Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-04-06
The ReRnae between Gem. Dutler
nnd anr. Bfnghnm.


which has caused profound sensation
Throughout. the country. The Generals
statements in respect to the trial Of Mrs.
Surratt are so remarkable that it is probable
that an official investigation will be made TO
ascertain the facts:
Mr.. Butler Rep., Mass.) asked and OBJ
tanned unanimous consent to make per-
sonal explanation, the time being limited to
l5 minutes. He stated that he had caused
to be placed on the desk of each member n
copy of MIR. Bingh speech the other day
ON the personal discussion with himself,
showing in parallcled columns the speech as
it appeared in the manuscript of the repor-
ter and the speech as published in The Globe
| The speech us written contained $50 words
| as printed it contained 1,047 words, and in
the reporters manuscript there were 2S2
erasures and alterations. He (Butler) had
| understood the rule to be that in personal
debate member had no right to make any
changes unless were submitted to the men,
| ber affected by them. That rule had been
violated in this case. In the matter thus
! interlopated was this sentence: "Wbat does
the gentleman (meaning Butler) know of
! the evidence ir the case. and what does lie
care for the evidence when he thus assails
the official conduct of those men who con-
stituted the Court r. He (Butler) would
state the evidence on which he had made
the other day the statement that Mrs. Sur.
ratt was improperly convicted. He held
| in bis hand the printed report of the trial,
and ha9 examined it with great care, be-
cause this was no sporadic thought of his.
1t was the result of careful anxious investi-
cation for another and q different purpose
to see who were in the great conspiracy.
The gentleman (Bingham) had said thst he
was the Advocate on the part of the United
States on that trial. That was great mis-.
take. He was the special Judge Advocate,
whose solemn duty it was to protect the
| rights of the prisoner as well as those of the
! United States, and to sum up the evidence
and state the law. But there was one piece
of evidence within the gentleman's (Bing-
ham's) knowledge which he had not pro-
duced on that most momentous trial. When
Booth was captured by Lieut. Col. Conger
there was, said Mr.. Butler, taken from his
pocket diary like the one ] now hold in
my hand iholding up small morocco cover.
ed pocket diary in which he (Booth) set
down day by day his plans, his thoughts
his motives, and his excuse. That diary
was put into the possession of the Govern.
ment, but it was not laid before the Military
Commission. although the gentleman Bing
ham) did lay before the Court Booths to
bacco pipe, spur, knife, and other articles
found on b:s person. The diary was not
produced. That diary appears now before
our judiciary Committee and let me say
here that did not obtain my information
from that Committee with the 1S pages of
entries made in the diary, prior to the time
of Mr.. LincOn's assassination absent. The
edges show that these papes were al! cut
out What l want to know is this: First.
Was that diary whole when it came into
the hands of the Government Second.
Whether it was good judgment on the part
OF those who were prosecuting the assassins
of Abraham Lincoln to put into tobacco
pipe found in Booths pocket as evidence
against the prisoner, while the diary in
Booths own handwriting detailing all the
particulars of his crime was withheld
did not charge the able, brave, and gallan,
. soldiers who sat on that Court with any
wrong. They did not see the diary. They
/ did not know of its existence If they had
{ they might have given different account
OF the matter. Who spoliated that book
Who suppressed that evidence2 Who caused
that innobent woman to be hanged while h,
: had in his pocket the diary which woult
y have shown at least what was the idea ant
. what were the thoughts of the main conspi
rator 2 There is still remaining in tina
diary memorable instance written but
few hours before j. Wilkes Booths death
;. quote from memory, 81 have endeavorec
to cross the Potomac five times and failed
n propose to return to Washington and Civ,
h.. myself up and, clear myself from this grea
crime" How clear hinself2 By giving
himself up and disclosing his accomplices
c Who were they Who spolated that bool
r after it got into the possession of the Go
vcrnment2 If it was not spoliated, wh.
was Lieut.. Col. Conger allowed to go oil
q and state what mad been found on Booth
G bodyl The questions were carefully put t.
him, so he should not tell about the book
He identifies the knife, pair of pistols, hols
, ter, tobacco-pipe. cartridges, bill of ex
J. change, &C. but he was nowhere asked
i "Were these all the articles that were foun,
!. on Booth Z If he had been asked that ques
ton, he would have answered that he hat
, taken Booths diary from his pocket as h
Il lay gaspng in death. l do not know wha
would have been the verdict of the Miitar
Commission if that evidence had been pre-
C duced. That evidence found on the peIso
;, of Booth should have been produced.
q understand the theory to he that the reasO
it was not produced was lest Booths glor
ication of himself should go into the case
|. | think that II most lame excuse. If an as
l. sassin can glorify himself let him do so bu
IT there is no danger of it, Therefore, agai
IS say here, it was a most remarkable circum
q stance that piece of evidence found on th
q body of the great conspirator should be cor
l. cealed. / will take that back-I mean ths
h it was not put forward-not brought befor
the great public mind believe that piec
s of evidence would have shown what in IN
9. judgment the whole case now shows-tht
o Booth up to certain hour meant captur
g. and abduction of Mr.. Lincoln, and that h
y changed his purpose and resorted to assass
,r nation. Mrs. Surratt may or may not hav
d known of the change of purpose. What
D, find fault with in the Judge Advocate, VIII
II did not sum up for the prisoner, is, tbi
Ie there was no notice by him brought to I'll
mind of the Court, in his very able but yer
bitter argument against the prisoner, o: th
l. change of purpose. If Mrs. Surratt did nj
t. know of this change, she would have la
ie no knowledge of the intended assassination
and therefore could not have been convicte,
E. These are the reasons why say that al
m glad the blood of that woman, whether 81
30 ! were innocent or ruilty is not on my hand