The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-01-06
JOHN m. sURRATT.

ing ana aDie lecture at nOchVllie, Muly-
land, in which he gave thrilling mar
rative of the incidents of his life since
the beginning of the late war. Mr..
Surratt is well known for his alleged
connections with the conspiracy
against President Lincoln in 1865, his
escape, capture, and subsequent trial
and discharge in Washington over
year since. Since that time he has
spent a portion of his time in lower
Maryland, been in the commission
business in Baltimore, and now has
turned upa sa school teacher in Rock
vile. a' s'
He opened his lecture by stating
that when the late war broke out he
was student at st. Charles College,
in Maryland, and only about eighteen
years of age, but soon entered upon
the enterprise of sending secret dis
patches to the Confederates by the
Potomac boats.
In the fall of 1864 (says the lectur-
cry was introduced to John Wilkes
Booth, who, was given to understand,
wished to know something about the
main avenues leading from Washing
ton to the Potomac. We met several
times, but as he seemed to be very
reticent with regard to his purposes,
and very anxious to get all the infor-
nation out of me he could, l refused
to tell him anything ut all. At last I
said to him: at is useless for you,
Mr.. Booth, to seek any information
from me at all; must know who you
are andwhat are your intentions"
He hesltated some time, but finally
said he would make known his views
to me provided would promise Sc
crecy. I replied 81 will do nothing
of the kind. You know we'll I am a
Southern man. If you cannot trust
me, we will separate" He then said: :
81 will confide my plans to You but
before doing so will make known to
you the motives that actuate me. In
the Northern prisons are mary thou
sands of our men whom the United
States government refuse TO exchange.
You know as well as the efforts that
have been made to bring about that
much-desired exchange. Aside from
the great suffering they are compelled
to undergo, we are sadly in want of
them as soldiers. We cannot spare
one man, whereas the United States
government is willing to let their own
soldiers remain in our prisons, be-
cause she has no need of the men. |
have proposition to submit to you,
which 1 think, if we can carry out,
will bring about the desired exchange"
There was long and eminous silence,
which l at last was compelled to break
by asking, "Well, sir. what is your
proposition" He sat quiet for an in
slant, and then, before answering me,
arose and looked under the bed. into
the wardrobe, in the doorway and the
passage, and then said: ''We will
have to be careful; walls have ears"
He then drew his chair close to
me and in whisper said, "i is 10 Kid
nap President Lincoln. and carry him
off to Richmond. "Kidnap President
Lincoln! / said, / confess that !
stood aghast at the proposition, and
looked upon it as foolhardy under
taking. To think of successfully seiz-
ing Mr.. Lincoln in the Capital of the
United States, surrounded by thou
sands of his soldiers, and carrying him
off to Richmond looked to me like a
foolish idea. I told him as much
He went on to tell with what facility
he could be seized in various places in
and about Washington. As for ex-
ample in his various rides to and from
the Soldiers Home, his summer resi-
dence He entered into the minute
details of the proposed capture, and
even the various parts to be performed
by the actors in the performance. I
was amazed-thunderst --and in
fact, I might also say, frightened at
the unparalleled audacity of this
scheme. After two days reflection I
told him I was willing to try it. I be-
Elieyed it practicable at that time,
though I now regard it as foolhardy
undertaking. hope you will not
blame me for going thus far. Earnestly
thought an exchange of prisoners
could be brought about could we once
have obtained possession of Mr.. Lin
coins person. And now reverse the
lease. Where is there young man
in the North with one spark of patri-
otism in his heart who would not
have with enthusiastic ardor joined in
any undertaking for the capture of
JEFF. Davis and brought him to Wash
ington? There is not one who would
not have done SO. And SO I was
led on by sincere desire to assist the
South in gaining her Independence
had no hesitation in taking part in
anything honorable that might tend
towoards the accomplishment of that
Eobject. Tremendous applause. +
Such thing as the assassination of
Mr.. Lincoln I never heard spoken of
by any of the party, faereri [Sensa-
ton. =
Mr.. Surratt then goes on to, show
that he opposed anything beyond the
capture of Mr.. Lincoln, narrating the
failure of the abduction attempts, and
gives many incidents of his visits to
and from Richmond in the early part
of the war.
Surratt states that he heard the
news of the assassination while he was
at breakfast in the Brainard House,
/ Flroir.o Nau Vorly ruba,.e L = ,v,ea.o,~s