Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-01-17
Guiteau's Speech,

WASHINGTON, D. c.. January 15.-The
following has been furnished for pubica-
ton to the New York Associated Press:
Gentlemen: 1 have the honor to here
with transmit my speech. 1t is historical
document and l desire it sent broadcast to
the American nation. lam 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,
if necessary, will finally adjudicate this
case have an encomium on Judge Cox
at the close of the speech, which 1 allow to
stand, but l do not think it possible, on
mature reflection, that he really intends to
gag me and prevent my delivering speech
If he Does his name will go into history
blaekened as gag lawman. am sure that
able Chief Justice and his associates, who
represent the Washington Court in banc,
will split with scorn upon the position of
Judge Cox, and | am sure that the high
toned men of the nation will do likewise
because l am my own counsel and it is in
famous if / am not permitted to address the
jury when my life is at stake. l would not
trust the best man in America to close my
case. take no stock in MIR. Scoville and
Reeds theory of this defense. / removed
the President, and this speech contains my
defense, and it should be read by every
American, and I desire you to give it in its
entirety. l have the honor to be
Yours, &C.,
CHARLES j. GUITEAU
United States Jail, Washington, D. C. JAN
uary Is, 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 mere
repetition of Guiteau's Christmas address,
which has already had wide publication. OF
the remainder the following extract gives
fair idea. After reviewing the history of the
conflict between the Stalwarts and the Half
breeds, Guiteau says: ''Soon after Robert
sons appointment the Republican party
began to heat. This was about the middle
of May. By the first of June it was red hot,
and by the first oil July it was white heat.
If this spirit had not been killed by the
Presidents's removal, the nation would soon
have been in flame of civil war; Our late
rebellion cost the nation nearly million of
men and billion of money, and it desolated
the hearth-stene of the Republic. To pre-
vent a repetition of this desolation the re-
moval of the late President was necessary.
By his removal the Republican party was
and prosperous. To-day suffer in bonds be-
cause had inspiration and nerve to remove
the President, that the nation might live
but expect you, gentlemen of the jury, will
remove these bonds, to the end that 1 60
forth free and indicated man. That is
what you are here for and l ask you to lib
crate me. Tell the American people that
you find no evil in me, and that my inspira-
ton came from the Deity, and that, he and
he alone is responsible. for the Presidents re-
moval. l now 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 confirm 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 preceded the as
sassination 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 neces-
sity for it. An opportunity came and shot
him ON July I'd. Not being amarksman, he
fingered until September 10th, when he
passed quietly and gently away, the Lord
thereby confirming my inspiration. There
was special providence in his dying in New
Jersey. l undertake to say the Deity
allowed MIN TO ole there to protect
me from the possibility of legal liza
bility for simply executing his will.
Should this jury condemn me to be hung,
which is hardly possible, in view of facts
appearing in this trial, the Deity has prob
ably fixed the law SO that their verdict can
not be legally enforced. 1t is the opinion
of some of the ablest members of this bar,
that this court has no jurisdiction to try
this case This point will be pressed, if
necessary, in arrest of the Judgment; but
expect you, gentlemen of the jury, to JUS
tify the act You are here to vindicate my
inspiration. You are here to say that
never would have shot the President on my
personal account. This is literal truth,
and now propose to call your attention to
| other acts of the Deity confirming my in
spiration: I went to the Baltimore and Po-
tomac depot on the I'd of July and shot the
President twice; only one ball took effect.
would not do it again for one million of
dollars, it was the most insane, foolhardy
act possible. No one but mailman could
lave done it; but would have done it
any time after June LIST, if / had known
was to be shot dead the next moment.