Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-12-05

ton, but it was in advance of its time;
the Convention qusrreled, and a por'
ton of it, with outside additions, went
over to Buffalo, nominated Martin Van
Buren,, stole my anti-slavery thunder,
and made it part of the proceedings
of the Convention"
The Lincoln COnspiratOrs.
"YOu were the Judge Advocate at
the trial Of the Lincoln consdirators,
wese you nOt?"
"Yes, and I have noticed, !" said Mr..
Bingham warmly, "that during the
past five years almost every instalment
of newspapers have received from the
United States has contained something
intended to excite sympathy for some
of the persons who were hung on ac-
count of their connection with the as
sassinatiOn of President Lincoln. That
was no sudden outburst of passion on
the part of few enthusiasts, but was
systematic conspiracy, originated
COniederates engaged.
The Conspiracy.
"What is your reason for thinking
so?''
Il will tell you. In Novem Der,
1864, man was overheard conversing
i q street car in New York, and ex-
claiming emphatically, 1T must be
DONE 70 the person with whom he
was cOnversin2 he exhibited a letter.
Getting off the car while it was in mo-
tiOn he dropped that letter, and was
jostled so that it was observed that he
wore false beard and that his COM
plexiOn was unnaturally colored. It
was also observed that ne had a pecu-
liar scar on one side Of his neck.
"The letter was picked up by one
Mrs. Hudspeth, who endeavOred to at
tract the owners attention, but failed.
1t was an open letter. and the lady
read the contents. 1t contained such
words as the deed must be done;' 'they
must all die the lots have been cast
and you are the one selected"
Mrs. Hudspeth carried this letter to
Gen. Dix, who forwarded it to Presi-
dent Lincoln. The latter endorsed
upou its back the word 'AssAssINA-
TION,' and filed it among his papers.
That man with the false beard and
the scar on his neck was John Wilkes
Booth.
"SOme time after this a Confederate
Lieutenant was captured having on
his person letter of Introduction to
Jake Thompson, then an agent of the
Confederacy in Canada. The letter
bore the bore the signature of Jefferson
Davis. His instructions clearly indi-
Gated some conspiracy to make way
with Northern leaders. Shortly be-
fore the assassination, as was brought
out in the evidence, over one hundred
thousand dollars were checked out Of
q bank in Canada by q person or per-
sons in the interests of the ConfedeTa-
cy, and portions of that money were
traced. into the United States. When
about sufficient time had elapsed for its
distribution the assassination occurred.
Clearly the conspiracy was formed
months before, and am satisfied that
certain confederate leaders knew all
about it. There was an interegnum at
this time. The Senate was without
Speaker pro tenpore, and if Vice Press
ident johnson had been assassinated as
was intended, the country would have
been left without a President, and
there is no telling in what c0mpljca-
tions we would have become involved.
All, it was a deep laid plot, and yet
there are those who have so little pa
hAAONACun 90 W III
way to manufacture sympathy for
these murderers, who were justly exc
cuted if ever murderers were."
The All-AbsOrbing Question.
"Of course we must ask all public
men what they think of the prospects
in $780," said rhe reporter.
"It Is not well to prophesy," replied
Mr.. Bingham, smiling. "In 1868 a
paper was presented for my signature
In the interest of a personal friend for
the Presidency. refused to sign it.
What? is Mr.. not a friend Of
yours?' they said. Yes i replied, but
[ do not know what a year may bring
iorth, only 1 know it will bring he
right man, And so, 1880, when it
comes, will develop the man for the
.ime."
Mr.. Bingham will make a report TO
he Government regarding his lablrS
n Japan, and will return to that cOun-
.ry in few months.