate tyranny, to love
liberty and justice, to strike at wrong and op
preston, was the teaching of our fathers. The
study of our early history will not let me forget
it, and may it never.
The country was formed for the tohite, not the
black man And looking upon African slavery
from the same stand point held by the noble
trainers of our constitution, l, for one, have
considered it as one of the greatest blessings
(both for themselves and us) that God ever be-
slowed upon favored nation Witness hereto
fore our wea tn and power, witness their eleva-
ton and enlightenment above their race else
where have lived amongst 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, no one would
be willing to do more for the negro race than I,
could but see the way to still better their con
diton
But Lncoln's policy is only preparing the way
for their total annihlation The South are not,
nor hare they been fighting for the continuance of
slavery The first battle of Bull Run did away
with that idea. Their causes since for the war
have been as noble and greater that urged our
fathers on. Even should we allow they were
wrong at the beginning of this contest, cruelty
and injustice have made the wrong become
right, and they stand now (before the wonder
and admiration of the world) a noble band of
patriotic heroes. Hereafter reading of their
deeds, Thermopyl@ will be forgotten.
When aided in the capture and execution of
old John Brown (who was murderer on our
western border, and who was fairly tried and con-
uicted before an impartial Judge and jury, Oft
on, and who, by the way, has since been made
a god), was proud of my little share in the
transaction for deemed it my duty, and that I
was helping our common country to perform
act of Justice. But what was a crime in poor
John Brown is now considered (by themselyes)
as the greatest and only virtue of the whole Re-
publican party. Strange transmigratonl Vice
to become virtue simply because more indulge
in it.
thought then as no0, that the abolitionists
aoere the only traitors in the land and that the
tire party deserved the same fate poor old John
Brown not because they wish to abolish slavery,
but on account of the means they they have en-
deavored to use to efectthat 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 single right
guaranteed to them by every tie which we once
revered as sacred. The South can make no
choice. 1t is either determination or slavery for
themselves (worse than death) to draw from. I
know my choice.
l have also studied hard to discover upon what
grounds the right of State to secede has been
denied, when our very name, United States, and
the Declaration of Independence, both provide
for secession. But there is no time for words,
write in haste.
know how foolish shall be deemed for un-
dertaking such step as this, where, on ones side,
have many friends and everything to make me
happy, where my profession alone has gained