Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1865-04-26
a Letter from booth.


addressed to John S. Clarke, the brother
in-law Of the murderer, but has upon the
outside a superscription marked 81
Wilkes Booth-for safe Keeping IL is
in the handwriting of the assassin
My DEAR SIR You may use this as
you think best. But as some may wish
to know when, who and why, and as |
know not how to direct, give it Tin the
words Of your mastery
g To WHOM II My CONCERN.''
Right OF wrong, God judge me, not
man. For be my motive good or bad, OF
one thing | am sure, the lasting condem-
nation OF the North
L love peace more than life. Have
loved the Union beyond expression. For
four years have L waited, hoped and pray
ed for the dark clouds 10 break. and for a
restoration Of the 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
bc done. go TO see and share the bitter
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 found and plum
dcred. What folly The South was
wise. Who thinks of argument or pa
tience when the finger Of his enemy pres
ses the trigger In a foreign war /, too,
could say, - country, right or wrong"
But in a struggle such rs ours {whcre the
brother tries to pierce the brothers heart.
for Gods sake choose the right. When
country like this spurns justice from her.
side she forteIts the allegiance of every
honest freeman, and should leave him,
untrameled by any fealty soever, to act as
his conscience may approve.
People Of the North, to hale tyranny,
to love liberty and justice, to strike at
wrong and oppression. was the teaching
OF our fathers The study of our early
history will moi let NE forget il and may il
never
This country was formed for the ,r.ats
not for the black man. And looking upon
-4.jncm S'arey from the same stand point
held by the noble trainers Of our Consti-
tntion, /, tor one, have ever considered il
one OF the greatest blessings (both for
thgmselye9 and u.s. that God ever bestow-
ed upon favored nation. Witness here
totore our wealth and power witness
their elevation, md enl;,htcn,op, .,,,,,a
their race elsewhere. have lived amono
it most of nv life. and have seen less harsh
treatment from master 10 man than have
beheld in the Nor,h from f,,ber .o<op
Yet Hoavon l,,.n,s No. ona n.o,,Il to
w;lloa to d. ,on.n snr ,bn m ,,,ro w ,..nn ~' 'hn'
|. could | but see a wav to still better
their condition.
Bot Iincoln's policv i only nrenarino
the way for their total :,npibilat;nn III
South arc not nor haze .bav been fioht-
ing for the continuance of s,9vcrv The
first hattie of pam IL T'H, ~ ,;.,, ~
idea. Their capsos s;ncr f,r war have
been rs norla on1 crro.,,or r.,r +b,n r,,-o
that urood orr f,,ho. ''aI' 49, E ,',, .1n,IJ ',
we allow they wo,e ,vronc - tbc h.a;n-
ming OF this contest crnaItT orl ;,;,,Sf;co
have made the v,ronc, hoco,o tr,. r;oht
and they stand ro,,. 1,oc,ro ,t,o ,,,o,,l,r
and admiration of tbn world, .,s q n,l,ln
band of patriotic heroes Hereafter read
ing of their deeds Tbernon,.I,, ,y;II ho
forgotten.
When I aided :, tho co,t,,r. ord oxo-
cution of John Rrown (,,,bn was = MN
dcrer on our Western border. and who
was fairly tried and convicted before an
impartial Judge and inrv. Of treason. C,od