New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1867-06-02
BOOTHS DIARY.

OencFai Dullef IN rcleTeHCe 10 lnc al4eGcQ
mutilations of the diary of John Wilkes
Booth has occasioned a general demand for
the publication of the document. The
President has finally yielded to the soliclta-
tons for the publication Of the diary, and
ordered a certified copy to be prepared. The
following are the official documents:
Copy.
EXECUTIVE MANSION. WAsHINGroN, d. G..
| May o. lS6T.-The Secretary of War will
| please furnish the President with certified
copy of the Diary" found upon the body
Off. Wilkes Booth, together with a succinct
statement of all the facts connected with its
capture aud Its possession by the war de
partment ANDREW JOHNSON.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WAsHINGToN CRY, May
II, lsG7.-S.r: | have the honor to submit
herewith a copy Of the entries contained in
the memorandum book found on the person
of j. Wilkes Booth, at the time of his cap
ture, certified by General Holt, Judge advo-
! cate general, who has possession of the
book, together with his report in re alton
thereto. The memorandum book was first
seen by me about the 2Gth day of April
1865, shortly after Booths capture, and a
few hours before his remains reached Wash
iugton. 1t was brought to my house by
Provost Marshal Baker and another person.
who was, think, Lieutenant Colonel Con
ger.
ne DOCK was IlNi tAtillltl DN NE IN
presence Of General Eckert, assistant seCre-
tary of war, and was found to contain only
the entries certified by General Holt: also
some photographs of females. Immediately
preceding the entries, some pages appeared
to have been cut out; but there was nothing
indicating what had been written thereon,
or whether anything had been written, nor
when or by whom they had been cut out
Immediately after careful examination of
the book and its contents, it was placed in
the hands of General Eckert iii the same
condition as when ! first saw il, to be de
liyered to the judge advocate general, in
whose possession, after lis delivery to him
by General Eckert, am informed and be-
! lieve it has CONTINUED until the present time.
e The last time saw the book was some time
last winter. 1t was then before the judiciary
committee of the house of representatives.,
aud was in all respects in exactly the same
condition as VIXEN ! saw it first, without
! any change or alteration, so far as | could
l discover. in Its contents. General ECkert
! reported to me that upon receiving the me.
morandum book from me, he sealed it up
and locked it up in his safe, aud il continued
/ in his possession until he delivered ii to the
Judge advocate general, and that 1t was
! then in the same condition MS when it was
brought to my house by Baker.
Very respectfully, your ohedcnt servant,
EDWIN NJ STANTON.
Secretary of War.
= To the president.
The Diary
e The following is Il copv of the writing
, which was in pencil, found in the diary
, taken from the bouy OF D. wilkes Booth
o Official Copy.I
/, J. Holt, Judge Advocate General.
Il 'Tisamo,1 April Is, IA. Friday the Ides
r Until to-day nothing was ever thought o
o sacrificing to our Country's wrongs. FG
six months we had worked to capture, bu
our cause being almost lost, something dc
cisivc and great must be done. But it
failure was owing to others who did no
strike for their country with Il heart
struck boldly and not AS the papers say.
walked with firm step through a thou
sand of his friends and was stopped, bu
pushed on A colonel was at his side.
shouted "Sic Sempeyr before | fired. Il
jumping ! broke my leg. | passed all hi
pickets, and rode sixty miles that nigh
with the bone of my leg tearing the flesh a
every iump. can never repent it, though
we hated to kill. Our country owed all he
trouble to him, and God simply made m
the instrument of his punishment. Tn
country is not what it was. This force
Union Is not what have loved. care no
what becomes of me. | have no desire t
outiive my country. This night, "hefor
the deed, wrote II long article and left
for one of the editors of the National Int
tigenceJ, in which have fully set forth on
government.
H. Friday 2l.-Atter being hunted like do
e through swamps, woods, and last nigh
N being chased by EunDoats TIL was force
~ to return wet, Co!d' ana starving, vii
nj every man mana aSalhst me am mere l
r. despair, ana why! tor doing what Brutu
70 was honOred lor Whht maze TEL nero
It. and yet !, Tor striking down greater tyran
in thah thcy ever knew, am looked upon AS
AT common cut-thfoat My action was pure
Is than either OF theirs one hoped TO b
al great, the other hau not only MS country
ID but ms own wrongs 10 aVehge. nope 10
W no gam knew no private wrong lstruc
d Tor my country ana that alohe-a couhtr
d. that groahed eehealh TINS tyranny an
m prayed Tor TINS END, ana yet now Dehol
the cold mana they extend TO NE. Eod ca
e. not pardon me II nave zone wrong YET
C. cannot see my wrong, except IN serving
IN degenerate people: the Httle, the yer
at little lett behind 10 clear my name, III
,r government VIII not allo" 10 oe prlhteI
no So ends all. For my country have give
of up all that makes lie sweet and holl
i brought misery on my family, and am sur
as there is no pardon In the heaven Tor M
ne since man condemns me so. | have onl
O. heard of what has been done, except whd
e. did myself, and 1t fills me with horror
" God, try and forgive me, and ble'
e. my mother. Tonight will once more tr
a. the river with the intent to cross, though
ss have greater desire and almost nina
III return to Washington and in measur
H. clear my name, which feel can do.
n. not repent the blow struck. J may Ueiol
,d my God, but not TO man. thlnk / nav
,e done well though am abandoned, "!th Ia
Tf al