Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-04-04
GEO. B. GOoDLANDER, Proprietor.


ratt may or may not have known O
the change Of purpose. What fine
fault with in the Judge Advocate, who
did not sum up for the prisoner, il
that there was no notice by hin
brought to the mind of the Court in
his very able but very bitter argument
: against the prisoner, of this change o.
purpose. IfMrs Surratt did not know
of this change, she would have had nc
knowledge of the intended assassina
ton, and therefore could not have been
convicted.
These are the reasons why say
am glad the blood of that woman,
| whether she were innocent or guilty
is not on my head. / meant by no
means to say word against the Off
GERS who composed that commission.
They were military men, who relied
for the law upon the Judge Advocate,
who thought they had all the facts
before them, but before whom all the
facts were not put do not mean to
say that they judged wrong under the
light which they had.
The point which / made, and the
point which should stand made before
the country, is that all the testimony
was not before that tribunal. If all
the testimony had been presented we
should have been able TO pursue the
accomplices, and TO find out who il
was thai changed Booths purpose
from capture to assassination who il
was that was to profit by the assassi-
nation, and that would not profit by
the capture of Mr.. Lincoln who it was
that should succeed to Mr.. Lincoln in
case the bullet made u vacancy. In
some aspects of the case that diary
might not have been legal testimony,
but its moral evidence would have
carried conviction to the mind of cv-
erybody, because it was the dying
declaration Of man who, assassin
though he were, was telling the truth
between himself and God How was
Booth, by coming back to Washing
ton, going to clear himself of the great
crime committed That question still
remains. Were the eighteen pages of
Booths diary gone when it came into
the possession of the learned Judge
Advocated 7 Ifso, why did he not in
quire what became Of them Z whether
Lieutenant Colonel Congcr gave the
book to somebody; whether it went
from his hands into other hands, and
whose knife it was that cut out those
leavcsy / should not have pursued
this matter further except that the
gentleman (Mr Bingham) charged me
with having made the assertion did
rithout aa ess..s..i..~tse.. 80 sLa ~;
dence. He has chosen TO bring the
matter here-not | and | desire now
that in some form this matter shall be
fully and thoroughly Investigated.
Here the fall OF the Speakers ham
mer indicated the termination Of the
fifteen minutes allowed to Mr. But
ler. A proposition for an extension of
time was made, but Messrs Van
Wick and Broomall objected.
Mr.. BINGHAM, of Ohio, asked leave
to reply to Mr. Butler.
Mr.. BRooMALL, of Pennsylvania, in
quircd as to the length Of time he de-
siredy
Mr.. BINGHAM, said he only wanted
the same time that was given to his
assailant and accuser
The House granted him fifteen min
utes.
Mr. BINGHAM commenced by call
ing on Mr. Butler for the book.
Mr. BUTLER, holding up the report
of the assassination trials, asked was
that the bookl
No, sir, said Mr. BINGHAM. mean
the diary.
Oh, said Mr. BUTLER, the gentle
man cannot have that.
Mote by the rcporter-Mr Bing-
ham supposed that Mr.. Butler had
Booths diary, while he only had one
which he said looked like il in outward
appearance.
This misapprehension caused Mr..
BINGHAM TO say yes, sir, that is anoth-
err exhibition of fairnes and manliness
Mr.. BUTLER tried 10 explain, but
Mr.. BISGHAM would not permit him,
and requested that he should sit down.
If he had not the diary, he said, he
should not have said word about it,
But, interposcd Mr.. BUTLER, know
who has.
Mr.. BINGHAM said--And | do not. |
He then went on TO say as to the re-
port furnished TO me of the hurried |
and excited debate which took place
between myself and the gentleman |
which was provoked by an unjust and |
unwarranted imputation on his part,
none the less unjust and disreputablc
because he selected the softest word |
in the language
The SPEAKER intimated that the
word "disreputablc, was nota proper
word to apply to another member in
debate.
Mr. BrNaHAM-I beg the Speakers
pardon. To say that an accusation is
disreputablc is not unparliamcntary.
do not say that the gentleman is dis
| am only sorry that the
Speaker did not discover such words
as that when used by my accuser, but
| take it back under the direction of
the Speaker, and perhaps / will not
be permitted to say anything.
The SPEAKER intimated that Mr..
might proceed in order.
Mr.. BINGHAM continucd-In the ex-
citcmcnt and hurry of the time it so
that the report of my reply I
TO the gentleman was the most i'm
perfect report that was ever sent to
no of vo,,,o,.l he ,oodo lx, mo In tho