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nrffiigjK^eoA
CONSTITUTION.
VOLUME XIV
TUESDAY MOKNINX3# JANUARY 17, 1882.
PRICE 5 CENTS.
BOOTH’S ROMANCE.
SENTIMENTAL PRELIMINARIES TO
THE GREAT TRAGEDY.
A Thrilling Ch*pter from the I*lfo of Mr. Lincoln »
A««u»tn-Tbc Bright Eye* of a Northern Girl
Enthrellthe Young Tragedian- The State
ment of Mr. Matthew., the Actor.
Uvr'o IMIrlum.
••Oh! If itnvere not for that girl how clear the fu
ture would be to act How cosily could I grasp the
ambition closest to my heart! With what a fixed
and resolute purpose, beyoud all resistance, could
I do and dare anything to accomplish the release of
the confederate prisoners! Thus reviving the
drooping southern armies, and giving new heart to
the waning cause! , _ „ . .
"What are those lines In Borneo and Juliet de
scribing lovcT I have played them an hundred
times, but they are now covered with the mist
of greater thoughts and I cannot see them. I am,
1 am in love!"
•••O! any thing of nothing first create.
Oh! heavy lightness! serious vanity!
Mis-shapen chaos of well scorning forms!'”
quoted an actor associate and friend into whose
room John Wilkes Booth liad strode one
morning In April, 1865. and thrown
himself upon the bo<l, bis mind torn with conflict-
lug emotions.
How curiously events shape themselves! Ahra-
liam Lincoln died not long afterward from a ballet
bent by this desperate young man, in the very
room and upon the very bed where Booth had lain,
almost In delirium, when he gave vent to the above
expression. It was provoked by a wordy contest he
had that day had in relation to the release of
the confederate prisoners, with his sweetheart's
father, who was an eminent statesman.
Booth had met the young girl that had captured
his heart In the whirl of Washington society (into
the best of which he wes admitted and courted),
In that winter of 1865, when he had given up even
his profession that he might concentrate all his cn
crgics on the one great purposo for which he was
lion.wlUing to sacrillce cverytlilog-cvcn life itself.
He was boarding at the then greatest hostelery in
Washington, the National hotel. Here he was
thrown in constant intercourse with senators, law
yers, military men of rank, and in fact the elite of
Washington society. There, with her parents,
boarded the young lady, whom, after meeting,
Booth soon learned to love, and who-Joved hint
truly to the end. Even after the assassination, it
is said that she wrote to Edwin, saying—
"I am your brother's betrothed and am ready to
mnrry him at the foot of the scaffold.”
About 10 o'clock in the morning of the day upon
wbi -h the crime was committed Booth came down
the slei>8 of the hotel to the breakfast rotjm, late as
is an actor’s wont. Immaculately dressed in a full
suit of dark clothes, with tall silk hat, 3;id gloves
and cane, he walked forth the young Adonis of the
stage, the man who could marvelously unfold the
character of the murderous and cowardly Macbeth
live out the cruelty and vindictiveness
Richard; the wickedness of Julieu, or impersonate
- with ideal perfection the higher character of
Raphael. IIow ho prostituted all these great gifts,
and by a distorted method of reasoning made him
self a cowardly assassin, the startling story which
follows clearly reveals. Within 12 hours after he
thus seen upon the stairway of the hotel he com
mitted the deed which covered his name with
ignominy nud cost him his life.
I . i„{ !»ic jftiRbe..tBetSiR..fI#»<Te M w.bo
was there awaiting hi* coming. They walked into
the breakfast room, and took their morning meal
together. A few minutes chat in the parlor fol
lowed. Those words were doubtless the last she ever
spoke to him.
He left the hotel and walkedjup to Mrs. Surratt’s,
on II street, as is supposed, from the direction in
which he wns seen approaching Ford’s theater on
10th street an hour or two later. He walked direct
to the hnx office, got his mail, and sat down on -the
steps of the theater to read it. One letter was very
long, and the contents seemed to annoy him con
siderably. He !lnally folded it however, andplacing
it in bis pocket, said to Harry .Ford, brother of the
manager:
"What's on to-nightT”
"Our American Cousin, and it'sgoing to be a big
night The president, General Grant and General
Lee are all to be present and occupy the same box.”
“What!" exclaimed Booth Indignantly, as a dark
shadow spread over his face, “have we gone hack to
the days of Roman despotism, when prisoners of
rank were paraded before the populace to humiliate
them!”
Harry explained that he was jesting about Lee,
but that General Grant and Mr. Lincoln would
certainly be present, as a note had been sent from
the white house to engage the box.
II. ' »
When the Fatal Purpose was Conceived.
This was the first intimation Booth had that the
president expected to be at the theater that even
ing. “And from this chance remark weean date the
alteration in his plans," said John T. Ford, the
veteran manager, to me when speaking recently of
. Booth and his crime.
"His every effort to capture the president, and
thus secure the exchange of the confederate pris
oners, man ior mai^ had been frustrated,” contin
ued Mr. Ford, “the surrender of Lee, and the con
sequent drawing to a close of the war, rendered
him desperate, and he resolved to try to do by vio
lence what he could not accomplish by his conspi
racy to kidnap the president.”
“It is easy to trace the steps leading up to assas
sination by the light of his acts and utteninecs al
most from the moment he left the theater that day
until the crime was committed. He evidently
changed his purpose from the moment he found
the president was coming to the theater, and his
plans os rapidly as he could."
“I can best illustrate this,” said Sir. Ford, “by
giving you an incident which occurred almost
immediately after leaving the theater that mom
lug At the comer of Tenth street and Pennsylva
nia avenue, not more than two squares away from
the theater. Booth met Johu F. Coyle, then edito:
of the National Intelligencer, with whom he was
upon intimate terms. As the two shook hands.
Booth said:
•'What would happen, Coyle, if someone were to
put Lincoln and his cabinet out of the way at this
crisis?”
“We have no Brutuscs in these days, John," re
plied Coyle laughingly.
"That you are not sure of,” replied Booth, as he
turned down the street.
"The next scene finds him late in the evening
giving his letter of justification for the murder to
John Matthews, his actor friend, who was then
playing at my theater. They were raised boys to
gother in Baltimore, aud Matthews was the only
man that ever saw Booth's plea of justification for.
the crime. He immediately destroyed it, and then
confessed the fact to Father Frank Boyle, of Wash
ington, who absolved the act”
“Booth's ability as au actor has often been ques
tioned?” said I, s
"It need not be.” replied Mr. Ford. "Had Johu
Wilkes Booth lived he would have been to-day the
greatest actor oi his time. He had a magnificent
mind, great originality of thought, and he threw
the vitality of perfect manhood into every char
acter he impersonated. That 1in itself would have
Insured his success, but he had other qualities that
were attractive, if not necessary. He was the hand
somest man I ever saw, not only in feature,
hut in physique. Indeed, it was remarked
of him on the very day of the assassination,
“There goes the handsomest man in the United
States.”
“He was also an athlete, and prided himself upon
that quality. In the scene fn Macbeth when he
enters the cave of the witches Booth was notpontent
with the usual approach, hut had a ledge of rocks,
some 12 feet high, erected and down these he
sprang upon the stage.”
What were his best roles?”
-‘His Richard and Macbeth were very fine. He
individualized them In a manner I have never seen
before or since. His fighting scene in Richard was
simply terrific. He was good in the Apostate; but
his Raphael in the Marble Heart was matchless. I
have many a time paid him $700 a week, and he
could easily cam $20,000a year. When he played
in Boston under my management he made the
greatest success of the day. People waited in crowds
outside the theater to catch a glimpse of him as he
left, and I think a man thatcould attain this emi
nence before the age of 26 must have had the germs
of dramatic talent pretty well developed.
“lie was received by the very best people. The
lady to whom he was engaged to be manied be
longed to the elite of Washington society.”
"llfl vnn knmv
Do you know the lady's name?
Yes, but It shall be sacred. She is married now,
and it would do no good to the truth of history to
revive it Booth's whole soul was centered upon
her, and he loved her as few men lore. Her picture,
1 understand, was taken from his body a short
time after his capture, and she was failhiul to him
to the very last.
“You believe then that murder was an after
thought with Booth?"
"1 have no doubt of ft. I think that is clearly
proved by all the facts that have been brought out
since his death. It was a sad ending :o wlmt prom
ised to be a brilliant life. 1 think he was led to the
crime by his hero worship. He lived in an aunos-
ihere of tragedy. He revered the character of
irutus, emulated his example when he killed the
president and invoked his spirit when he met his
death. John Matthews, to whom Booth gave his
letter of justification, knowsmore interesting facts
abont him than any man now living.”
“This is John M l thews,” said a gentleman n few
days since as he introduced me to the actor, now
on tite boards of the L'uion Square theater. New
York.
This we* the man that was Booth’s boyhood
friend, and -.ctor associate most of the time he was
upon the stage. To him Booth had many times
confided his desire to capture the president, and
thus obtain the release of the confederate prisoners.
This was the friend In whose room Booth had lain,
and to whom he had poured out the : tory of his
love, marred by the conflicting imssion of mliguided
S tlriolism, and the one that bad quoted for him
omeo’s definition of love. He was the man at
whose feet Booth dropped when he jumped from
the president’s box to the stage, and whom he near
ly knocked over iu his haste to retreat
The murder and the thrilling events which fol
lowed it have left their Impression upon his life.
He seems still to brood over the occurrence, and
his days and nights arc never free from some
thought of his friend’s life and death.
He is rapidly approaching fifty years of age—a
iran of medium height and well rounded frame—a
dewi-shaven, jolly Milesian face, lit up by a pair of
sharp, restless eyes, which twinkle wita the good
humor that isappareut in his every act and utter
ance. llis manner is quick ana nervous, and his
speech and attitude constantly portrays his pro
fession.
our conversation naturally drifted to the story of
Mr. Lincoln’:: assassination, with which he is more
familiar than any man now living.
lie took up the thread of the narrative where Mr.
Ford left It. He is the most important living wit
ness as to Booth’s aims and purposes, and has
a story full of dramatic Interest. He was the
next man of note to see Booth after ho left
Coyle and went to find the other conspiratots
to enlist their co-operatioff in his changed
purposes. Night was fast ar.proaehing, Booth
had gone to Naiior's livery stable near
14th street, hired his saddle horse, mounted it, nud
was riding down Pennsylvania avenue toward the
National hotel.
“Poor John,” said Mr. Matthews, feelingly, “the
last time I saw him before the scene in the theater
was late in the afternoon of the 14th. I was walk
ing up Pennsylvania avenue when I saw him com
ing down upon horseback. He drew rein os I reach
ed the corner of 13th street and the avenue.
“My God! My God! Ihcvc-no longer a country!
riiis is mo end of constitutions 1 liberty in Amcrl-
XL” V"L>iwv ’ as. hs : V r-trLed.-Liusued
have they been, fighting for the continuance of
slavery. The first Battle of Bull Run did
away with that idea. lhcir causes since for
war have been as noble, and greater far than
those that urged our fathers on. Even should we
allow they were wrong at the beginning of this con
test, cruelty and injustice have made the wrong
become the right, and they stand now the wonder
and admiration of the world as a noble band of
patriotic heroes. Hereafter reading of their deeds,
Thermopylae will be forgotten.
“When I aided in the capture and execution
of John Brown (who was a murderer on
onr western border, and who was fairly
tried and convicted, before an impartial judge and
ury, of treason, and who, by the way, has since
»een made a God), I was proud of my little share
in the transaction, for 1 deemed it my duty, and
that I was helping our common country to per
form an act of Justice. - But whit was a crime in
poor John Brown Is now considered (by themselves)
as the greatest and only virtue of the republican
party.
Strange transmigration! Vice is become virtue
imply because more indulge in it. 1 thought
then, as now, that the abolitionists were the only
traitors iu the laud, aud that the entire party de
served the same fate as poor old Brown. Not be
cause they wished to abolish slavery, butonac
count of the means they have ever used to
effect that abolition. If Brown were living
I doubt whether he himself would set slavery
against the union. Most, or nearly' all the north,
do openly curse the union if the south are to re
turn and retain a single right guaranteed to them
by every tie which we once revered as sacred. The
south can make no choice. It is either extermina
tion or shivery for themselves, worse Ilian acatb,
to draw from. 1 know my choice and hasten to ac
cept iu 1 have studied hard upon what grounds
the right of astate to secede has been derived, when
our very name, United States, and the declaration
of independence provide for secession. But there
is now no time for words. I know how foolish I
shall be deemed for undertaking such a step ns
this, where, on the one side, I have many friends
and eveiything to make me happy, where my pro
fession alone has gained me an income of over $20,-
000 a year, and where my great personal ambition
in my profession has such a great field for labor.
On the other hand, the south has never bestowed
upon me one kind word; a place now where I
have no friends except beneath the sod; a place
where I must either become a private soldier or a
beggar. To give up all the former for the latter,
beside my mother and sister, whom I
love so dearly (although they so widely
differ from me in opiuion), seems in
sane; but God is my judge, X love 'justice
more than I do a country that disowns it; more than
fame and wealth, more (heaven pardon me if
wrong) than a happy home. I have neverheen upon
a battlefield, but oh! my countrymen, could you
but see the reality or effects of this horrid war, as I
have seen them, in every state hut Virginia, I kuow
you wiulJ think like me, and pray the Almighty to
create in the northern mind a sense of right and
justice, (even should it possess no reasoning of
mercy,) and he would dry up the sea of blood be
tween us that Is dally growing wider and wider.
"Alas! 1 have no longer a country. She is fast
approaching her threatened doom. Four years ago
1 would have given a thousand lives to see her re
main (as 1 had always known her) powerful and
unbroken, aud how 1 would hold my life ns naught
to see her what she was. Oh! my friends,-if the
fearful scenes of the past four years had never
been enacted, or if what has been had been a
frightful dream, from which wc could now awake,
with wliat overflowing hearts could we bless our
God and pray for His continued favor.
“How 1 have loved the old flag can never now be
known. A few years since and the entire world
could boast of none so pure and spotless. But I
have of late been seeing and hearing of the bloody
deeds of wnich she has been made thccmblem, and
shudder to think how changed she has grown. Oh!
how I have longed to sec ller break from
the mist of blood ard death so
eitcled around her folds, spoiling her beauty and
tarnishing her honor. Eut no; day by day has she
been dragged deeper and deeper into cruelty and
oppression, till now (in my eyes) her once blight
rod stripes look like' bloody gashes on the face of
heaven. I look now upon my early admiration of
her glories as a dream. My love is now for
the south alone, and to her ^sidc-
i go penniless. Her success has been near my heart,
and 1 have labored faithfully to further au object
which would have more than proved my unselfish
devotion. Heart sick and disappointed 1 turn from
tiie path which I had been following, into a bolder
and more perilous one. Without malice 1 mat
and upon that same bed where he afterwards lay
and told me of his love and his sweetheart, and on
which President Lincoln died. Davenport,
Wnllack and I came in one day and found him ly
ing mere studying the part of Mare Antony. Wal-
lack and Davenport had been to visit some of the
hospitals and both seemed affected by the scenes
they had witnessed. They began talking of the
war in a spirit of sorrow rather than anger, regret-
ting that brothers should thus seek each other’s
life in the struggle of arms.
1 shall never fotget the pathos and power with
which they each expressed a desire for peace.
It seemed to make a great impression upon
Booth’s mind, and when we spoke of an engage
ment to may, “Still Waters Run Deep,” at the
Soldiers’ Home, Booth said he would go with us
and make one of the audience. From the moment
he knew the president intended to be there he set
about laving the plans for tis capture.
The minuteness with which every detail for the
kidnapping had been arranged was surprising, and
the faflnre of the scheme cutBooth keenly. At the
very last moment a business engagement detained
Mr. Lincoln, and Booth seemed to brood upon the
subject night and day after this disappointment.
I am gratified that the letter I have given you so
clearly demonstrates the fact that the murder of
Mr. Lincoln hy Booth was not premeditated4n the
sense in which It has been insisted. Tbe evidence
Is overwhelming that he never tbought of murder
until the last hHlf of the day upon which he com
mitted it He had great respect for Mr. Lincoln,
and the arrangements he had made for his comfort
while he was being taken within the confederate
linos demonstrates his exalted idea of the import
ance of his scheme.
Appended to the letter be gave me, which evi
dently had been hastily written, were the namesof
Payne, Harold and Atzeroth, given as the men who
would stand by him in his altered uurpose.
“I have preserved a lock of his hair and Tall the
wardrobe I wore on that fatal night.”
“Do"John the justice to let me say in print what I
have told you about the occurrences of that even
lug.”
"He died game. I never could believe it was
other than by hisown hand. A shot was undoubt
edly fired at him in the burning barn, but I think
the bullet that caused his death came irom his
own carbine. When he found that he could not
get a chance to fight for his life he took it himself.”
This striking picture painted by two of the men
who bf all Booth's associates and friends were most
seriously affected by his act, might be drawn upon
a much larger canvass than 1 have taken. It viv
idly. portrays the shifting scenes of play and pas
sion which ended in the foulest of crimes.
The story of his death I have given the readers of
Ths Constitution from the lips of those who wit
nessed every one of the thrilling scenes attending
il, end the events of the last two days of his life.
I will conclude the painful story, with a chapter of
his Christian butial, two years after his death, the
dramatic circumstances surrouudiug it, a picture
pi ' is filial resting place and some interesting fam
ily reminiscences of those that are buried in the
satr e tomb. F. A. B.
THE CHARGE AGAINST MR. DAVIS
PEN PUNCTURES
FROM OUR YOUNG MAN AT THE
CAPITAL.
The Discussion over Felton’s Attack on Hill—An In-
jud cions Outbreak of Temper—Clerks for the
Senators—The Choct-w Railroad Ques
tion-Appeal from Independents.
This
fSOJ'
quickly. He was pale as a ghost and laboring un
der great excitement He pointed with tragic gest
ure toward a number of confederate prisoners who
were being marched up the avenue under guard
and watched them attentively for a few moments.
Then throwing his hand to his head two or three
times, he repeated the exclamation to me:
"My God! My God! John, I have no longer a
conutry! This is tiie end of constitutional liberty
in America," He hesitated a moment after the
last exclamation, and then turning abruptly to me
said:
"Will you do me a favor John?”
“Command me for anything, ’ I replied. ^Taking
from his pocket a sealed letter, directed to Mr.
Coyle, of the National Intelligencer, he asked mo,
with dramatic air, to deliver it that night by 11
o’clock, unless he saw me bcforcthat time. Jfsolic
could attend to it himself.
“I put the letter In my pocket and walked on,little
dreaming what itcontalued, or what startling events
were so soon to follow. I went up the street some
distance, and then bock to my room opposite the
theater, to prepare for my evening’s performance.
“There was a magnificent house that night. Laura
Keene, who was playing leading part In “Our
American Cousin,” wasa great favorite in Washing
ton, and she was a great actress. Then
the war wa about over, and every
body seemed happy and bent on enjoyment. A
shot startled me iu the midst of the scene, which
called me upon the stage, and a form leaping from
the president's box told me too plainly that a terri
ble crime had been committed. 'I recognized
Booth's voice, shouting as he jumped, “ ‘Sic sem
per tyrannis.’ ” He almost ran over me on his
way to the stage door.
“I immediately rushed to my dressing room, call
ing a servant as I ran. I gathered up all
my clothes and wardrobe, passed off beneath
the stage to the auditorium and into the street
with the audience, which rushed from the theatre
in a panic. This foresight doubtless saved mv life,
as none of the other actors got out of the theatre.
The police arrested all persons connected with it at
once. When I got out I walked rapidlv across the
street to my room in Mr. Peterson's house, locked
and bolted the door, aud began changing my
costume for citizen’s clothes as rapidlv ns |<ossible.
• In the excitement I had forgotten tiie letter Booth
had given me upon the avenue, andl would doubt
less have had it iu my possession when arrested the
next day, had It not accidentally fallen from mv
pocket as I snatched up my coat to put it on. Al
most wild with excitement, I picked it up, tore off
the envelope, nnd read the letter twice over. Its
lines seemed to burn themselves into mv brain. It
began: •
III.
Booth's I*l.a to Ills Conntrymrn.
Washington, I>. C., April 14, 1865.—'‘“To mv
countrymen.—For years I have devoted my time,
my energies and every dollar I possessed in the
world to the furtherance of an object. 1 have been
battled aud disappointed. The hour has come
when I must change my plan.
“Many, I know—the vulgar herd—will blame me
for what I am about to do, but posterity I am sure
will justify me.
"Right or wroug. God judge me, not man. Be
my motive good or bad.of one thing 1 am sure—the
lasting condemnation of the north.
"I love p-nce more than life; have loved the
union beyond expression. For four vears have 1
wailed, hoped aud prayed for the dark clouds to
break and for a restoration of oor former sunshine.
To wait longer would be a crime. Mv prayers have
proved as idle as my hope. God’s will be done. I
go to see and share the bitter end.
"This war is at war with the constitution and the
reserved rights of the states. It is a war upon south
ern rights and institutions.
“The nomination of Abraham Lincoln four vears
ago bespoke war. His election forced it. I‘have
ever held the south was right. In a foreign war I.
too, could say, “country, right or wrong. But in
a struggle such as ours (where the brother tries to
pierce the brother's heart), for God’s sake choose
the right. When a country like this spurns justice
from her si<)e, she forfeits the allegiance of every
honest freeman, and should leave him untram'-
meled by any fealty soever to act as his conscience
may approve.
“People of the north, to hate tvrannv to love
liberty aud justice, to strike at wrong and oppres
sion, was the teaching of onr fathers. The studv of
our early history will not let me forget it, and ritav
it never.
“I do not want to forget the heroic patriotism of
our fathers who rebeUed against the mother coun
try.
"This country was formed for the white, not
■the black man. And looking upon African slavery
from the same standpoint held by the noble fraih-
ersof our constitution, 1, for one, have even con
sidered it one of the greatest blessings, both for
themselves aud us, that God ever bestowed upon a
favored nation. Witness heretofore our wealth and
power: witness their elevation and enlightenment
above their race elsewhere. I have lived among
it most of my life and have seen less harsh
treatment from master to man than I have
beheld in the north from father to son. Yet.
heaven knows, no one would be willing to do mure
for the negro race thau I, could I hut see a way to
better their condition.
“But Lincoln's policy is only preparing the wav
for their total annihilation. The south are not, nor
- Vi -uA_
too late. When Cai-air hail conquered the enemies
of Rome and the power that was his menaced the
liberties uf the people. Brutus rose and slew him.
The stroke of by dagger was g aided by his love for
* e spirit aud ambition of Gtcsar that
Koine. if Was Die spi
Brutus struck at. -
“O then that we could come by Csesar’s spirit
And not dismember Ctcsar! But alas!
Ctcsir must bleed for it!”
I answer with Bratus:
He who loves his country better than gold or life.
John W. Booth.”
“Assoonaslhad read the letter I threw it into the
fire, watched it burn to cinders, and then stirred
the asfics into the coals. My first and only thought
then was—
“This self-condemnation of my friend shall nut
be found with me.”
I shudder now to think how narrowlv I escaped
n disgraceful death. The angel Saint Michael could
never have satisfactorily explained the possession
of that letter in those days of horror and delirious
excitement. My only thought, however, when I
destroyed It, was to put away the evidences of my
fn'nrwJ’c Or? A
to contract the currency by the withdrawal from
circulation of what are known as silver certificates:
or to discontinue or further restrict the coinage of
ver.
“Kesolvedfurtherthat gold and diver coin, based
upon a proper ratio of equivalence between the
two metals aud issues of paper predicated upon coin
and convertible into coin on demand, constitute
the proper circulating medium of this country.”
As the Georgia senator always talks plainly, we
may look for a financial speech that the masses of
the people can understand.
THREE TOPICS OF DISCUSSION.
friend’s crime.
What a striking by-play was this to the scene
which followed.
The ashes of that letter were still smoulderiug
in the grate when the president was carried from
tiie theater to Mr. Peterson’s house and laid upon
John Matthews’s bed in the light of the fire which
had a lew moments before consumed the assassin’s
acknowledgement of his crime.
IV
John Matthew's Story.
“Did any one ever see that letter beside your
self?”
"Not a creature after it came into my possession.
When I think of it, it seems almost miraculous
that the occurrences of that night did not turn mv
brain. I was so intimately connected with Booth
and liis life, and yet so perfectly innocent of any
knowledge of or participation in his acts that it cer
tainly seems the most marvelous thing how I escap
ed. Imagine my position for one luoiaeut—to see
the man whom I had known and loved from a boy
so wickedly destroy a brilliant future and a pros
perous and happy life. To see him fall at my feet
wounded, disabled, aud to feel that eseape for him
was impossible. Then, after I had seen him stag
ger past me to the door, ill the midstuf tbe confu
sion that followed, to read the letter I have given
you! It naturally filled me with startling thoughts
that have left their impress upon my life.”
"Do you think the letter is a correct transcript of
the one Booth wrote and you destroyed?”
"Yes, except possibly iu some unimportant par
ticulars. My profession has trained me to remem
ber readily without effort. Then you recollect that
almost immediately after the murder a letter Booth
had written to his brother-in-law, John S. Clarke,
the actor, in many respects identical with the one
addressed to Mr. Coyle, which I destroyed, was
published.
“The arguments were the same, the difference
consisting mainly in such alterations os his change
of plan from kidnapping to murder would necessi
tate. 1 took that letter while the subject was fresh
in mv mind arid made the corrections between it
and the letter Booth left with me, which could be
easily traced. Therefore I am prepared to say that
the letter I have given you is Booth’s last plea of
justification for his act which it has ever been sup
posed no man saw.
“The argument he uses in the letter relative to
the killing of Ca-sar b* Brutus are characteristic
and show the exalted state of reasoning he em
ployed to justify Himself iu the act. He had a dis
turbed idea of pat: iotism, but it did not run in the
direUfoa of murder until the last few hours oi the
day upon which lie committed the fatal deed.”
“Did he ever confide to you any of his plans for
kidnapping the president?’’
“No. not his plans, but we were together a great
deal of the winter before the murder, and heseem-
ed to have his mind bent upon tnat object so deter
minedly that he could scarsely talk upon any other
subject. He often spoke to me of the feasibility of
securing the release of the coufederate prisoners
by kidnapping the president, lie never confided
to me any of his plans, however, and yet at one
time I unwittingly performed au act toward the cap
ture of Mr. Lincoln.
'**1 was going over to Baltimore, a few da vs before
the time when DaveHport. the elder Wallack and
myself were to plays, benefit at the Soldiers’ Home,
and Booth asked me to take a trunk, which he
would have at the depot, with me and deliver it to
a gentleman whom 1 knew in Baltimore. I took
the trank, but not being able to see the gentleman
I left it for him with a note saying:
My Dear Mr. : Please deliver this trank to
Mr. , who will see that it is delivered to Mr.
, who will have it safely shipped to its destina
tion. of which he is informed. Be careful. Very
truly. John Matthews.
“1 do not fill the blanks because the gentleman
to whom it was delivered, and those that were to
handle it, are still living, and might not like the
useof their names in that connection.
"This trank was.to be sent to lower Maryland.and
was filled with potted meats, sardines, fine crackers,
brandy, wine, aud even toUet articles. They were
intended for the use and comfort ef the president
daring his journey to the confederate lines. Booth
intended to treat him with everv consideration.
“He formed his plans for this capture in my room
Tiu- Small Fund Set Apart for Use by the Confederate
1’resident's Military Family Captured by tbe
Sceond Michigan Cavalry.
Louisiana State University and Agricul
tural and Mechanical College, Baton Rouge,
January 6,1882.—Gen. Joseph R. Davis,
Nw Orleans, La.: My dear Sir—Your "letter
oftpecemher 29tli, in relation to an alleged in-
te.Mew of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston reflecting
upm President Davis, has been received. In
re: ly I must say that I was greatly surprised
wi on I first saw the report of the interview:
bt i I confess I was still more so, when _
fo - . id that General Johnston did not contra-
d’lt it with an emphatic denial. If I had sup-
l v pd that its insinuations required disproof,
or)hat they would not he met by witnesses
imvre fully informed than myself, I certainly
shjDuld have promptly published
sU(!h knowledge as I had. But I rested so
secure in tiie universal confidence of
irij-nd and foe in President Davis'
integrity and • patriotic self abnegation
thr.t I felt lie might,' in tiie future
as in the past, oppose his unsullied re-
petbons cognizant of the facts, whose concur
rent testimony present an irrefragable record.
It lias, furthermore, elicited even from parti
sans of General Johnston a response which
evinces that President Davis’s honor is asdear
to each southern heart as its own. Hence, so
far from this assault proving a misfortune to
our honored chief, a complete exposure of
facts only establishes more fully his noble
and disinterested character upon tiie solid
foundation upon which it will stahd for all
time. The hand which strikes this granite
pedestal, wounds only itself.
You ask for facts within my knowledge as
to the money transactions at the close of the
war. I have learned a good deal since the
events, but you _ could hardly apply to one
who was more ignorant at the time, or who
troubled himself less about the general
finances or particular funds. My line of duty
was in a different direction and occupied all
my thoughts. I shall, therefore, confine my
self to matters within my own knowledge,
and leave to others what came under their
observation.
I accompanied President Davis, as you cor
rectly state, from Richmond till his capture.
At Greensboro. X. C., I accepted a loan of $100
in gold, pressed upon me by a friend, as I had
only confederate money. I nsed this to pay
the expense of our military family, as I was
almost always immediately with ' President
Davis. The sum was not quite exhausted
when we were captured, as onr incidental ex
penses were small. Having been an inmate of
President Davis’s house, as well as a member
of his military family, I know that during
the four years of the war, his pecuniary inter
ests and personal fortune were entirely neg
lected by him, and that he came out of the
war a poor man.
Very full statements have been made T>y
others about what occurred at Abbeville, the
Savanna river and Washington, Ga. I did
not attend the council of officers at Abbe
ville. I knew that there was a military chest
with a considerable sum in coin and bullion.
I also knew that $20 or $30 were distributed
to each soldier. I was told by some one at
Washington to draw that amount, but was
too much engaged to do so.
After leaving Washington, when President
Davis determined to part company with the
wagon train, Major Van Benthuysen, who had
charge of it, handed me $1,200 to transport
and took my receipt for it. I regarded it as a
trust to be employed, if necessary, in getting
our party to the trans-Mississippi department.
I am of the opinion that
our party received from Major
Van Benthuysen some $5,000 or $6,000,
but am not fully advised. The full sum of
$1,200 was taken from my holsters by men of
the Second Michigan regiment when I was
captured. I am quite sure that P 1 isident
Davis could not have carried much money
about him, as he handed me his derringe
to carry, being too feeble to endure its weight
But there is no reality, no ground for argu
ment with any man who impugns the per
sonal integrity of Jefferson Davis. Tiie
charge recoils upon the author. For twenty
years President Davis has breasted a storm of
obloquy and calumny from every quarter.
Yet, tcnlay, lie stands' unscathed tiie repre
sentative 'man of the most glorious epoch of
southern history, so that in all our part of
the union it is hard to find a man who Iras
done his duty by his country who would nut
prefer a word of approval from his lips to a
erown of gold from tiie hand of the best of
his detractors.
Of course, no word from me can add any
thing to tiie lustre of President Davis’s repu
tation in tiie eyes of those whose good opinion
we chiefly value. But, as I am putting my
self on record, I must permit myself to say
Washington, January 13.—[Special Correspond
ence.]—As I telegraphed last night the Georgians in
Washington have been talking considerably oi the
recent letter from Dr. Felton concerning Senator
IlilL
As they are here in a strange land any bit of
home gossip Is acceptable, especially one so spicy as
thishasbeen. The general comment is that the
letter was too angry in its tone. It seems that some
thing in Mr. Hill’s interview nettled the doctor
severely though a second reading of the interview
since the letter has appeared reveals nothing that
seems calculated to that purpose.
Mr. Hill, in his Mahone speech, said that there
are only two great parties in this country, and a
secession from one indicates a drift toward the
other. So in his interview he says that while Dr.
Felton started out honestly-as an independent in
polities, the sharp antagonism in which he has been
placed to the democracy has necessnrily driven him
toward the republican party. Anybody knows that
when the independent movement was first inaugu
rated in Georgia it would have been heavily
handicapped by an alliance with the
republicans, but the tendency pointed
out by Mr. Hill iu his Mahone speech has worked
so far that now we find the independents seeking
such an alliance as their only hope of obtaining
control of the state. This seems to be the logic of
events everywhere.
APPEALS FROM THE HUNGRY.
The most importunate prayers sent to the admin
istration are from men who were until recently
connected with the democratic organization, and
who now seek the aid of republican influence in
breaking democratic supremacy.
As was predicted,' such men are appearing in
every southern state. Most of them are
arousing Hopes of the political
revolution of several states, when
anybody who knows the condition of these states
and will express an honest opinion, will tell you
that they arc bound to be solidly democratic on
present issues.
There are to-day in "Washington men well in
formed on politics generally who really believe
that Georgia will be “Mahonized” in October, to
such a degree have they been stuffed with the
gorgeous prospects of the new coalition.
Senator Hill spoke briefly concerning the Felton
letter and in terms of anything but resentment
toward the doctor.
It is expected that he will soon make a speech in
the senate, in which he will allude generally
to the methods used in the hope of substituting
democratic rule in the-south. There is an unwrit
ten chapter In the history of these proceedings
which onlv the friends of the administration can
furnish, but it would be well worth reading if it
could he obtained.
Mr. Hill’s intention appears to be to take an ac
tive part in tiie coming campaign.
CLERtyS FOR SENATORS.
Senator Brown yesterday offered a resolution
that each senator not now authorized to employ
clerk be allowed that privilege.
Nearly all the republican senators are at the head
of committees, and recently there have been sev
eral committees made with little oth
er purpose than to give some favorite
a clerk. There are so -few senators left out that
Governor llrbwii thinks they yi(ighi as well si!
supplied at once.
THE CHOCTAW DELEGATION.
There has arrived a delegation from the Choctaw
nation to protest against the granting of a charter
to the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad as at
present reported. Some days ago the hill was favor
ably reported to the senate on the representation of
a special agent who had been to Indian Territory
to examine into this matter. He said that the
council had declared iu favor of the charter, and
ns it offered many advantages to the nation the
committee reported that the charter should be
granted. The Indians now here declare
that the bill was lost on a tie vote in their council
and they bring the records with them to show thnt
they are correct.
Some of them are opposed to granting charters to
any other railroads through their territory, claim
ing that the only safety of the Indian is iu com
plete isolation from the white man. An increase in
railroad facilities will call in white settlers and ad
venturers who will renew the difficulties so long
experienced on the plains. They say the territory
is now intersected by two railroads which
are sufficient for commercial pur
poses and any further facilities
will bring only mischief. The best opinion among
the Indians, however, is in favor of the new line,
though some of them want the matter remanded
to the council where the charter may be more
strictly guarded. These liberal men appreciate the
dangers of monopoly and are now suffering from
exorbitant charges made by Gould’s lines. They
are anxious for competition and they think the
evils feared by their mote timid brothers may be
averted bv provisions in the charter and proper
legislation in tiie council., The chartir will proba
bly he granted, as it is backed
stronglv in the senate, but there may be
some important amendments to its present form.
Mr. W. O. Tuggle, of Georgia, is counsel for the
Indians in their efforts to have the charter referred
again to their legislature,
Some of the Choctaws present a remarkable fine
appearance. They are evidently making rapid
progress in the arts of civilization, and in their rea
sonings for and against this charter show that they
are clearheaded, well educated men.
Reports from the Indian territory represent a
steady growth and prosperity of the tribes set off
there to work out the problem of Indian civiliza
tion. Experience has proven that the more they
are let alone the better they thrive. They have
practically a home rule. Their laws are thorough
ly executed, and throughout their rich realm Is
the reign of peace, plenty and good order.
SHERMAN’S REFUNDING BILL.
It is thought that John Sherman's funding bill
will'not pass, as several republican senators from
the west will not vote for it. One of the severest
speeches made against it was that of Senator
elumb, who, though not an orator, is a “plain,
blunt man,” and speaks his mind out witnout
^ThewUy Ohio statesman is wedded to this meas
ure, aud grieves at the prospect of Us defeat.
After inducing the pliant Hayes to veto
three per cent, funding bill, he has come to
the conclusion that a 3 per cent bond can be easily
floated but this is onlv a bait to make the demo
crats swallow the less lovely features of his pet
measure. It looks towards the continuance of the
national debt to the distant future. The bonds he
proposed to issue will ran far beyond the time
when the debt can be paid.
The Shtrman bill is a bolster to high tariff,
will keep up the debt and thus force the collection
of heavv revenues for interest.
It also looks to complete protection and strength
ening of the national banks in their exclusive
privileges. On this point Mr. Vest powerfully as
sailed the bill in his speech of ivednesday
The prospects are gloomy for Sherman in this
contest; He must wait awhile before he scores an
other financial triumph. But he is so skillful in
political trimming that when he sees he cannot
carrv outhis favorite views he may swing around
far enough to appear in the lead of a financial pol
icy which he really follows. The sen
ate is head over heels in financial
theories. Members* are ransacking the
library for ancient and modern authorities on this
most theoretical of subjects. A great store of wis
dom will be furnished the country from this intel
lectual granary.
FINANCIAL MYSTIFICATION.
In financial discussions there is always much
needless mystification. Men to appear wise force
themselves to he obscure. Really the questions in
volved In treating the national debt and the cur
rency- are as simple as those the small banker and
the village merchant decide every day without
hesitation. If <*e did not know the laws of finance
to be fixed for great matters as
well as small, we could see the simplicity _ of
la both the senate nnd house currency, national
debt and tariff’ will form three great staples .
of debate. Out of the conflict and comparison
of ideas upon them some light may be struck lor
the education of the people. But beyond this it is
hard to see what results can come. No radical
changes in present policy is anticipated. Men who
think as Senator Brown expresses himself in the
resolution quoted are resolved to resist changes
suggested by the secretary of the trensuary and ap
proved by the president The contraction-
sts cannot muster the power to contract tho
currency by retiring the forty millions of
silver clrtificates or limiting the coinage of silver
to closer bounds. Some of the^most ardent high
protectionists oppose such a policy, while the south
and west stand, by a large aud stubborn majority
of their representatives, against it.
These debates will not result in any clearer de
marcation of party lines, for this crook in politics
makes strange bed fellows indeed.
Alter the talk is over, and the advocates of each
idea have warned the country that the supremacy
of tiie other would be ruin, we will
probably find ourselves about where
we are now, gutting along very well
with a general confidence in tiie financial system
of the government.
Mr. Sherman cannot pledge the country to a per
petuity of the debt or throw this bulwark in front
of the discriminating tariff. The secretary, tho
president and the money kings cannot sweep away
the silver certificates or stop the stamp iu the silver
mint.
THE PENNSYLVANIA INDEPENDENTS.
The stalwarts are alarmed at the proceedings of
the independents in Pennsylvania. The demo
crats feel hopeful of capturing the state at
ihe next election. Thousands of the disaffected
republicans will join them before they will
submit further to the Insolent domination of the
Cameron ring.Jit will be a capital joke if while tiie
administration is wasting its ammunition on Geor
gia and the otner southern states it finds Pennsyl
vania in open revolt. The republican dilemma is
becoming more interesting every day. Judged by
every evidence, there are ten chances for a demo
cratic Pennsylvania to one for an “independent
Georgia in the early future.
NOTES IN GENERAL
Hon, George R. Black, of the first district, was
present at the agricultural congress yesterday, as
the representative of the Georgia state agricultural
society.
Rossi plaved to an enthusiastic audience in
“Lear” last night. When he burst out in English
with the exclamation, “Aye, every iucb a king!”
he at once surprised and thrilled the audience. He
spoke the fourth and filth acts in English, a won
derful aehlevmeut when we consider that he has
studied tbe language only a few months.
Mr. George II. Waring, of Bartow county, is at
tending the agricultural congress now m session
here. *• IL
THE PREVAILING PEST.
The Smnll-Pox Said to be Increasing to an Alarmlug
Extent.
Washington, January 13.—The following
dialogue took place to-niglit between an offi-
'cer of the national board of health and a rep
resentative of the press:
Q—Have you any late news regarding the
spread of small-pox? A—We receive reports
every day. The disease is spreading.
Q—Is it confined to any locality? A—No.
It is quite bad in many sections.
Q—i)o yon attribute the outbreak in tiie:
west to immigration? A. There is no doubt
but that it was originally imported. The-
countries from which persons emigrate to.
America are almost without exception in
fected witli the disease,
Q—Rumors have been received from the
•y---t I xiay that >li-. dir-ease is iiK-rearing to
au alarming extent. Have you any such ad
vices? A—it has increased more rapidly in
the west recently than elsewhere, but the ag
gregate number of deaths for the ycarjs no
greater than in eastern cities.
Q—What lias been the number of deaths in
the principal cities? A—Wc are preparing a
statement now, which will appear in the next
bulletin, showing the total number of deaths
which have been reported to us from each
city during the year 1881 and up to tiie pres
ent time. As nearly .as I can remember, Phil
adelphia heads tiie list with between twelve
and fourteen hundred deaths. The disease
lias prevailed there continually during the
j last year. The number of deaths reported
: ‘roni Chicago will not exceed eight or nine
hundred, I think, and those from New York
will probably aggregate about six or seven
hundred. These figures, of course, do not
cover the entire mortality, as there are num
bers of deaths which are not reported to us.
Q—Have there been any cases in Washing
ton? A—A few of a mild character. .
Q—Do you anticipate an epidemic here?
A—Xo; we can stamp it out here in thirty
days should it threaten to become epidemic.
Q—How? A—By the appointment of in
spectors and insisting upon the isolation of
each case.
that having stood so near him for four years . q ^ small we couia Fee me ampuaiy oi
that no veil to his character was possible, even these big issues when handled by men of cat acity.
if he had wished it; he lias left upon my j shennan has a reason for mystifying his financial
mind an ineffaceable image of knightly theories in this case,
purity, of public rectitude, of undeviating I senator browk on finances
patriotism, and of moral grandeur which 1 , a general discussion of the quneucy and finan-
shall forever cherish as a consolation in ad- cialstatus of the country tf®??
versityand defeat, and as a standard and I Senator Brown very soon, probablj some day next
ideal for myself and my countrymen. | "Yesterday he introduced the following resolution
I am, my dear sir. very sincerely yours. ' an( jft will'be tbe text of hisspeecb:
Wm. Preston Johnston. Resolved, That it is inexpedient and unwise
A DINING TO DAVIS.
neel'.acil by the Prcutdcnt of tbe cx-Cocfidcracy.
Memphis, January 13.—A committee of
young gentlemen waited on tiie Hon. Jefferson
Davis (who is here on a visit to his daughter)
to tender to him, on belialf of the young men
of Memphis, a banquet at a time for him to
designate. Tiie banquet was tendered, as ex
pressed by the committee, to Mr. Davis to as
sert the esteem, veneration and affection of
the southern voung men for him, which they
declared to be sincere and earnest. ’ Mr. Davis
sent to the committee this morning the fol-
lowing:
Memphis, Tenn., January 10—Gentlemen: I
gratefully acknowledge tne invitation of the
voung men of Memphis you represent to meet
them at a banquet at such a time as I may desig
nate. Mv p:esent visit will be so brief as not to
permit me to avail of your kind courtesy before
my departure, but I hope to be here ogam early in
the spring, and it will then give me great pleasure
to accept the Invitation as offered. Having closed
a long career of public service, nothing could be
more gratifying to me than the manifestations of
such consideration as is expressed by those to
whom the destinies of our country arc to be in
trusted. To yourselves and vour associates I pre
sent my cordial thanks and assurance of the affec
tionate regard with which I am your friend.
1 oLi’PPvnv T» t
Jefferson Davis.
THE GALVESTON FIRE.
The Lost Running Up to a Million Dollar*,
Galveston, January 14.—The loss by flic will ex
ceed $830,000. The principal losses ard insurance arc
as follows: Moody & Jemison, on building$130,000,
insurance $60,000; Greenleve, Block & Co., whole
sale dry goods, $425,000, insurance $000,000;
C. M. Pearre & Co., wholesale grocers,
$130,000: insurance, $07,300. Miller & Englbli,
wholesale grocers, $130,000: insurance $65,000.
County library, $25,000; insurance, 822,5000. M.
Kopperl and J. B. Cole, on building, $20,000.
Messrs. Wilkins, on building, $18,000: in
surance, $6,000. E. Kaufman, on build
ing, 820.000; insurance, $10,000. J. S. Brown
& Co., wholesale hardware, damaged by removal
*15 000- E. S. Wood & Son, hardware, damage to
building and stock $10,000; Thompson, George &
Co., wholesale druggists damage by removal $3,000.
Revenue Raid to Ce*rgl«-
Washington, January 14.—The commissiouer of
internal revenue to-day received a telegaam from
W h chapman, revenue agentat CnrtersvHle. Ga..
stating that he and the deputy collector has just
returned from Pickens county, where they seized
and destroyed two illicit dLstilteries, complete with
thirty-five'hundred gallons of beer and made one
arrest.
Murder Nc-r Augusta.
Augusta, Ga., January 14 —Last night on the
Milledeeville road, some miles from Augusta, JeKe
Stoke-, colored, was waylaid and instantly killed by
an unknown party. Daniel Stokes, bis brother-in-
]<• w. was walking with him when the sheotmg took
place. *
IXNOIST1MCT