The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-05-28

/
stances and of the general demand that
the diary be printed, in order that the
people may for themselves judge of
| the facts and merits Of the contro-
yersy about this book, the President
gave his consent that q copy be publish
led.
The President himself. never having
lseen the diary, had some days ago order
led certified copy to be made, which was
accordingly few days ago furnished.
| | am permitted to send you copy ofthe
record, as certified to by the Judge-ad-
lyocate:
[eoPY.
Ex. MANSION, WASHINGTON, D.Cl
May 9, 1867.
The Secretary of War viii please fur
i.nish the President with a certified copy
of the diary found on the body of j.
Wilkes Booth, together with suceinct
statement of all the facts connected with
its capture and its possession by the War
department. +.ss -
I fsigned1 ANDREW JOHNSON.
WAR DEPT, WASHINGTON Cry.
May II, 1867.
SIR: / have the honor to submit here
with a copy of the entries contained in
the memorandum- book found on the per-
son of j. Wilkes Booth at the time of
his capture, certified to by General holt,
Judge advocate General, who has pos
session Of the book, together with his
report in relation thereto. The. memo
randnm- book was FIRST seen by me about
the 18th day Of April, 1865, shortly after
Booths capture, and few hours before
his remains reached Washington.
Itwas brought to my house by Pro
vost-marshal Baker and another person,
who was,eI think, Lieutenant colonel
Conger. The book was then examined
by ein presence of Gen. Eckert, Assis-
ttant Secretary Of War, and was found
to contain only the entries certified by
General Holt; also some photographs ei
females. Immediately preceding the en-
tries, some pages appeared to have been
cut out. but there was nothing indicating
what had been written thereon, or wheth-
er anything had been written, nor when
or by whom they had been cut out.
Immediately after careful examina-
tion Of the book and its contents, it was
placed in the hands of General Eckert
in the same condition as when I first saw
| 1t, to be delivered to the Judge advocate
General. in whose possession after its
delivery to him hg General Eckert, I am
Informed and believe. Il has continued
until the present time The last time !
saw the book was some time last winter
| It was then before the judiciary Com.
| mittee of the House of Representatives,
| and vas. in all respects. in exactly the
same condition as when / saw It first
without any change or alteration. SO far
as I could discover in its contents
General Eckert reported to me that
upon receiving the memorandum book
from me he sealed it up, and locked i,
up in his safe. and it continued in his
possession until he delivered it to the
| Judge-advoca.e General, and that it was
then in tie same condition as when il
was brought to my house by Baker.
Very respectfully your obedient ser,
want.
EDWIN III. STANTON. ).
Secretary of War.
To the President.
The following is copy of the writing
which was in pencil, found. in the diary
taken from the body Of j. Wilkes Booth
j. HOLT.
Judge. advocate General.
| T Amo, April 13--14 Friday the ides
Until to-day, nothing was ever thought
OF sacrificing life to our country's wrongs
For SIX months We had worked to cap
ture; but our cause being almost lost
something decisive and great must bt
done, but its failure was owing toothers,
who did not strike for their country with
a heart.
| struck boldly, and not as the papers
lsay. / walked with a firm sstep through
a thousand Of his friends, and was NOT
stopped, but pushed on. A colonel wa,
at bis side Ishouted sSic sempern be-
fore / fred. In jumping broke my
Ileg.
| | passed all his pickets, rode sixty
miles that night with the bone of my
tleg tearing the flesh at every Jump.
can never repent it, though we hated tt
kill Our country owed all her troubles
to him, and God simply made me thein
|strument of his punishment. The coun
TRY is not what it was.
| April IA. 1865.-This forced Union i,