Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

intent aforesaid, with said knife, inflict upon the face and throat of William H. Seward divers grievous wounds; and said Lewis Payne, in further prosecution of said conspiracy, at the same time and place last aforesaid, did attempt, with the knife aforesaid, and a pistol, held in his hand, to kill and murder Frederick W. Seward, Augustus H. Seward, Emrick W. Hansel, and George F. Robinson, who were then striving to protect and rescue the said William H. Seward from being murdered by the said Lewis Payne, and did then and there, with the said knife and pistols held in his hands, inflict upon the head of said Frederick W. Seward, and upon the persons of said Augustus H. Seward, Emrick W. Hansel, and George F. Robinson, divers grievous and dangerous wounds, and with intent then and there to kill and murder the said Frederick W. Seward, Augustus H. Seward, Emrick W. Hansel, and George F. Robinson.

And in further prosecution of said conspiracy, and its traitorous and murderous designs, the said George A. Atzerodt did, on the night of the 14th of April, A. D. 1865, and about the same hour aforesaid, within the Military Department and military lines aforesaid, lie in wait for Andrew Johnson, then Vice-President of the United States, aforesaid, with the intent unlawfully and maliciously to kill and murder him, the said Andrew Johnson.

And in further prosecution of the conspiracy aforesaid, and of its murderous and treasonable purpose aforesaid, on the nights of the 13th and 14th of April, A. D. 1865, at Washington City, and within the military department and military lines aforesaid, the said Michael O'Laughlin did then and there lie in wait for

Ulysses S. Grant, then Lieutenant-General and Commander of the armies of the United States as aforesaid, with intent then and there to kill and murder the said Ulysses S. Grant.

And in further prosecution of said conspiracy, the said Samuel Arnold did, within the Military Department and military lines aforesaid, on or before the 6th day of March, A. D. 1865, and on divers other days and times between that day and the 15th day of April, A. D. 1865, combine, conspire with, and aid, counsel, abet, comfort, and support the said John Wilkes Booth, Lewis Payne, George A. Atzerodt, Michael O'Laughlin, and their confederates, in said unlawful, murderous, and traitorous conspiracy, and in the execution of as aforesaid.

And, in further prosecution of the said conspiracy, Mary E. Surratt did at Washington City, and within the Military Department and military lines aforesaid, on or before the 6th day of March, A. D. 1865, and on divers other days and times between that day and the 30th day of April, A. D. 1865, receive, entertain, harbor and conceal, aid and assist the said John Wilkes Booth, David E. Harold, Lewis Payne, John H. Sur. ratt, Michael O'Laughlin, George A. Atzerodt, Samuel Arnold, and their confederates, with knowledge of the murderous and traitorous conspiracy aforesaid, and with intent to aid, abet, and assist them in the execu tion thereof, and in escaping from justice after the murder of the said Abraham Lincoln, as aforesaid; and in further prosecution of said conspiracy, the said Samuel A. Mudd did, at Washington City, and within the Military Department and military lines aforesaid, on or before the 6th day of March, A. D. 1865, and on

divers other days and times between that day and the 20th day of April, A. D. 1865, advise, encourage, receive, entertain, harbor, and conceal, aid, and assist the said John Wilkes Booth, David E. Harold, Lewis Payne, John H. Surratt, Michael O'Laughlin, George A. Atzerodt, Mary E. Surratt, and Samuel Arnold, and their confederates, with knowledge of the murderous and traitorous conspiracy aforesaid, and with intent to aid, abet, and assist them in the execution thereof, and in escaping from justice after the murder of the said Abraham Lincoln, in pursuance of said conspiracy in manner aforesaid.

By order of the President of the United States.

J. HOLT, Judge-Advocate-General.

Lincoln's Letters.

LETTER TO MRS. ARMSTRONG.

Springfield, Ill., Sept., 18-. Dear Mrs. Armstrong: I have just heard of your deep affliction, and the arrest of your son for murder.

I can hardly believe that he can be guilty of the crime alleged against him.

It does not seem possible. I am anxious that he should have a fair trial, at any rate; and gratitude for your long-continued kindness to me in adverse circumstances prompts me to offer my humble services gratuitously in his behalf.

It will afford me an opportunity to requite, in a small degree, the favors I received at your hand, and that of your lamented husband, when your roof afforded me grateful shelter, without money and without price. Yours truly,

AFFECTIONATE SON.

A. LINCOLN.

Lincoln wrote the following at the close of a letter to his step-brother, John Johnston, regarding his father, Mr. Lincoln, the poor ne'er-do-well, who was ill:

"I sincerely hope father may yet recover his health; but at all events, tell him to remember to call upon,

and con le in, our great and good merciful Maker, who will not turn away from him in any extremity.

"He notes the fall of the sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our heads, and He will not forget the dying man who puts his trust in Him.

"Say to him that, if we could meet now, it is doubtful whether it would not be more painful than pleasant, but that if it is his lot to go now, he will soon have a joyful meeting with loved ones gone before, and where the rest of us, through the mercy of God, hope ere long to join them."

LINCOLN WRITES HIS STEP-MOTHER.

Lincoln's love for his second mother was most filial and affectionate. In a letter of November 4, 1851, just after the death of his father, he writes to her as follows:

"Dear Mother: Chapman tells me that he wants you to go and live with him. If I were you, I would try it a while. If you get tired of it (as I think you will not), you can return to your own home. Chapman feels very kindly to you, and I have no doubt he will make your situation very pleasant.

"Sincerely your son,

"A. LINCOLN."

LINCOLN'S IDEA OF THE SLAVERY CONFLICT IN 1855.

Springfield, Ill., August 15, 1855.

Hon. George Robertson, Lexington, Ky.

My Dear Sir: The volume you left for me has been received. I am really grateful for the honor of your kind remembrance, as well as for the book.

« ZurückWeiter »