The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-08-03

from asKTlg lily
carrying the project through. notwIth-
standing my means Tor such an undertake
ing is very limited, and that some funds
would ma erially tighten my task, dimin
ish the danger, and doubly insure success.
But / beg of you passport so as to travel
by VT. q. o. and A. NJ. G. r. RS as intend
Maryland and to enter Washington. Very
respectfully your honor's obedient servant.
&C. L. v. DEKALB."
Upon this letter is the Endorsement
in pencil, partially erased:
See this man with Benjamin S.
File"
The letter and the Endorsement
show that Walker not only received
and considered the proposition, but
that he had an interview with the
writer, and that it was his purpose to
have another interview with him IN
company with Benjamin, Secretary OF
State.
On the 18th of September, 1861,
letter was written to jeff. DAVIS by j.,
s. Parramore, which was received, as
appears by the Endorsement on the
10Th of the same month. The fol-
lowing is copy:
"BosToN p. O.,
THOMAS Co., GA, Sept. IL, 1881.
"JEFrERsoE DAvIs-Sfr: Ha wing de-
sire to be of benefit to the Confederate
States is the only excuse 1 can offer for adj
dressing you a letter; and believing the
best plan would be to dispose of the lead
ing characters of the North for that reason
have tried and experimental in certain
particulars that will do this without diff
Guilty. Although il is quite an underhand-
ed manner of warfare, and not knowing
whether 1t would meet with your approba-
ton or not, prevents me from giving you q
full account of the materials used, al
though believe any one of them would
take the life of a Southern man in any
manner they could, Ifyou wish it, write
to me and get the whole process. Hoping
you good health and future victory.
J. 8. PARRAMoRE."
at the top of this letter, in the
handwriting of JEFF. Davis, is the fol-
lowing note: Sec. of War;. d."
Upon the back of this letter is this in
dorsement, under the name and resi-
dence of the writer: Has discovered
mode of disposing of leading charac-
tiers at North" File"
In addition to the testimony thus
presented upon this point, the com
mittee offer letter of Lieutenant r.
Aston, which was produced at the
trial of the conspirators of the assas-
sination of President Lincoln, from
which the following is an extract:
~ now offer you my services, and il you
coed. as soon as my health viii permit. to
rid my country of some of her deadliest
enemies, by striking at the very hearts
blood of those who seek to enchain her in
slavery. consider nothing dishonorable
having such a tendency. All ask of you
is to favor me by granting the necessary
papers, etc., TO travel. am perfectly fa-
miliar with the North, and feel confident
that can execute anything 1 undertake.
was in the raid last June in Kentucky,
zlx,s T<1.w 4zHr,
prisoner, and escaped from them by dress
ing myself in the garb of a citizen. I went
through the Canadas, from whence, by the
assistance of Col. j. p. Holcome, 1succeed-
ed in working my way around and through
the blockade. should like to have per-
sonal interview with you, in order to per-
The following is the Endorsement
upon the above communication:
f..a "a: 1890. Abba 1891 Incf
Lieutenant w. Aston, MONTGOMERY, Sui
phur Springs, Virginia. No date.
rs in General Dukes command. Ac-
companied raid into Kentucky, and was
captured and escaped into Canada, whence
he found his way back. Been in bad health.
Now offers his services to rid the country
of some of its deadliest enemies. Asks for
papers to permit him to travel within the
jurisdiction of the Government; would
like to have an interview and explain.
Respectfully referred, by direction of
the President, to the Honorable Secretary
OF War. BURTON w. HARRISON.
Received Nov. 20, 1854 Recorded Book
A. A. @. G., Dec. 10, 1884. A. G. for atten-
-. 81. A. CAMPBELL, A. S. W."
There is much more of this sort, but
we have not space for it. Reviewing
it the Committee says:
These documents are conclusive
upon the point that Davis and Benja-
min, and Walker, in the years 1861,
1862, 1868, 1864 and 1865, received,
entertained and considered PROPOSE
tions for the assassination of the chief
men of the Government of the United
States, and therefrom a probability
arises that they took steps to accom-
plish the purpose that for so long a
time they entertained and considered.
The testimony at the trial of the as
sassins, justifes the inference that the
murder of Mr.. Lincoln was procured
by the use of money furnished by the
Richmond Government.
The fact that Surratt was in the Sc
cret service of the State Department,
that he was In Richmond on the 18th
of March; that he then had an inter
view with both Davis and Benjamin :;
that he returned to Washington on
the Sd of April, and there had in his
possession a considerable sum of
money in gold; that he left for Cana
da, and returned again to Washington
on the 10Th of April, and that his CON
nection and completely with Booth
does not admit of doubt, and presents
a mass of connected testimony impli-
eating Davis directly in the assassina-
ton of the President, which, in an
ordinary trial for murder, would go
very far toward the conviction of the
person accused. 1t is also a signifi-
cant fact that Booth, at the time of
the assassination, had in his posses
sion the same cypher which was used
by Benjamin, as appears in the testi-
monY given hy Messrs Dana and Eek