Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-05-22
BOOTHS DIARY oa's

- WY O1 tA0 " "ELL1nK-hepOILO Oh INC
Judge Advocate General. -rs
r. NEW YORK, May 2l.-The Booth diary
is published. 1t was brought to light by
an order from the President, who had never
seen the original, to Stanton. The latter
officer gave his instructions to Holt, who
thus responded: 4r.+v .ts.- -.a55.. s-,,l -..T
To the, President .tH5s r9i sm s3aI ID
The following is copy of the writing,
which was in pencil, found in the diary
taken from the body of j. Wilkes Booth
- ih- -'i - - J. iHoIT,A -
-EnA g.! h'' Judge Advocate General. !, I
i. I'll Amo, April ,13-l4-Friday, the ides,
Until to-day, nothing was ever thought OF
sacrificing to our eountry's WRONGS For
six months we had worked to capture; but
one cause being almost lost, something de-
cisive and great must be done; but its
failure was owing to others, who did not
strike for their country with a,heart.
l struck boldly, and not as the papers
say. walked with firm step through a
thousand of his friends, and was stopped
but pushed on. A colonel was at his side.
Ishouted 'Sic sem1per" before l fired. In
jumping broke my leg. ~ ,'i'-
. / passed all his pickets, rode sixty miles
that night with the Zone of my leg tearing
the flesh at every jump. can never re-
pent 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 what
it was. '+f' is-i.d ST. (. - 7 %" ~
April, May 8, 1s65.LThis forced Union Is
not what l have loved. Icare not what, be-
comes of me; l have no desire to outlive
my country. This night-before the deed
II wrote long article, and left it for one
of the editors of the National Intelligencer,
in which1 fully set forth our reasons for
our proceedings. He is the Government.
EriI iIor 01ek 80 ha;, fol
a dog through swamps and woods the last
night being chased by gunboats till l was
forced to return, wet, cold and starving.
with every mans hand against me, / AM
here in despair, and why? For doing what
Brutus was honored for, what made Tell a
hero, and yet /, for striking down a greater
tyrant than they ever knew, am looked upon
as a common cut throat. NV action was
purer than either of theirs. One hoped one
to be great. The other had not only his couI :
try's but his own wrongs to avenge. 1
hoped for no gain. l new no private
wrong. l struck for my country. and that
alOne-a country that groaned beneath
this tyranny, and prayed for this end, and
yetnow behold the cold hand they extend
to me. God cannot pardon me if have
dine wrong, yet cannot see my
wrong, except in serving a deyener te
people. The little, the very little tlat / i
left behind to clear my name, the Govern
ment will not allow to be, printed, so ends
all. For my country / have given up an
that makes life sweet and holy; brought
misery upon my family, and am sure there
is no pardon ia the heaven for me, since
man condems me SO. / have only heard
of what has been done, except what j
did myself, and it fills me with horror.
God, try and forgive me, and bless
my mother. Tonight 1 will once more
try the river with the intent to cross,
kIT,,. y, l.,xl To-. Il
mind to return to Washington, and in a
measure, clear my name, which l feel lean
do. i do not repent the blow 1 struck.
swear before my God but not to man, i
think have done well, though am abon
doned with the curse of Cain upon me, If
the world knew my heart, that one blow
would have made me great, though did
desire no greatness. Tonight l try to
escape these bloodhounds ono more. Who
can read his fate ? 'sGod's will be done.''
1 have too great soul to die like GRIM
inal. iol- ~ -ii-i -i' q . .i'5- p I-'7 '.,
Oimay He spare me that and let me die
bravely. bless the entire world. have
never hated or wronged any one. This last
act was not a wrong, unless God DEGREES
it so, and it is with Him to damn or bless
me, and from this brave boy with me, who
often prays: yes, before and since, with a
true and sincere heart was it crime in
him? If'not, why can he pray the same ?
do not wish to shed drop of blood, but
/ must fight the course. 'Pis all that's left
me. -H4I''' -f5.'- -i - ~ ~ - 20 -'''" 80
Upon piece of paper found in the diary,
and supposed to have been torn from it, is
written the following: ...... .. ...,.r.f,I -
Ny dear-( (piece torn out. Forgive me;
but [ have some little pride. 1 cannot
blame you for want of hospitality; you
know your affairs was sick, tired, with a
broken limb, and in need of medical advice.
1 would not have turned dog from my
door in such plight. However, you were
kind enough to give us something to, eat,
for which not only thank you, but on ac-
count of the rebuke and manner in which
to-(piece torn out). 1t is not the substance,
but the way in which kindness is. extend
ed, that makes one happyin the acceptance
thereof. The sauce to meat is ceremony
meeting were bare without it. Be kind to
accept the enclosed So, although hard to
spare, for " hat we have received.
REPORT OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL.
BUREAU OF MILITARY JUsTIcEl
ASS EE ,T.EI~F May ID, 1867. :
The diary purports to be one for 1864, and
the leaves cut or torn from it probably
contained entries of that year, and were
thus destroyed by Booth himself. tits abb
solutely certain that the diary is in all re-
spects as it was when it came into my
hands; and Col. Conger, who was promi-
nent in the pursuit and capture of Booth.
after having carefully examined it in my
presence on yesterday, declared its condi-
tion to be now precisely the same as when
he took it from Booths body after he had
been shot, the writing in it being the same,
and all which it contained. 1-I
Conger was examined before the Judi
eiary committee of the House of Repre-
sentatives to-day. j. Holt,
Ire Judge Advocate General.