The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-01-17
BOOTHS DIARY.
THE LAST WORDS WRITTEN BEFORE HE SHOT
LINCOLN.


1HE LAST WORDS WRITTEN BEFORE ux s,o,
LINCOLN.
BALTIMORE, January 6.-The America,
received tonight from its Washington cor
respondent the following extract from J
wilkes Booths diary, found in his clothing
after his death. II is now i'm possession nt
ne department of justice:
april l4-Friday, the Ides. Until to-
usy nothing was ever thought of sacrificing
/" our countrys 8 wrongs. For six months
We Fave worked to capture, but our cause
Deing almost lost, something decisive and
~ great must be done. But its failure was
owing to others, who did not strike for their
country with heart. l struck boldly. and
not as the papers say, 1 walked with n firm
step through a thousand of his friends, was
> stopped, but pushed on, colonel was Mt
ms SIDE. l shouted sic semper before I
nred. In jumping broke my leg. I passed
aii his pickets. Rode sixty miles that night
with the bone of my leg tearing the flesh at
every Jump. l can never repent it, Though
we nated TO XIII, our country owed all her
oGoies .ho TO him' and God simply made me
the ing Yment of his punishment.
IR Hntry is not what it was. This
iorceo union is not what have loved. l
cure not what becomes of me. l have no
aesire to outlive my country. TLERzE
before the deed l wrote a long
lett 1t for one of theeditors of Il spustq !
1ntfA'geneer, in which L fully 5 eq3 40 I
South. SD
Friday, 21.-Afer being hunted like n
through swamps, woods, and last night |
g chased till was forced to retnrn wet |
ana starving, with every mans hand |
nst me, am here in despair; and for
FOR doing what Brutus was honored |
pat made Tell heros-s,aa rncySS
---~", -melooked upon as a common
throat. My act was purer than either Of
rs. One hoped to be great himself. the
ee'er had not only his country's, but his
own wrongs to avenge | hope for no gain.
knew no private wrong. l struck for my
country, and that alone-a country ground
beneath this tyranny-and prayed for this
'end. And yet, now behold the cold hand
they extend to me.
"God cannot pardon me if have. 4 5;s y
wrong. Yet L cannot see any wrong, s&,s:st},
In serving degenerate people, The. kSs u:
the very little, left behind to clear ~ ~
the Government will not allow to be pl 49,.
30 enc oil. For my country l have Cint:.:s.s
up oil that makes life sweet and holy, brought i !;
misery upon my family, and am sure there
Is no pardon in the heavens for me since man
condemns me So 9
al have only heard what has been done
(except what did myscf,) and it fills me
with horror. God try and forgive me, and t
bless my mother. Tonight will once more
the river with the intention to cross. t
REh have greater desire and almost q
4 return to Washington and in
re clear my name, which feel can
90 not repent the blow | struck.
efore my Col but not to man. think
I we done well, though am abandoned.
IN the curse of Cain upon me, when, if the
Rorld knew my heart, that ono blow would
have made me great, though | did desire no
greatness.
Tonight try to escape these bloodhounds
once more. Who can read his fate? Gods
will be done. have too great a soul to die
ike criminal. Oh, may lie, may IIe
spare me that, and let me die bravcly. |
bless the entire world. have never hated
'r wronged any one. This last was not G
wrong, unless God deems it so, and it is Il
With him to damn or bless me. a
And for this brave boy Harold with me, ST
Who often prays Eyes, before and since) with
! true and sincere heart--was it crime in
,imf If so, why can he pray the same?
10 NOT wish to shed drop of blood. but -
nus: tight the s22rsS, ,Tis ali that's left u