The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-03-03
An Extract from the Diary Of
John Wilkes Booth and Some
Remarks by a Northern
Writer.
BY W. X. HENRY.

Remarks by Northern
Writer.
BY W. r. HENRY.
Mr.. EDIToR:-I hand you this week an
extract from great work by Northern
writer, which will be of interest to many
of your readers.
While the men of the South were too
brave to do other than execrate the act
of Booth in assassinating Lincoln, who
was III some respects the best friend OF
South in the North, the last words of
Booth touching the motives that act
uated him show that he was an infatuat-
ed fanatic rather than Il cowardly, cold
blOoded ASSASSIN, a martyr to his own
zeal, and no common criminal.
The effort on the part of a certain set
in the North to hold the leaders of the
COnfederacy responsible for the act OF
Booth was little less reprehensible than
that act itself. and there is a coterie of
men in the North in this hour, when all
good men of both sections are seeking o
re-unite this government under the flag
| OF Washington, who are constantly de-
flaming the men of the South, in the teeth
of their chivalry on the battle field, their
heroic fight and victory over desOlated
homes, barren fields, vandalized institu-
tions, and their steel-like allegiance to
the government for the past quarter of a
century-and for one regard John }.
Ingalls,, Elliot +. Shepherd, Foraker, and
| their followers and endorsers, as more
cOwardly and less excusable than was
| John Wilkes Booth, when in his consun
! ing fanaticiSm he sent the fatal bullet
| through the heart of Abraham Lincoln.
| Now to the quotations:
"The late war closed with the tragedy
of Booth; the assassination of Lincoln,
the hanging OF Mrs Surratt and the exc
cution of Virtual acts which must be
condemned, for they violated right and
| justice, though they were the logic OF
events. Was Booth a traitor or hero?
Was Lincoln tyrant or a savior? We
say they were neither and predict that
history will so record. What Lincoln be-
! lieved himself to be with death impend-
ing, the assassin $ pistol cut it Off from
being known.
What Booth thought of himself he re-
corded in his diary as follows:
April 14th. 1S65-'' Until to-day moth
ing was ever thought Of sacrificing to
our cOuntry's wrongs. For six months
we have worked to capture. Our cause
being almost lost something decisive
must be done.
Il struck boldly and not as the papers
say. | walked with firm step through
q thousand OF his friends-was stopped
but pushed on. The Colonel was at his
side | shouted, sic semper, before fired
In jumping broke my leg. | can never
repent it. meant to kill. Our country
owed all its troubles to him, and Goo
simply made me the instrument of His
, punishment. Our country is not what i
was This forced union is not what
have loved. have no desire to out liv
my country. This night before | did th
deed, | wrote a long article and lett it TO
one of the editors OF the National hnteN
qencer, in which freely set forth our rea
sons for our proceedings. He or tn
South
| The second entry in the diary, unde
, date April 21, says:
After being hunted like dog throug
swamps and woods, and being chased b
Q conveys, | was forced to return, wei
j cold and starving, every mans han
y against me. | am here in despair. An
, why? For doing what Brutus was hOI
I ored for-what made Tell hero; and yf
0 / for striking down a more cruel tyrar
h than they ever knew, am looked upo
as "a common cut-throat. Ny act va
purer than either of theirs. One hope
} to be great himself; the other had bot
J his own and his country s wrongs
avenge. | hoped for no gain. | kne
g. no private wrong. | struck for my cOu
try and that alOne-a country grOur
- beneath this tyrant. | now behold Il
IS cold hand that is extended to me. GC
w can not pardon me if | have done wrOn
{ cannot see any wrong save in serving
degenerate people.
<'The little left behind me to clear II
lc name, government will not allow to
le printed Sc ends all.
n "FOr my country ] have given up ;
, that makes life sweet and holy, broug
- misery upon my family, and sure tn
is there is no pardon in Heaven forme sin
OF man condemns me so.
"TOnight | will once more try the riI
III with the intention to cross. | have gre
O. desire. and almost Il mind, to return
US Washington and in a measure clear l
&. name, which feel that | can do. |
o. not repent the blow that | struck. III
1. before my God, but not to man.
0t Il think have done well. though &
it abandoned with the curse OF Cam.
- IF the world knew my heart, that bl
- would have made me great. though do
)h d 4sire greatness. Tonight try to esca
tn ese blood hounds once more, but "
tie can read his, fate? Gods will be done
A ha, e too great a soul to die like a crl
~ inal. o, may He, may He, spare me Il
oh and let me die bravely. never hated
al wron ged any one. This brave boy W
" me of zen prays with true, sincere hea
&C. Was it crime in him? II 50, why can
pray the, same? | do not wish to she'
Is drop of blood, but Yet must fight
.sh cause. lis all that's LETT me.
les Hence. say that though Booth
a., clearly a fanatic, he was not cowar
assassin. 1t seems he intended well,
Ids IN fact struck the South heavy b
la when he killed Lincoln, and brave !
lie will ever condemn and deplore the act
iCh
the Never stop at the church door
nd ask about the music. In choir Will
TO
ut, One thing in existence gets the
word with a woman, the phenogra
IN --o---
IN Plumbers don't 60 much on ONO
an hut they never turn their back Oh