St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-05-24
Booth y Diary.

John Wilkes Booth to the press and the
public, and Secretary Stanton has ac-
cordingly handed it over, with note
showing how it came into his possession,
and declaring that the mutilation, talked
about by Gen. Butler was made before
he saw it. Judge Advocate General
Holt. also certiiies to the entirety of the
diary, as first found on Booths person 10y
Col. Conger, and gives the opinion that,
as the diary purports TO be one for 1864.
the cut out leaves probably contained en-
tries for that year and were thus de-
stroyed by Booth himself. The follow
ing is 4 copy of the contents of the diary
complete:
"Ii amo," April 18th, llth, Friday
the Idcs Until to-day nothing was ever
thought of sacrificing to our country's
WRONGS For six months we had worked
TO capture, but Oul cause being almost
lost. something decisive and great must
be done. But It's failure was owing TO
others who do not strike for their coun-
try with a heart. | struck boldly and
not as the papers say. | walked with Il
firm step through a thousand of his
friends and was stopped, but pushed on.
A colonel was at his side. | shouted
SIC .Semper" before fired In Jumping
| broke my lee. Ipassed all his pickets,
and rode GO miles that night with the
bone of my Icg tearing the flesh at every
jump. | can never repent it, though we
hated 10 kill. Our country owed all her
trouDle 10 him, and God simply made me
the instrument of his punishment. The
country is not what | nave loved. / care
not what becomes OF ne. | have no de-
sire to outlive my country. This night,
before the deed" | wrote q long article
and left it for one OF the editor, of the
National Intclligencer, in which | fully
set forth our reasons for our proceedings.
He or the government.
Friday y. - After being hunted like
4 dog through swmnpS, woods. and last
night being chased by gunboalS till | was
forced to return wet, cold, AMI staryine.
with every mans hand against me, | am
here in despair, and why For doing
what Brutus was honoreJ for. what made
Tell 4 hero, and Vet |, for striking down
Il greater tyrant than they ever knew,
am looked upon a. a common cut-throat
My action was purcr than either OF
theirs, One hoped TO be great, the OH
er had not only his coumtry'S, but his own
wrongs to avcnge. hoped for no gain.
| knew 10 private wrong struck tor
my country. and that alone "A country
that @roaned beneath this TYRANNY and
prayed for this end, and Vet now behold
the cold hand they extend to me. God
cannot pardon me if | have done wrong
vet | cannot see my wrong. except IN
serving degenerate people The little.
the very little | left behind 10 clear my
name, the government will not allow to
he printed. 80 ends all. For ny COM
try have given up all that makes Iii,
sweet and holy. brought misery on ny
family, and am sure there i no pardon
in the heaven for Inc, since man CON
dennis me 20 | have only heard oi
what has been done. except what | did
myself. and it iilI> me with horror. God.
try and torgivc me. and bless my mother
Tonight Will once more try the river.
with the intent 10 cross, though have
greater desire and almost mini to return
10 Washington. and. in Il measure. clear
my name, which | feel can DO. 10 hot
repent the blow | struck. | NAV before
INV God, but not 10 man. think
have done well. though | am abandoned.
with the curse Of Cain upon M. when,
if the world knew my heart. that one
blow would have made ne great, though
| did not desire GREATNESS 10 NIGHT |
try T. escape these hlooihound> once
more Who, who. can read his i.lir
Gods will he done. have too Great Il
soul to die ike Il crIlnlsal. Oh. NAV
He, NAV He spare me that, and let m
die hravelv. | bless the entire wor!d.
Have never hated or wrongri any one
This last was not 4 wrong unless God
deems it 50, and it i with him 10 damn
or bless me And for this brave box
with HE who often prav>. Yes. 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 10 shed
a drop of blood, but | must fight the
course lis all that's left me-
Upon piece of paper in the diary.
and supposed to have been torn from il.
is written the following -
Ny Dca (piece torn OUT Forgive
me, but | have some little pride can
not blame you for want of hospitality.
lou know your own affairs. Twas SICK.
tired with broken limb and in need oi
medical advice, and could not have
turned 4 dog from my door in such a
plight However, YOU We're kind
tiiclI-tl ~ wv US ~pIlCtillll- ~ tItI, l'i
which not onl V thank YOU. bat on ac-
count of the rebukc and manner in which
to" (piece torn OUT it is not the sub
stance but the way in which Kindness Is
extended that makes one happy in the
acceptance thereof The sauce to meat
is ceremony. Meeting were base with
out it. BE kind enough to accept the
incIoSed five dollars, although hard TO
spare for what we have received Most
respectfully. your obedient servant"
An AMERICAN STOVE AT THE PARIS
EXPUsIuoN.-The " Monteur'' has the
following reference to a novel and useful
stove now at the Paris Exposition, man
utactured by Nessrs. Pratt u Went
worth OF this city, which attracted much
attention while on exhibition here:
MesSrs Pratt Y Wentworth of Boston
l. 5. have on exhibition at the palace
in the Champs de Mars a cooking stove
called the Peerless, which is piece of
remarkable workmanship. The advan-
taups which this Stove uOsScssps will