The weekly clarion., 1870-12-22
- ohm HI -Suratf-A Full History of
His Connection with the Plot for
the Abduct tIOn OF Mr. Lincoln
His Lecture af Rockville.
We copy as follows from the Louisville
Courier-Journal:


Courier-Journal:
| WASHINGTON, Dec. John III. Surratt
one of the alleged conspirators in the plo
l to assassinate President Lincoln, made a full
confession or statement of his knOwledg
| of the same In the shape Of a lecture in TN
Courthouse at Rockville, Maryland, a few
| miles distant from Washington, last night
1t Is very long, but the following opening
| extract covers the features of it:
| Ladies and Gentlemen Upon entering
| that door few moments ago the Impres-
| sion on my mind was so strong as TO vividly
recall the scenes of three years ago. / AN
| not unacquainted with courtroom audiences
lSensation.l have stood before them be-
fore. True, not in the character of a lectu-
rer, but as a prisoner at the bar, arrAigned
for the high crime of murder
In contrasting the two positions must
confess felt more ease as a prisoner at the
bar than l do as lecturer. Then / felt
confident of success; now do not; then /
had gentlemen of known ability to do ali
my talking for me; now, unfortunately, |
have to do it for myself. | feel lily capable
Of performing the task. still hope you will
all judge me kindly. / am not here to sur
prise you by any oratorical effort-not at
all !; but only 70 tell you a sim pie tale. / feel
that some explanation, perhaps, indeed, an
apology, is due you for my appearance here
this evening.
In presenting this lecture before the pub
lie, do it in no spirit of self-glorification
In trial of sixty lone days made nv de-
fence TO the world, and | have no need or
desire TO rehearse it, nor do appear for
self-glorifcaLion. On the contrary, | dis
like notOriety, and leave my solitude and
obscurity unwillingly. Neither is it an itch
ing for notoriety or fame. My object is
merely to present a simple narrative of
events as they occurred. / stand here
through the force of that which has obliged
many other men TO do things quite distaste-
ful-pecuniary necessity, for the supply of
which no more available means presented
itself. So you will take it kindly, l trust,
and the ground we Will have to go over to-
gether, will guarantee sufficient interest to
repay your kind attention in this, my first
lecture.
/ will speak of my introduction to j.
Wilkes Booth, his plan, its failure, our final
separation, my trip from Richmond and
thence to Canada, then my orders to Elmy-
ra, and what was done there.
The first intimation [ had of Mr.. Lin
coins death, l was mostly engaged in send
ing Information regarding the movements
of the United States army stationed in
Washington and elsewhere, and carrying
to the Confederate boats on the
Potomac. We had a regular established
line from Washington to the Potomac, and
had most OF the hard riding to do. Laugh
teri l devised various ways to carry the
sometimes in the heel of my
boots, sometimes behind the planks of the
OuX2Y. confess LnaC never In lie Qlu
l come across more stupid set of detect
tives than those generally employed by the
United States Government. They seemed
TO have no idea whatever how to search a
man.
In 1864 my family left Maryland and went
to Washington, where l took q still more ac-
tive part in the stirring events of that pc
riod. 1t was a fascinating life to me. Ii
seemed as though could not do too much
Or run too great risk.
In the fall of 1864, l was introduced to
John Wilkes Booth, who | was given to un-
1erstand wished to know something about
The main avenues leading from Washington
10 the Potomac. We met several times, but
ne seemed to be very quiet with regard to
1is purposes.
Finally he said: ''You know as well as
he efforts that have been made to bring
about that much desired exchange of pris-
)ners. Aside from the general suffering,
hey are compelled to undergo, we are sad
Y in want of them as soldiers. We cannot
pare one man, whereas the United States
Government is willing to let their own sol
liers remain in our prisons, because she has
10 need of the men.
L have a proposition to make to you
which | think, if we can carry out, will
Dring about the desired exchange" There |
vas long and ominous silence. which | |
It last was compelled to break, by asking |
''Well sir, what is your proposition ?"
He sat quiet for an instant. and then, be- |
ore answering, he arose and looked under |
he bed, into the wardrobe, in the doorway |
nd the passage, and then said:
'We will have to be careful; walls have |
ars."
He then drew his chair close to me, and, in |
whisper said: 1T is to kidnap President |
lincoln, and carry him off to Richmondw
"Kidnap President Lincoln!' l said. L
onfess L stood aghast at the proposition,
nd looked upon it as foolhardy undertake
ng. To think of successfully seizing Mr..
lincoln, in the capital of the United States,
uTrounded by thousands of his soldiers,
nd carrying him off to Richmond. looked
D me foolish idea l told him as much.
He went on to tell with what facility he
ould he seized in various places in and
bout Washington, as. for example. in his
arious rides to and from the Soldiers
Iome-his summer residence. He entered
ito the minute details Of the proposed cap
Ire, and even the various parts to be iper
)rmed by the actors in the performance.
l was amazed, thundertruck. and in fact,
might also say, frightened at the unpar-
lleled audacity of this scheme.
After two days rejecting, L told him L
'as willing to try it. l believed it practi-
able at that time, though | now regard it
a foOlhardy undertaking.
/ hope you will not blame me for going
nus far, tor honestly thought an exchange
{ prisoners could be brought about could
e have once obtained possession of Mr..
lDcOlns person. Anu now REVERSE the |
ase. Where is there a young man in the
'orth with one spark of patriotism in his
cart who would not have, with enthusias-
C ardor, Joined in any undertaking for the
apture of Jefferson Davis and bringing {
i'm to Washington? There is not one who 1
-ould not have done so, and SO l was led
q by sincere desire to assist the South in .
aiming her independence. L had no hesita-
on in taking part in anything honorable
lat might tend towards the accomplish
lent of that object. Tremendous ap- 1
lause.
Such a thing as the assassination of Mr..
lincoln never heard spoken of by any of
le party; never. lSensation.]
Upon one occasion l remember, we had |
alled a meeting in Washington for the |
urpose of discussing matters in general.
we had understood that the Government |
lot of some kind on hand. They had even
,mmenced to build q stockade and gates
q the navy yard bridge, the gates opening |
ward the south, as though they expected |
anger from within, and not from without.
t this meeting / explained the oonstruc-
on of the gates, etc. stated that l was con-
dent the Government had wind of our
ovement, ard that the best thing we could
D would be to throw up the whole project.
Every one seemed to coincide in my opin-
N except Booth, who sat silent and ab- |
racted, arising at last, and bringing down |
is fist on the table, he said, 'Well. gentle
zen, il the worst comes to the worst / shall I
now what to do"
Some hard words and even threats then
assed between him and some Of the party.
onr of US then arose, one saying:
@If understand you to intimate any,
ling more than the capture Of Mr.. Lincoln,
for one bid you good bye"
Every one expressed the same opinion.
Te all arose and commenced putting our
ats on, Booth perceived. probably, that he
lat he had drunk too much champagne.
.fter some difficulty everything was ami
ably arranged, and we separated at five
clock in the morning.