The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-01-17
GUITEAU's Address To THE AMERI-
GAN PEOPLE. II

He Killed the President to Save the
Nation from Another Civil War.
Washington, January 1.-THE fol.
lowing has been furnished for publica-
ton to the New York associated press:
GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor
herewith to transmit my speech. 1t is
an historical document I desire to send
broadcast to the American nation. l
am not certain the judge will not allow
me to deliver it, but l send It to my
country, and they and the president of
the United States, if necessary, will
finally adjudicate this case. I have an
enconium on Judge Cox, at the close
of the speech, which l allow to stand,
but don't think it possible, on mature
reflection, that he really intends to gag
me and prevent my delivering the
speech. If he does his name will go
into history blackened as a gag-law
man. am sure that the chief justice
and associates, who represent the
Washington court in banc, will spit
upon the position of Judge Cox; and l
am sure that the heightened men Of
the nation will do the same, because /
am my own counsel, and it is infa-
nous if l am not permitted to address
the jury when my life is at stake. l
would not trust the best man in Ameri-
ca to close my case. I take no stock
in Mr.. Scoville and Reeds history of
this defense. l removed the president;
and this speech contains my defense,
and it should be read by every
American. And l desire you to give
it the widest publicity by printing it.
l have the honor to be yours, etc.
CHAs. J. GUITEAU,
United States jail, Washington, D.
c., January IS, 1882.
The speech which accompanies this
letter makes ten or twelve thousands
words, but contains very little which
is either new or important. The first
part is a mere repetition of his Christ
mas address which already had wide
publication. Of the remainder, the
following extract gives a fair idea.
After reviewing the history of the con-
flict between the stalwarts and half
breeds, he says:
"Soon after Robertson's appoint
ment the republican party began to
heat; this was about the middle
of May; by the first of June it was
white heat; if this spirit had
not been killed by the presidents re-
moval the nation would soon have
been in the flame of civil war. Our
late rebellion cost the nation nearly
million of men and a billion of money,
and it desolated the hearth stones of
the republic. To prevent the repeti-
ton of this, the removal of the presi-
dent was necessary. By his removal
the republican party was cemented
and the nation, to-day, is happy and
prosperous. I suffer in bonds because
/ had an inspiration to remove the
president, that the nation might live;
but l expect you, gentlemen of the
jury, will remove the bonds, to the end
that I go forth a free and indicated
man. That is what you are here for
and expect you to iberate me. Tell
the American people that you find no
doubt that the inspiration came from
the Deity, and he alone is responsible
for the presidents removal. now
review this case since July 2, and
call special attention to the acts of the
Deity, when he has taken special pains
to protect me and confirm my inspira-
ton, to the end that all men may see,
and seeing may believe in my inspira-
ton.
After reviewing again the history of
the weeks which Immediately preceded
this ASSASSINATION of the president and
the motive which impelled him to the
murder, Guiteau says:
Ihad never had doub. as to the d.
vinity for the act, or the necessity if an
opportunity came. l shot him on. July
2; not being a marksmap, he fingered
till September 10, when he passed
quietly away. The Lord thereby con-
frming my inspiration. There was a
special providence in his dying in New
Jersey. l undertake to say, the Deity
allowed him to die there to protect me
l.. L r