The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-05-24
To the PRESIDENT.

The following is the copy Of the writing
(which was in penci) found in the diary
taken from the body of j. Wilkes Booth.
Official copy:
J. HoLT, Judge Advocate General.
ste Ano."
April. 1914, FRIDAY, THE 1DEs.
Until to-day nothing was ever thou ght of sacri-
ficiug to country's wrongs. For six months
had worked to capture. But cause being
almost lost, something decisive and great must be
done. But its 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. l shouted sic semper before | fired. In
jumping broke my leg. passed all his pckets.
Rode sixty miles that night, with the bone of my
leg tearing the flesh at every jump.
/ 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 pun
ishment
The country is not
april, 1865.
what it ,cas. This forced union is not what I
have loved. I care not what becomes of me. /
have no desire to outlive my country. This night
(before the deed) wrote long article and left it
for one of the editors of the NATIONAL INrELLI-
GENCER, in which fully set forth our reasons for
our proceedings. He or the Govr
Friday, 81.
After beng hunted ike q dOg through SWampS,
woods, and last night being chased by gunboats
till / was forced to wet cold, and starving,
with every mans hand against me, am here in
despair. And why? For doing what Brutus
honored for. What made Tell Hero? And yet
for striking down greater tyrant than they
ever knew am looked upon common cut-threat.
My action purer than either of theirs. One
hoped to be great. The other had not only his
country's but his own wrongs. l struck for my
country and that alone. A country that groaned
beneath this tyranny and prayed for this end, and
vet now behold the cold hand they extend to me.
God cannot pardon me if l have done wrong.
Yet l canrot see my wrong except in serving
degenerate people. The little, the very little, l
left behind to clear my name, the Gov'mt will not
allow to be printed
So ends all. For my country have given up
all that makes life sweet and holy, brought mis-
cry upon my family, and there is no
pardon in the Heaven for me since man condemns
/ have only HEARD of what has been
done, (excert what did myself, and it fills me
with horror. God, try and forgive me and bless
my mother. Tonight will once more try the
river with the intent to cross. Though have
greater desire and almost mind to return
to Washington and in a measure clear my
name--which feel l can do. l do not repent
the blow struck. I may before my God but
not to man. think have done well. Though
I am 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 1 try to escape these blood hounds
one more. Who, who can read his fate! Gods
will be done.
have too great soul tosdie like a criminal.
0, may ne, may he spare me that, and let me die
bravely.
I bless the entire world. Have never hated or
wronged any one. This last was not a 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, Eyes before and since,) with
a true and sincere heart, was it crime in him? if
so, why can he pray the same.
do not wish to shed drop of blood, but "I
must hight the curse" Ills all that's left me.
Upon piece of paper found in the diary,
and supposed to have been torn from it, is
written the following
MIR DEA-1Lpieee torn out, forgive me, but I