Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-05
!. WILKES BOOTH.
FmOuS Suppressed Letter from the
ErraliC Actor.
lis LAST " RlTING
sralled bythe Discharged a Government En-.
plcyce for Ferying Him Across The River
THE RACE QUESTION.
II j. Calmly Discussed on the Day of This
Fearful Decd.

Mr.. Thomas A. Jones, o workman in the
cun-foundry Mt the navy-yard in Wash
inrton, was recently discharged on COM
uhint that he assisted John Wilkes Booth
IA escape by ferrying him over the river.
Speaking OF it the Washington Star of Fri
90, says:
good many years have passed since the
bullet from the pistol of John Wilkes
Both struck Abraham Lnco,n dead, but
tn. baneful results of that foul deed are
stl felt
ne latest result is the discharge Of
Tiomas A. Jones, workman IN tho gun
foundry at the navy-yard. the reason gwen
fr his dismissal being that MIR. Jones was
one Of the men who assisted John Wilkes
booth To escape by fcrrSing him across the
rver. No charges of inefiiciency were
made. and Captain Foleer, who is in charge
4 the department, SAYS the dismissal was
made simply on account OF the reason
stated above.
Mr.. Jones comes from Charles county
Md. and was appointed g. n position in
he tool-room through thu influence of
Barnes Compton, the congressman from
hat district. in February, 1887. He has
been satisfactory workman, and on the
change of Administration no change was
made In his position. IL is claimed, how
ing Compton's seat, interested himself IN
the matter and that through his statements
and Mr. Jones's admission OF the truth OF
the charge the dismissal took place.
Alr. Jones lives ut 10 Twelfth street
southeast, and freely acknowledges the
main facts OF the story.
The Suppressed Letter.
Not long since through tho kindness Of
a Fredericksburg gentleman the Dispatch
came into possession of copy of ). wilkes
BOOTHS letter written on the jay of Presi-
dent Lincolns assassination and said TO
have been suppressed by the Government.
IL Is recalled 10y the Discharge OF Jones,
and in this connection 1t IS given to the
public:
Right or wrong, God Judge me, not
man
"For be my motive good or bad. of one
thing am sure, the lasting condemnation
of the North. love peace more than life
have loved the Union beyond expression.
For four years have | waited. hoped, and
prayed for the dark cloud TO break ana Tor
restoration OF our former sunshine. To
wait longer would be a crime all hope Tor
peace is dead. My prayers have proved a.
idle as my hopes. Gods viii be done! i
90 to see and share the bitter end. have
ever held the South was right. The very
nomination of Abraham Lincoln four years
rights and Institutions. His election proved
TIE SOUTH WAS WISE.
Await an overt act.n Yes. till you are
bound and plundered. What follyl The
South was wise. Who thinks Of arguments
of patience when the fingers Of an enemy
press the trigger. In foreign war i too
could say, Country right OF wrong"; but
10 a struggle such as ours, where the
brother tries 10 pierce me brothers heart
fOr Gods sake choose the right When
country like this spurns Justice from her
side she forfeits the allegiance OF every
honest freeman and should leave him I'M
trammolled by any fealty soever 70 act as
his conscience may approve, ana justice,
people Of the North--to love liberty. 10
nate tyranny. 10 strike at wrong and OPP
pression-was tho teaching OF our fore;
fathers. The study of our early history Wall
not let me forget, and may II never.
THIS COUNTRY ros WHITE MEN.
hiscountry was formed for the white
man. not for The black. and looking. upon
African slavery from the same standpoint
held by the noble trainers OF our Constltu-
ton. for one have ever considered II
one Of tho greatest blessings both Tor
themselves and US God ever bestowed
ON favored nation. Witness heretofore
our WEALTH. anu BcWtA "tth~"' 1900
Votion and enlightenment above their race
elsewhere. have lived among il most OF
my life and have seen less harsh treatment
from master to man than have boheid at
the North from father to son. Yet Heaven
knows no one would be willing 10 do more
Cor the negro race than could ! but see
way 70 stili better their. condition; but
Mr. Iincoln's policy IL only preparing the
way for their total annihilation. the South
are not now nor have they ever been hght-
ing for the continuation OF slavery. Inc
first battle (isul Run] did away with that
idea.
Their causes since then for war have
been as noble and greater TAR than those
that urged our fathers on.
Even should we allow they were wrong
al the beginning Of the contest cruelty and
injustice have made the wrong become the
right, and they stand now before the won
der and admiration Of the world - . noble
band Vi pairiotic hsrosA hereaff@ seAdr