Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-10-19
Hs Murdered the President to
Save the Party"
And ito Keep Democrats and
Rebels Out of Office"
Simply Followed the Antecedsnts
and PRESIDENTS Of the Party
With Which He Trained.
A Legitimate Product Of the Elec-
toral Commission.
The Method Of His Madness Most
Logically Presented.
sDecisl Correspondence Of the Register.

Special Correspondence Of the Register.
WASHINGTON, October Is.
The usual enterprise Of the New York
Hsraid secured for its columns the first
publication of Guiteau's so-called con-
fession. We lay before our readers this
morning, still more important docu-
ment, procured through the energy ot
our representative at Washington. Is
has been known for some days that the
prisoner, unable to procure other
counsel, and having little confidence in
his brother in-laW, Scoville, has been
preparing his own case. The argument
with which he proposes to address the
jury is now completed, and We
have the pleasure OF laying
it before our readers this morning in
advance of any other paper in the coun-
try. 1t is as follows, although Guiteau
saws, that in the oral delivery, he pro-
poses to amplity considerably some OF
it's points, and to increase his citation Of
precedents:
May IT PLEASE THE COURr-GESTLE-
MES OF THE JURY: | repel with disdain
the defence OF insanity. | ask no favor
on anv ground that implies mental or
moral weakness, or want of appreciation
of the deed have done. | admit that
fired the shot which killed
President Garfield. l acquit Bliss
and company of any hand in
that result, and stand here to day to
confess the act and justify it. 1t is not,
7 assure you, a hastY or i'll considered
deed, IL was resolved upon after calm
and mature deliberation, and done al
ter many days patient waiting for the
favorable occasion. My design and my
wish were to inflict immediate death.
That the distinguished victim fingered
so long and suffered so deeply l have
algays regretted, but even this has had
its conversation, tor his prolonged sui
feriug touched the popular heart,
and gathered about his last day
q sentiment which
viii Always Add Lustre to His Fame
From that fame would not detract IN
the least. As l had in my heart no drop
of malice fer the living man, L have no
word of reproach for the memory oi the
dead one.
But YOU ask gentlemen, why l COM
nitted this capital Gct, and upon what
0rnund rest my defence with you and
with pos,eritv. Listen patiently and l
will tell you frankly.
am 4 theolcgan aud a politician; IN
each a stalwart. For years have
heen a member of the most
advanced section OF the Repub.
irsn party; have drank IN the teach
ings Of its leaders, and aPplauded ITS
most radical measures. | have scorned
the cant of Liberalism, and have sat at
the feet of the Beechers, hayens and
Fultons, OF the LOgans, Chambers and
Conklings, and gloried N their h'rCe
auathemas OF rebels and Democrats. 10
their robust school 1 learned that party
success is the first and chief end IN poll
Iics, TO be secured fairly il practicable,
but at all events to be secured; that
this end justifes, sanclihes ana
makes honorable means that else
where were criminal or degrading.
rhe virtue, the intelligence, the Piety
of the country are in the Republican
marty. the vice, the ignorance, the de-
prayity of the country are n the Demo
cratic party. The administration, with It's
immense power and patronage, must
ever he kept in the hands Of the faith
ful and the deserving.
This is the substance, the sum total
oF the creed we profess, and upon which
ws have acted with never broken con-
sistency. In its application We have
enfrapchised or disfraRchised, as neces
sity demanded; have set mp and pulled
down State governments; have oyerriu'
den elections; have
Broken Through Law and Overturned
Courts
Trained in such school and INSPIRED
nv such teachers, it was plain necess't!
and duty for me to kill General Gar
field. The salvation and continued su
prensey of my party required IL
Elected with the utmost difficulty anC
hv the faithful cooperation OF all sec
tions of the party, his first actions
tended to open again, and to Perpetuat'
that schism which had begun In tn
nerveless reign of his predecessor.
saw the chasm daily widening which
threatened to open an easy way 10
Democrats and rebels TO come int
mower: which, in any evenI
shut out from place and patronage tn
real leaders Of the party. There wa
clearly bus one remedy for coming dlSas
ter. The death of Garfield, the acces
sion OF Stalwart Republicanisn to tn
Presidency would avert both evils. IN
marty would again unite under It's genu
ine leaders, and Democrats and rebel
would not only remain IN defeat, ou
would be made to feel the strong arm 9
mastery over them. | determined I
consummate this glorious result. wa
only fearful that the honor would Q
snatched from me by some one equall
clear sighted and equally heroic. has'
ened 10 take Gen. Garfield life.
l Justify and defend my act by sppt o
ing TO the uniform course and teaehln
of nv party, when success require
bold and apparently criminal action.
cite only its recent history Iurn Z
the Presidential election OF 1876. tn
ignorance and depravity Of the peopl
led them 10 vote for Tilden. He va
elected. None but the simple minde
ever questioned that. Yet he neeGe
one electoral vote from Florida o
Louisiana to secure the office. The p"C
pie of both States voted for him. Be
our leaders were not disturbed by thh
We Had the RsturniaE RSsrds-
What cared we for fhs yot
OF the people? Z1ck Chandler-pesC
TO his glorious ashes proclaimed Haye
elected, when Hayes himself was geakl
bewailing his defeat. Our statesms