Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-05-21
THE BOOTH DIARY.
The following is the copy Of the writing
(which was in pencD found in the diary taken
from the body of J. Wilkes Booth.
Official copy: J. HOLT,
Judge Advocate GeneFaI.
"T Amo. -
APRIL 1874. FRIDAY, THE IDEs.


APRIL 1874. FRIDAY, THE lDEs.
Until to day nothing was ever thought OF
sacrificing to our country's wrongs. FOR SIX
months we had worked to capture. But our
cause being almost lost, something decisive and
great must be done But it's failure was owing
TO others who did not strike for their country
with heart. | struck boldly, and not as the
papers say. [ walked with firm step through
thousand OF his friends; was stopped, but
pushed on. A colonel was at his side. |
broke my ley passed all his pickets Rode
sixty miles that night, with the bone Of my
leg tearing the flesh at every jump.
I can never repent it, though we hated to
kill. Our country owed all her troubles to
him, and God simply made me the instrument
OF his punishment.
The country is not
April, 1865,
what it acas. This forced union is not what
have loved care not what becomes OF me.
[ have no desire to outlive my country. Inns
night (before the deed) wrote Ions. article
and left it for one Of the editors of the NATION
AL INTELLIGENCER, in which fully set torth
our reasons for our proceedings. lie or the
Gov'r
Friday, q.
After being hunted like dog through
swamps, woods, and last night being chased
by gunboats till was forced to return wet, cold,
and starving, with every man 8 hand against
me, am here in despair And why For
doing what Bratus was honored ior. What
made Tell a Hero? And yet Tor striking
down greater tyrant than they ever knew am
looked upon as a common cutthroat. N.Y. &C
ton was purer than either OF theirs. One
hoped to be great The other had not only
his country's but his own wrongs to aVenge.
[ hoped for no gain. knew no private wrong.
[ struck for my country and that alone. a
country that crowned beneath his tyranny and
prayed for this end, and yet now behold the
cold hand they extend to me. God cannot par
don me if have done wrong. Yet cannot see
my WRONG except in serving degenerate peo-
pie. The little, the very little, lett behind
be printed. So ends ALL For my country |
have gwen ND all that makes life sweet and
holy, brought misery upon my family, and am
sure there is no pardon in the Heaven for me
since man condemns me so. have only
HEARD Of what has been done, Except what /
did myself and it fills me with horror. God,
try and forgive me, and bless my mother. To-
night [ will once more try the river with the
intent to cross Though | have q greater de-
sire and almost mind to return to Washing
ton and in q measure clear my name-whleh l
feel can do. do not repent the blow |
struck. | may before my God, but not to man.
[ think | have done we'll Though I ain
abandoned, with the curse Of Cain upon me,
when, if the world knew my heart, that one
blow would have made me great, though l did
desire no greatness.
Tonight try to escape these blood hounds
once more Who, who can read his fate? ?
God's will be done
[ have too great soul to die like criminal
0, may he, may he spare me that, and let NE
die braveiy
bless the entire world. Have never hated
or wronped any one. This last was not wrong
unless God deems it so. And it's with him to
damn or bless me- And for this brave boy
with me, who often prays yes, before and
since) with true and sincere heart, was 1t
crime in him, if 50, why Cay he pray the same.
81 must fight the course. lis all that left
me-
Upon piece Of paper found in the diary,
written the following:
My Dea-, piece torn out forgive me, but
| have some little pride | cannot blame you
for want of hospitality. You know your own
AFFAIR." was sick, tired, with broken limb,
and in need Of medical advice: would not
have turned dog from my door in such Il
plight. However, you were kind enough to
give rs something to eat, Tor which | not only
thank you, but on account OF the rebuke and
manner in which to - piece torn out. 1t is
not the substance, but the way IN which kind
ness is extended that makes one happy in the
acceptance thereof. The sauce to meat is
ceremony. Meeting were bare without it
Be kind enough 10 accept The enclosed So
(although hard to spare) for what have reed.
Most respectfully your obedient servant. y
NATIONAL BANKS GOVERNMENT DEPOSITS.
Upon The authority Of the Financial Chron-
icle it would appear that no small disquletude
prevails IN financial circles in consequence Of
the claim which Gas in the case Of the late New
Orleans and other disgracelul National bank
frauds the officers Of The Treasury have tried
to make good relative to government deposits.
It is claimed that when bank fails, having in
its possession money belonging to the National
Treasury, this money must be paid in full be-
fore any other debts are satisfied. II there is
only enough to pay the government, the gov
ernment takes all there is and leaves the pr-
ya!e depostors without dollar. IF there is
surplus the private depositors will receive it,
This view of the comparative claims of the
government and OF the public over the assets
OF broken bank is the one which, il we are
not misinformed, has not only been advanced
but enforced. Hence, the first kilograms Of
any new bank failure assure US that the gov
eminent will lose nothing and the circulation is
secure" The authority upon which govern
ment officials proceed in giving precedence to
government claims in cases Of this kind is, for
general warrant, an old law to that effect and
specifically, the so section of the banking la law
which provides for the government first. The
great question for the community, however, in
this connection, is, as the Financial Chronicle
puts it, whether bank possessing influence
enough to obtain heavy government deposits
should be allowed to use those deposits in 70
menting speculation in cotton, IN stocks. in
gold, in provisions, in breadstutfs, in robbing
the poor by high prices Of the necessaries Of
life, and in robbing commerce by deranging the
markets for the commodities of trade: and