The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-05-02

-Four ,Aiths Of the :. members Sof The
present Congress will be on the stump
this Summer roaring for something or
other to be done about the currency.-
Now, while they should be engaged in
perfecting a financial policy, the bell
wethers are all engaged in setting snares
and digging pits for the discontinue OF
Presidential aspirants.
WHY LINCOLN WAS Ass.ssIyA.
TED.
How john Wilkes Booth Avenged
the Hanging Of his Friend John
Y. .Beal.
From Pomeroy's Democrat.
A nung the chosen friends Of John
Wilkes Booths boyhood was dashing
chivalreus young man named John Y
Bcal, whose home was in the Shenan-
doah Valley not far from Winchester
Damon and Pythiss were not more at
tached to each other than we're Bootll
and Beal Beal was southern in his
sympa,lies and planned raids on N nth.
ern cities. and at last was captured at OF
near Buffalo, tried for piracy on North.
ern lakes and sentenced to be hanged On
Belloe's Island.
One afternoon, in the city Of Wash.
ington, while Bsal was under sentence
OF death, there alighted from carriage
two men, who walked iHto the room oc.
cupied bv Washington Mclean. of Gin.
cinnatl, who was at the time in Wash
ington in the interests OF his business
These men who called were Senator
Hale of New Hampshire and John
Wilkes Booth Booth was anxious to
save the life of Besl, his chum and con.
fidential personal friend He had inter-
estel Mr. Hale in his behalf.
They importuned Mclean to 60 with
them to the President, as Democrat
as friend of Booth-as man who had
much influence with Mr. Lincoln, and to
vouch with Mr.. Hale for any promises
B 10Th might make in return for this
great favor to him After a protracted
interview Mel 'an accompanied Hale
and Booth in a carriage to the residence
of John W Forney, who was then in
ted, the honr being late. Eorney was
awakened from his sleep and told the
object of his call. HIS sympathies were
enlisted. as he was always ready to
serve his friends. -
1t was an hour past milnight when
Hale, Forney. Mclean and Booth were
driven to the White House. The guard
at the rq lest Of Fornev, admitted the
carriage to the grounds. Mr.. Lincoln
was called from his sleep, and there. in
the dead OF night, he sat and listened to
the prayers of Booth and the endorse
ments of those who came with him to
ask the favor of Executive clcmency. !.
This interview lasted till 4 in the
morning. 1t was one OF tears, prayers
and petition. There was not dry eye
in the room as Booth knelt at the fee,
Of Lincoln, clasped his knees with bis
hands and begged him to spare the life
of one mana personal friend who, -ir
serving the ones he loved, had come to
the door OF death.
Booth toll all. He told how. long
before, in q fit Of passion to do some
bold deed, lie had joined in conspira
cy to ab luct the President and to hold
him as hostage for the release Of Ger
tain military prisoners who were Booths
friends, and who, it was thought, were
to be shot. fie told OF the meeting.
they had held at the house of Mrs
Surratt, and that all Of that plan had
fallen to the ground long before HI
offered his services at any time and ii
any place or capacity. free of cost o.
fearless of consequences. The eminen
gentlemen who were there with hin
| ] lined in the request that the PRAYER o
Booth be granted, and that B.sl shoult
be pardoned.
At last President Lincoln, with tear
streaming down his face, took Booth b.
the hands, bale him rise and stand .lik
a man, and gave him his promise tha
Btal should be pardoncd. He asked tn
party to depart that he might gain res
for the work of the morrow, and sal
that the official document that they ask
ed for should be forwarded at once t
United States Marshal Robert Murray
in New Y YJrk, and through him to til
officers charged with the ,executin Q
\ Beal -
| After breakfast Lincoln inforpef Sc
ward, Secretary of State, what he ha
done or promised to do. Seward sal
that it must not be; that public sent
ment in the N ,rth demanded that B,s
should be hung. He declared that t
pardon Beal would discourage enlist
ments, lengthen the war, and insult III
sentiment that called for blood. H
chided Lincoln for making such prom
ises without asking the advice of hi
Cabinet, or advising with himself, 81
ward, on State policy. As the argr
ment grew contentious, Seward declare
that if the conduct Of the war was to b
trifed With by appeals for humanity, h
should 60 out of the Cabinet and us
his influence ag inst the President. an
should charge him with being in syn
patby with the South. lincoln yielde
and Beal was executed. The reactio
to EincOln's nervous system was sue
that for days he was far from we'll.
, The effect on Booth was terrible. H
raved like a ma Imam, and in his frenz
, swore that Lincoln and Seward shout
both pay for the grief and agony b
had been put TO. From the death G
Beal, Booth brooded vengeance for tbs
which he considered personal affron
His rage took on Seward, and he eng'
ged Harold, Atserodt and others t
avenge Beal's death hy killing Seward
while he, Booth. wreaked human vel
geance on the President.
At last came the hour. Booth kilfe
Lincoln. His friends or: relatives q
avengers O Beal tried their best to XII
Seward, and when they left him Stable,
bleeding and limp as cloth, a. he role
!, over behind the bed whercupon the