The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1882-01-25
Gniteau''s speech.

The following has been furnished for
publication to the New York Associated
Press:
Gentlemen: Ihave the honor TO here
with transmit my speech. II is a his
torfcal document ind desire it sent
broadcast to the American nation. I
am not certain that Judge Cox will
allow me to deliver it, but send it TO
my countrymen, and they and the
President of the United States, il neces-
ssry, win finally adiudicate this case.
have an eneomiiim on Judge Cox at
the close of the speech, which i allow
Co stand, but do not think it possible,
on mature reflection, that he really
means to gag me and prevent my de-
livering a speech. If he does, his name
will go into history blackened as gag
lawman. lam sure that able Chief
Justice aud his associates, who repre-
sent the Washington Court in bane,
will split with scorn upon the position
of Judge Cox, and I am sure that the
heightened men of the nation will do
likewise because am my own counsel,
and it is Infamous if am not permitted
to address the jury when my life Is at
stake. I would not trust the best man
in America to close my case. / had no
stock in Mr.. ScoviIle and Reeds theory
of this defense. I removed the Presi-
dent, and this spIsech contains my de-
tense, and it should be read by every
American, and / desire you TO give 1t
in its entirety. / have the honor to De
Yours, d c.,
CHARLES j. GUTrHAU.
United States Jail, Washington, ID. c.
January 10, 1882.
The speech which accompanies this
letter makes ten or twelve thousand
words, but contains very little which is
either new or important. The first part
of it is a mere repetition.of Guiteau's
Christmas address, which has already
had wide publication. Of the remain
der the following extract gives fair
idea. After reviewing the history OF
the conflict between the Stalwarts and
the Halfbreeds, Guiteau says: "Seon
after Robertson's appointment the Re-
publican party began to heat. This was
about the middle of May. BY the first
of June it was red hot, and by the first
of July it was white heat. If this spirit
had not been killed by the President's
removal, the ration would soon have
been in fame of civil war. Our late
revolution cost the nation nearly a
million of men and billion of money,
and it desolated the hearth-stone of the
Republic. To prevent repetition OF
this desolation the removal of the. late
President was necessary. BY his re-
moval the Republican party was con
tent and the nation to-day is happy and
prosperous. To-day suffer in bonds
because l had inspiration and nerve to
remove the Presiden+, that the nation
might live but expect you, gentlemen
of the jury, will remove these bonds, tc
the end that go forth a tree and vim
dictate man That is what you arehert
for, and / ask you to Iiberate me. Tel
the American people that you find. no
evil In me, and that my inspiration
came from the Deity, and that, he and
he alone is responsible for the Presi
dents removal Inow review this case
since July I'd, and call special attention
to the acts of the Deity, wherein he has
taken special pains to protect and con
firm my inspiration, to the end that all
men may see, and seeing may believe
my inspiration.
After reviewing again the history OF
the weeks which Immediately proceed
ed the assassination of the President,
and the motives which impelled him TO
murder, Guiteau says, 81 never had had
the slightest doubt as to the Divinity
for the act or the necessity for it. An
opportunity came and / shot hin on
July I'd. Not being marksman, he
fingered until September 10th, when he
passed gently and quietly away, the
Lord thereby confirming my inspira-
ton. There was special providence
in his dying iri New Jersey. under
take to say the Deity allowed him TO
die there to protect me from the pos
sibllity of legal liability foe simple ex-
ecuting his will. Should this jury
condemn me to be hung, which is hardly
possible. in view OF facts appearing in
this trial, tina Deity has probably fixed
the law so that their verdict cannot be
legally enforced. 1t is the opinion of
some of the ablest members of the bar,
that this court has no Jurisdiction to
try this case. This point will be press
ed, if necessary, in arrest of the judg-
raent; but IeEpect you, gentlemen Of
the jury, to justify the act. You are
here to!vindicate my. inspiration. Youar
here to say that / never would have shot
the President on my personal account
This is a literal truth, and now / pro-
dose to call your attention TO other apts
of the Deity confirming nay Inspiration
I went to the Baltimore and Rotomic
depot ON the sd of July and shot the
President twice; only one ball took
affect. I weuld not do it again for enc
million of dollars, IL was the most insane,
foolherdy act possible. No one bet 9
mailman could have done it any time
after June 1st, If I had known I was TO
be shot dead the next moment, / had
no power TO prevent it. My free
agency was entirely destroyed. / was
duress In law, any one under duress is
not responsible foi his acts. On this
ground, ask you TO acquit me. How
do we know you was under duress |?
My word for it. no one else can know
this fact but the Getty and me. know
it;the Deity knows it, and the ID city
has taken spt,eial mains to thus far mo-