(The mcticau gitken,
tUff* The Largest Circulation oj
any Paper in the County.
THOMAS ROBINSON. - - Editor,
n. W. SPEAR, Pnbltfther.
BUTLER PA.
WKDXKSDAY JIM: I I. ISOB.
" Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One
• nd'nseparable.''—D. Webster.
REl'lltl.K AX TICKET.
BtATE SENATE.
JOHN N. PURVIANCE.
( to District Conferees.)
LEGISLATURE.
IIENRY PILLOW
JOHN II NEGLEY.
(Subject to District Nomination.')
COUNTY TREASURER.
WM. E. MOOBE.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
W. IT. H, RIDDLE.
COMMISSIONER.
WM. DICK.
AUDITOR.
J. c. KELXEY, 3 years.
G. IT. GUMPER, 1 year
COUNTY SURVEYOR.
NATHAN M SLATOR
Ournelf.
Thirty years ago this summer, we, as
a member of a small family, located in
the south part of this "county, since then
our parents have gone to their final res
ting place, our only brother too has gone
"the way of all the earth" and_with a
solitary exception or two, we have no
friends by consanguinity to rely upou for
support or sympathy—our only friends
being those who from time to time have
seen fit to bestow upon us their confidence
and to extend to us their kind support.
With our opponent. Gen. Purviance,
the case was verjr different; belonging,
fig he docs, to one of the "first families,"
with the benefits of an early education,
and surrounded by affluence—with "my
brother Samuel," as the Gen. familiarly
calls hitn. located in Pittsburgh, ready to
extend a friendly hand and bland smile
to the yeomanry of our southern border,
as he finds them in market or elsewhere ;
with political friends in position at Wash
ington who feel that their oontinuancc
in position depend on their political
taithfulncss to their patrons we are
only surprised that we came out
of the canvass as well as we did. Un
like the Gen. we hadn't even a "full
bloodeclDerhatn Cow"ai> t lading stock with
which to interest the stock grower. When
reflecting on all these things and some
others that we prefer not to mention here,
we feel truly grateful for the liberal vote
We received. With Winfield, Penn, For
ward, Oakland, Centre, Franklin, Muddy
creek, Slipperyrock, Worth, Brady, Clay
Concord, Fairview, Chery, Centrcville,
Mercer and Marion, all for us with a fair
share in many others, we could not feel
otherwise than grateful, and let our
future be what it may, we can never for
get those who thus stood by us; nor will
we fail to serve them should ever an op
portunity offer. To those who felt it
their duty to cast their influence against
us we entertain only feelings of kindness.
Mr. Purviance had canvassed for the
samo position, three years ago, and it was
therefore, natural that he should come in
for a liberal share of public sympathy—
for him both personally and as the nomi
nee of the party, we have only feelings
of friendship, and should he be the suc
cessful candidate in the district none will
support him more warmly than we. Of
some of the questions, involved in the
canvass, we may perhaps say something
hereafter.
RcpnblU-an County Convention
The convention was organized by elect
ing Win. Harvey, Esq., President, and
Wm. M. Graham, Esq., Secretary.
The following is a list of the delegate*:
Adatns, A. Renison.
Allegheny, James Crawford.
Brtdy, J. N. M'Candless.
Buffalo, 6. C. Sedwick.
Butler, John Husseltoa.
Clay, George Timblin.
Cherry, Matthew M'Greggor.
Concord, W. M. Graham.
Cent re,.J. C. Meore.
Samuel Reed. /
Clinton, William ijlarvey.
•Cranberry, J. Garvin?'
Clearfield.
Donegal, Soloiaon Fleeger.
Fairview, H. P. M'Clyiuonds..
Forward, D„ Douthett.
Frank-tin, J. R. Moore.
Jackson, Robert Bogg3.
Jefferson, Thos. Martin
Lancaster, Wm. Kirker
Marron. F. Seaton
Mercer, HT. A. Ayres.
Middlesex, W m. Cunningham
Muddycrcek. W. W. Roberto.
Oakland, John Goff.
Parker, A. Young.
Pcnn, W. G. Miller.
Summit, S. Young.
Venango, Frank. Jetftmison.
Washington, llarper Campbell.
Worth, Thos. McNees.
Winfield, William Stewart.
Slipperyrock, Samuel Taggart.
Butler boro., J. T. M'Junkin.
Ceitreville boro., E. Kingsberry.
Zelienoplft boro., George Buckhart.
On motion, J. B. Clark and Joseph B.
Mechling, Esqs.. were appointed Secre
taries, on election returns.
On motion, William Stewart, Esq., A.
Benison, Geo. Timblin, Geo. C. Sedwick
and J. T. M'Juukinj were appointed a
committee to prepare resolutions.
" The returns from each election district
being received and footed up, the follow
ing persons, having raceived a majority of
the votes polled, were declared duly nom
inated : For Senator, John N. Purviance,
Esq.; Assembly, Henry Pillow, and John
11. Negley, Esq.; Treasurer, William E-
Moore; District Attorney, W. IT. 11.
Riddle, Esq.; Commissioner, Wm. Pick ;
I County Surveyor, N. M. Slator; Audi
tor, J. C. Kelly, for 3 years, and G. 11.
Gumpper, for 1 year, vice W. IT. 11. Bid
die, Esq., resigned.
The committee on resolutions reported
ed the following which were unanimously
| adopted:
Resolved, That the organizations under
| the name of Republican, made by the
| people some ten years since, under cir
j cumstances that most imperiously called
! for resistance to the bold, menacing ag
! gressions of the Slave Power, were then
I seen, and now proved to be absolutely
I necessary to the security of our Govern
| ment, and the vindication of its Demo
j erafie principles.
Resolved, That the stern, inflexible ad
herence of the citizens to those princi
ples of liberty—that " freedom was na
tional, and slavery sectional"—the hosts
| of brave men who sprang to arms when
Rebellion rose up to destroy us—the un
| tisiiig energy of our people and our noble
I armies in prosecuting the war to victory
and complete subjugation,settles triumph
antly and forever the question of the
ability of an enlightened people success
fully to maintain a Republican Govern
ment.
Resolved , That although our Govern
ment has necessarily incurred a heavy
debt, in the prosecution of this war for
its life; yet we have full confidence in
our ability to liquidate it, without adding
very seriously-to our burdens—and that
wo have confidence, that Congress will
secure to our great manufacturing, agri
cultural and •ommercial interests, such
protection as will enable us to develop our
vast mineral and agricultural resources—
securing to our people not only a perma
nent home market for our products, but
enable us successfully to export our sur
plus against other rival manufacturing
nations.
Resolved, That we hail, with heart-felt
gratitude, the end of the wicked war, —
and the return to their homes of the brave
men who have periled all for our Govern
mcnt-and that we recognize the toils, perils
and valor of our heroic soldiers, as worthy
of the highest admiration and gratitude—
imposing upon us a sacred debt which,
although we cannot hope ever to pay, yet
shall be subject to the unending solici
tude of the people to meet and reward.
Resolved, That our warmest sympathies
and our tears, are offered to the wives and
children, Fathers and mothers, brothers
and sisters, and other friends of the
countless heroes who have fallen in the
battles for liberty, or died in our hospit
als, or in the fearful and infernal rebel
prisons,—the government and people are
bound in duty to provide for the widows
and children of our dead heroes—and to
reward in the fullest and most ample
mauner possible those who have survived.
Resolved. That the highest praise is
due to the Union party and their admin
istration, who have so successfully resis
ted the fearful combination of foes with
in, asd enemies without, to break up and
destroy our Great Republic—looking back
upon that fearful struggle—the perils,
sufferings and dangers, through which
we have passed—the multitudes of brave
men who have been slain—the desolations
brought especially upon those who inau
gurated the wicked rebellion—we are led
to exclaim, " Verily there is a God who
rules and reigns in the earth I"—and to
Him we would devoutly ascribe our success.
Resolved, That the fundamental ele
ment of Liberty as enunciated in our
Declaration of Independence, that all
men are created free—and endowed with,
certain rights which are inalienable,
amongst which are life, liberty and the
'•pursuit of happiness—are fixed and un
utterable truths iu the vocabulary of Lib-
erty—that slavery is incompatible with
bur free institutions; and" -therefore can
not bet tolerated in any part of our terri
tories—and that we are bound not only
to extirpate that vile sin frjm our laws
and constitutions, }>ut also oftr Govern
ment is pledged to seoure to the colored
man of the &outh their inalienable rights.
RrsoUied, That we deeply mourn and
deplore the death of that great .and .good
man, our beloved President Lincoln—
" The deep damnation of his taking off"
excites in our hearts, and that of the
whole civilized world, &n inexpressible
horror, —althd' it marks a crimson stain
of dishonor upon the page of our histo
ry, yet it statids there, and will forever
Btand as the expression of that fell spirit
of hate and revenge which actuated those
who brought on and prosecuted the Re
bellion—proving to all that nothing could
appease, nothing allay but the crushing
power of the military arms.
Resolved, That we have entire confi
in President Johnson, called now to fill
that high trust, at a most critical and
perilous period—that he is emphatically
a man of the peop!e, having by his won
derful energy and talent lifted himself tip
from the humblest walks of life, to his
present exalted position as Executive of
this great nation. He is the friend of
the poor and oppressed—is ardent and
devoted in his patriotism—ripe iiv his ex
perience as a Statesman —and will with
a firm hand indicate the authority of the
Government by punishing traitors—cau
tiously and wisely reforming governments
in the late revolted States, and facilita
ting a return to harmony and peace tliro'-
out the land.
Resolved, That it is desirable we should
have a full and perfect record of all the
men who went into the army from our
county, whether volunteers, or conscripts
—the Chairman of the Executive Com
mittee of the county is hereby instructed
to appoint two or morn competent persons
in each township and borough—and also
two in each School District, to report to
said township committee. Setting down
a list of each and every volunteer ordraf
ted man who went into the army from
said township—which shall be formed
into a neat record, and forwarded to the
Chairman of the Exectiue. Committee at
Butler. This record to contain names,
date of entering army, letter of Co., and
No., of Reg., where sent, what battles,
skirmishes, Ac., &c., wounds, deaths, Ac.,
&c. So as to form a short but reliable
all and every one of our Butler
County Soldiers. This Record to be at
the disposal of the County Convention
when it convenes next year.
Resolved , That in our present worthy
Governor, A. G. Curtin, wo have a most
unflinching advocate and defender of our
glorious Union—who has most efficiently
and patriotically represented the Old
Key-Stone State in the eventful and glo
riously Successful conflict for Union and
Liberty. I[e has, and well deserves, the
undying love of our soldiers, and the peo
ly who know how to appreciate and honor
sterling patriotism.
Resolved, That Hon. .Tamos Kerr, 11.
C. M'Coy and Wm. Stoops, Ksqs., be ap
pointed representative Conferees to meet
similar conferees from the counties of
Mercer and Lawrence at Centreville, But
ler co., Pa., to nominate a ticket for As
sembly.
Reoslved, That Hon. James Mitchell,
Robert M. Pouthett and Wm. llaslett,
Ksqs., be appointed Senatorial conferees
to meet with conferees from the counties
of Armstrong and Lawrence to renomi
nate a candidate for State Senator.
Resolved , That Hon. Charles M'Cand
less and Wm. llaslett, Ksqs., be elected
Representative delegates, and Col. John
M. Thompson be recommended as Sena
torial Pclcgate to the State Convention to
meet at Harrisburg on the 19th of July
next.
Resolved , That this convention pledge
to the ticket this day nominated their
unanimous support, aud cordially recom
mei.d it to all the loyal voters of Butler
county. , .
— .l National Debt. —Wo arc not
disposed to look upon a great debt as
a "'blessing in disguise," but that it
brings some benefits well as burdens,
that its tendency is to preserve the
country from disintegration—every
creditor being under bonds to keep
the peace—cannot be denied. The
ablest men of Great Britian have
looked upon the public debt of that
country as one of the pillars of !ts
strength; and it is useless for us to
suppose that the mass of the people
can have-any interest in the Union
which would uot be strengthened by
interest payable in money Iwice a
year.
—The Presbyterian General As
sembly, still in session at Pittsburgh,
have taken the broadest crround on
the Slavery question. They have
adopted a series of resolutions in
regard te it, recognising and rejoice
ing in the providence that has given
civil liberty to nearly four millions
of the enslaved African race, "d»
clares it to be the duty of tbe Pres
byterian Church, as patriots, philan
thropists, and Christians,to attend to
their spiritual welfare at once and
effectually." They also fire a broad
side into Roman Catholicism, invite
ing a league of all evangelic church
es to check its progress.
—The Crops in the Great Northwest
are represented as being snusually prom
ising. Every available acre of land,
where man or women could bo found to
prepare the soil, has been seeded, and
the crop now looks finely, giving rich
promise of an abundant harvest. The
return of hundreds of soldiers to their
homes wiH cheapen labor, and insure a
sufficiency -of help to gather the crops.
—Total votes of primary election will
be given in next weeks issue.
REBEL LEADERS!
Theif Complicity in the Assassination.
Very Important Suppressed Testi
mony,
BOOTH SPECIALLY AUTHORIZED.
A STO i'NDING RE VELA TIONS.
The following is the testimony, hither
to suppressed, relative to the Rebel lead
ers, taken at the Assassiuation trial at
Washington :
Sandlord Conover testified as follows:
—I am a native of New York ; have re
sided in Canada since October last; was
conscripted into the Confederate army
and detailed to service in the War De
partment of the Confederacy, at Rich
mond, under James A. Seddon, Secretary
of War, while in Canada was intimately
acquainted with G. N. Sanders, Jacob
Thompson, Dr. Blackburn, Tucker, Wm.
C. Cleary, Captain Castleman, Cameron,
Porterfield, Captain Magrudcr, and oth
ers. I also knew Clement C. Clay, and
General Carroll, of Tennessoe; I knew
Mr. Surratt also, nnd J. W. Booth, and
visited these gentlemen in Canada; saw
Surratt there on several occasions last
April, in Mr. Jacob Thompson's room,
alsojn company with George N. Sanders,
and other Rebels in Canada; Surratt is
about five feet nine or ten inches high, a
fair-complexioned man, with light hair; I
saw him the Oth or 7th of April, with
Thompson, Sanders and Booth; at that
time be delivered to Thompson, in his
room, in my presence, dispatches from
Richmond to Thompson, from Benjamin
and from Jefl'erson Davis; the latter eith
er a cipher dispatch. Benjamin was
Secretary of State of the Confederacy.—
Previous to this, Thompson conversed
with me in reference to a plot to assassi
nate President Lincoln and his Cabi
net, of which I gave notice before the as
sassination in the New York Tribune , the
paper which I corresponded. I had been
invited by Mr. Thompson to participate
in that enterprise. When Surratt deliv
ered these despatches from Jell'. Davis,
Thompson laid his hand upon the papers
and said,refening to theassassination and
the assent of the rebel authorities, ' This
makes the thing all right." The des
patches spoke of the persons to be .assas
sinated—Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Johnson, the
Secretary of War,the Secretary of State,
Judge Chase, and Gen. Grant. Thomp
son said on that occasion, or on the day
before that interview, that the assassina
tion proposed would leave the Govern
ment of the United States entirely with
out a head; that there was no provisions
in the Constitution of the United States
by which they could olcct another Presi
dent. Mr. Welles was also named, but
Mr. Thompson suii it was not worth while
to kill him ; he was of no consequence.
My first interview with Thompson on
this subject of assassination was iu the
early part of February, in Thompson's
room, in St. Lawrence Hall, Montreal.—
lie then spoke of a raid on Ogdensburg,
New York. It was abandoned, but that
was because the United States Govern
ment received information of it. He said
he would have to drop it for a time, but
added, "We'll catch them asleep yet,"
and tome he said, "There is a better op
portunity to immortalize yourself, and
save your country," meaning the Confed
eracy. I told them I was ready to do
anything to save the country, and nsked
them what was to be done '! He said.
" Some of our boya are going to play a
grand joko on Abo and Andy," which he
said was to kill them ; his words were,
"Remove them from office," and he said
that the killing of a tyrant was not mur
der ; that lie had commissions for this
work from the rebel authorities, and con
ferrcd one on Booth, or would confer one;
that everybody engaged in this enterprise
would be commissioned; if they escaped
to Canada they could not bo successfully
claimed under that Extradition Treaty; I
know that Thompson and the others held
these commissions in blank; they com
missioned Bennett Young, the St. Albans
raider; it was a blank commission filled
up and conferred by Mr. Clay; as it came
from Richmond, it was only signed Jas.
A. Seddon, Secretary of War; Thomp
son called me to examine these blanks so
that I might testify to the genuineness of
Seddon'ssignature iu theeaseof Bennett
Young, before Judge Smith. The signa
ture was genuine. In a subsequent con
versation, after the first referred to iu
February, Thompson told mo that Booth
had been commissioned, and every man
who would engago in it would be. 1 had
a conversation with Wm. C. Cleary, on
the day before, or the day of the assassin
ation, at St. Lawrence Hall. We were
speaking of the rejoicing in the States
over the surrender of Lee and the cap
ture of Richmond. Cleary said they
would have the laugh on the other side of
the mouth in a day or two I think this
was the day before the assassination. He
knew I was in the secret of the conspir
acy. It was to that he referred. The
assassination was spoken of among us as
commonly as the weather.
| Before that Sanders asked mo if I
; knew Booth very well, and expressed
| gome apprehension that Booth would make
! a fizzle of it—that he was afraid that the
; whole thing would be a failure. I com
municated to the Tribute the intended
raid on St. Alhan's and the President;
but they refused to publish the letter. 1
did this in March last as to the President'*
assassination ; also in February. I think
—certainly before the 4th of March.—
Surratt delivered the despatches in Mr.
Thompson's room, four or five days be
fore the assassination. The whole con
versation showed that Surratt was one of
tho conspirators to take the Presideut'«
life. That was the substance of the con
versation. It was also understood that
there was plenty of money where there
was anything to be done. The conversa
tion indicated that Siyratt had a very few
days beibre left Richmond—that he was
just from Richmond."
While I was in Canada 1 was a corres
pondent for the Tribune , and received no
compensation except from the Tribune*-
J ha*e not received one cent from aur
own government, nor the promise.
Tbey never supposed I was a corres-
pondent for any paper; I only said I was
seeking iteuis; they supposed 1 was a
rebel and I was in their confidence ; the
proposed Ogdensburg was printed ia the
Tribune. 1 did not communicate this
matter directly to the government, for the
reason that I supposed the communica
tion in the Tribune would be seen by the
government officials, and I did not choose
to have the information goto the govern
ment directly iro«i me; I requested Mr
Gay, of the Tribune , to give the infor
mal u to the government, and I believe
he did so.
I saw Surratt in Canada three or four
days iu succession in April last. I had a
conversation with him personally about
Richmond. I was introduced to him by
Banders. I was expected to participate
with these rebels iu the raid on Ogdens
burg; 1 never received any pay from
them for any services. I heard the cap
ture of the President talked of in Feb
ruary. When Mr. Thompson first sug
gested the assassination to me, I asked
him if it would meet with the approba
tion of the Government at Richmond;
he said he thought it would, but he would
know in a few days, This was early in
February.
Thompson did not say in April, when
these dispatches wore delivered, that this
was the tirst approval they had received
of this plot from Richmond, but I know
of no otheiß; 1 only inferred that that
was the first approval; Thompson said, iu
his conversation with me, that killing a
tyrant iu such a case was no murder, and
asked me if I had read a letter callod
"Killing no murder," addressed by Titus
to Oliver Cromwell ; this was in Febru
ary as one of the victim* of this scheme;
iu April, the persons before named were
mentioned, but Mr. Ilamlin was omitted,
and Vice Presideut Johnson putin his
place; Iran the blockade from Rich
mond; these commissions were all blank
but the signuturc ; they were to be given
a cover, so that in case of detection the
parties employed could claim that they
were rebel soldiers, and would, therefore,
claim to be treated as prisoners of war;
it was understood that tUey would be pro
tected as such, Thompson said if the
men who were engaged iu this enterprise
were detected and executed, the Confed
erate Government would retaliate; that it
was no murder, only killing; I think J.
Wilkes 1 Sooth was specially commission
ed for this purpose ; 1 saw Booth in Can
ada in the latter part of October, with
Sanders, at Mr. Thompson's, at the St.
Lawrence Hall, where be was strutting
about dissipating and playing billiards; I
have heard these men talk of the burn
ing of New York, and other enterprises
which they have under consideration
now.
There was a proposition before the
agents of these rebels iu Canada to des
troy the Croton Dam, by which the city
of New York is supplied with water. It
was supposed it would not only dhinage
manufactures, but distress the people gen
erally. Mr. Thompson remarked that
there was plenty of force, nnd the city
would be destroyed by a general confla
gration, and if they had thought of this
sooner, they might have saved a great
many necks. This was said a few Wi.eks
ago.
Thompson, Sanders, Castlctnan, and
General Carroll were present. I'hey had
arms concealed, and a largo number of
men concealed in Chicago—some eight
hundred—for the purpose of releasing
the rebel prisoness there. The Doctor
Blackburn, charged in Nassau with im
porting yellow fever into the country, is
the same person referred to by me as
intimate with Thompson in Canada; I
saw him in company with G. N. Sanders,
Louis Sanders, Castleman, Win. Cleary,
Porterfield, Captain Magruder, and a num
ber of other rebels of less note; Blatk
burn was recognized there as an agent of
the Confederate States; and so repre
sented himself; in January last Doctor
Blackburn employed a person named
Cameron to accompany him for the pur
pose of introducing yellow fever into the
Northern cities, to wit: New I'ork, Phil
adelphia and Washington ; he went from
Montreal to Bermuda ahout a year ago
last fall, for the purpose of getting the
clothing infected with yellow fever; I
saw him after bis return, in Canada, and
heard .Jacob Thompson and Wm. Cleary,
say that they favored bis scheme.
About the same time it was proposed
to destroy the Croton Dam, Dr. Black
burn proposed to poison the reservoirs,
and ma<k> a calculation of the amount of
poisotio/s matter it would require to im
pregnate the water, so a.s to make an or
dinary draught poisonous and deadly.—
110 had the capacity of the reservoirs,
and the amount of water generally kept
in them. Strychnine, arsenic, prussic
acid, and a number ol other things I do
not remember, were named. Sir. Thomp
son feared it would be impossible to col
lect so large a quantity of poisonous mat
ter without suspicion and leading to de
tection. Thompson approved of the en
terprise, and discussed it freely. Mr.
Cleaiy did the same; it was also spoken
of by a Mr. Montrose A. Fallen, of Mis
sissippi, and by a person who had been a
medical purveyor in the rebel army ; Jno.
Cameron, who lived in Montreal, tohj nic
that he was offered large compensation ;
1 think Mr. Thompson was the monied
agent for all the other agent*; 1 thiuk
they all drew on him for all the money
they required; I know some of them did;
when Thompson said it would be difficult
to collect so much poison without detec
tion, Fallen and others thought it could
be managed in Europe; Fallen is a phy
sician ; 1 think 1 have heard Harris also
mentioned in connection with the pesti
lence importation ; I think he lived in
Toronto; there were other parties in
Montreal that Blackburn employed, or
endeavored to employ, but I do not re
member their names.
I saw Dr. Stewart Robinson, a Doctor
of Divinity, residing in Toronto; he edi
ted a paper iu Kentucky; I have seen
him with Thompson and Blackburn, and
he was present when some of the schemes
were discussed ; he approved thfini ; h?
said anything could be done under heav
en would justify them under the circum
stances ; he appeared upoji very intimate
terms with 151ackburu and Thompson ;
three or four days after the ussassination
of the President, I saw John II Surratt
in Onada, with Porterfield, a Southern
rebel, now declared a British subject by
the Canadian Parliament; I learned im
mediately afterwards that Surratt was
suspected, was pursued, and had decamp
ed ; I had a knowledge that Jeff. Davis
was the head of the so-called Confeder
ate States, and was called its President
and had control of its civil administration.
General Carroll was present when Surratt
brought the dispatches from Riehmoud,
and when they were read by Thompson.
I believe there wi<re one or two others ;
General Carroll of Tennessee then said he
■was more anxious that Mr. Johnson should
be killed than auy one else; he said ;
" If the damned prick-louse was not kill
ed by somebody" he would kill him him
self; he referred to Vice President John
son; his expression was a word of con
tempt for a tailor; it means a tailors' louse;
Booth was known in Canada by the nick
name of "Het;" I have heard Thompson
so name him, certainly Cleary ; Kenne
dy, who fired the city of New York, and
was executed, was spoken of as having
performed that deed by authority of the
rebel Government under the direction of
Thompson; this was communicated to me
by Thompson himself, or in conversation
in his presence; Thompson said Kenne
dy deserved to bo hanged, and he was :
develish glad lie was hang d, for he was
a stupid fellow, and had managed things
very badly.
James B. Merritt testified :—I am a
physician, and have been in Canada
about a year ; in October and November
last wns in Toronto ; met George Young
there, a Rebel from Kentucky ; also
Col. Steele, from Kentucky, Young said
to me, ' We have something of much
more importance than any raids ; ho told
mo it was determined that "Old Abe"
| should never be inaugurated ; that they
had plenty of .friends in Washington, and
called Mr. Lincoln a ''damned o!<i tyrant;"
I afterwards saw George N. Sanders and
Col. Steele together; Col. Steele said,
"The damned old tyrant never will servo '
another term, if lie is elected Sanders j
said at the time, 'Tie would keep migh- I
ty close if he did serve another term ;"
in Montreal, in February last, I heard
Sanders name a number of persons ready
and willing to remove the President, Vioe
| President, Cabinet, and some of the lead
ing Generals of the United States; and
he added that there was any aim uut of
money to accomplish this purpose mean
ing assassination of these persons ; he then
read a letter, which he said he had re
ceived from the President of the Confed
eracy, meaning Jefferson Davis, and
which letter justified him in making ">ny
arrangements that he could, to accomplish
such object; there was a meeting at that
time of these Itebels, and a letter was
read to theui, the substance of which was
that if the Southerners in the Camillas
;ind the States we in willing to be govern
by suoh a tyrant tis Lincoln, he (Davis)
did not wish to recognize them as friends
and that he approved of the proposition
to assassinate him ; Col. Steele read the
letter, also Captain Scott, George Young
and Hill, all rebels this meeting was
about the middle of last February ; at
the meeting Sanders named some of the
persons who wore to accomplish the as
sassination, and among them ho named
J, W. Booth, whom I had seen in Mon
treal in October; he also named George
Harper, Charles Caldwell, Randall and
Harrison ; Hart/Id went by the name of
Harrison ; I heard Surratt's uame also
mentioned, and Harold's; there was#
person named whom they called "Plug
Tobacco;" 1 saw Harold in Toronto;
Sanders said Booth was heart and soul
in this matter; he was a cousin to Bcale,
who was hauged in New York; he ad
ded that if they could dispose of Mr.
Lincoln it would be an easy matter to
dispose of Mt. Johnson in some of his
drunken reveries; if they could dispose
of the President, Vice President, and
Cabinet, and that if Lincoln could be dispo
sed of, it would satisfy the people North
and that a peace could be obtained ; that
they had endeavored to bring about a war
with England, but Mr. Seward, through
his energy and sagacity, had thwarted
their efforts, and for that reason they wan
ted to get rid of him.
On the sth or 6th of April last I met
Harper, who said that they wft-e going
to the States to kick up the d——dest
row such as had never been heard of;
ho added that if I did not hear of the
death of Old Abe, tho » ice President,
and of General Dix, in lessthan ten days,
I might j>ut him down as ad- d fool;
that was on the flth April; bo mention -
the DMM of Booth as one of their friends
there ; said they had plenty of friends
in Washington, and that fifteen or. twen
ty were going. He had started togo to
Washington as early as the Bth, together
with others ; 1 communicated this fact cn
the 10th of April to Justice of the Peace
named Davidson, who after the assassi
nation, communicated it to the Govern
ment ; Harper returned to Canada a<"tc»
the assassination ; I had a conversation
with C. C. Clay .in Toronto, in February
last; ho spoke of the letter of Davis,
which Sanders had exhibited ; he seem
to understand the character of the letter
perfectly, and said he thought the end
would justify the means; Surratt was
pointed out to me in Toronto last Febru
ary, I think ; 1 saw Booth there two or
three times, and sat at the tabic with
hiui once, at the St Lawrence, with San
cers, Scott and Steele ; they were conver
sing with Booth, and drinking wine with
him at Sanders' expense ; I saw Harold
in Canada in February.
Richard Montgomery testified—l knew
Jacob Thompson, Clemeut C. Clay, whom
1 have met in Canada a number of times
since the summer of 18fi4 up tt» tnis
time; also George N. Sao'ders, J. P.
Ilolcombc, Beverly Tucker, W. C. Clea
ry, Harrington, Hicks, aud others, under
fictitious names ; Thompson had several
names; one wag Carson; Clay was Toft, '
and Lacy, Traoy; Jacob Thompson said
ho haii friends of the Confederacy all over
the Northern States, williog togo any
lengths, and that he could, at aoy time,
have the tyrant Lincoln, and any of his
•jdvisers r .put out of the way; that his
friends would not consider it a crime,
and that it would be done for the cause
of the Confederacy; in January, in 1865,
Thompson said, at Montreal, that a prop
osition hail been made to hiui to rid the
world of the tyrants, Liocolu, Stanton,
Grant, and some others; that he knew
the men who made it were bold, daring
men, able to execute anything they would
undertake; that he was in favor of thd
proposition, but deferred his Answer Uutil
he had consulted his government at Rich
mond; that he was then only <rAiting
their approval.
He thought It would bo a blessing to
"the people, both North aud South, to have
them (the tyrants) killed. In the .sum
mer of 1804,1 repeated what Mr. Thomp
son first told me to C. C. Clay, who
said that he was really devoted to our
cause, and ready togo any lengths to do
anything undor tho sun to tave it. I
have seen Payne, the prisoner, a number
of times in Canada, about the falls, in tho
summer of 1804, and also at the Queen's
Hotel, at Toronto, Canada West, where I
conversed with him.
1 had an interview with Mr. Thompson,
seveial others had sought an interview
while I was closeted, and had been re
fused. On leaving Thompson,s room, I
saw Payne in the passage way, near the
floor, with Clemeut 0. Clay talkihg to
him; Mr. Clay stopped me, and finished
his conversation with this man in an un-.
dertone. When he left me he said,
"wait for me; I will return." He soon
came back and bade me good-by, and
asked where he could see me after atime.
1 told him, and appointed a meeting.
1 spoka to this uiau Payne in Clay's
absence and asked hiui who he was.
He said, "I'm a Canadian"—which was
to say, 1 dont want you to ask me any
thing more. I nicntioned s him to Clay
when I met him after a time. Clay ask
ed, "what did he say?" I told him, anil
Clay answerd, "That's an; ha is a Cana
dian," and laughed. Ho added, "wo
trust him." '•Canadian" is an expression
for their friends, and his oonduct was an
indication that their intercourse was of u
very confidential nature.
I have been in Canada since the assas
sination; a few days after I.met Reverdy
Tucker at Montreal, lie said, "Mr.
{ Lincoln deserved his death long ago;"
! that "it was a pity he did nottfio
j long ago;" and that "it was too bad tho
boys had not been allowed togo when
they wanted to." Ho referred to the
j men who were to assassinate him.
I had a conversation with William C.
: Cleary, and told him what Mr. Thomp
son said in January, lie said that Booth
was one of the yarties to whom Thompson
had referred; he said also that it was too
bad, that the whole work had not been
I done, referring to the assassination. Clea
i ry. who was a confident of Mr. Thompson
told me so. Thomps. n said Cleary was»
very close—mouthed man.
deary also said that "they had better
look out, we have not done yet.'' He
remarked that they would never give up,
lie also said that Booth had visited
Thompson in the winter and in the sum
mer. These parties knew they were sus
peeted of the assassination a few days
after, were estroyinga great maqy papers;
so they told me.
1 acted as a government detective in
Canada, and assumed the niime of James
Thompson, though I never registered it,
but always some other nauie; my whole
object was to serve the government; I
saw this cipher (found among Booth's
effects) in Mr. Clay's house, at St. Cath
arine's in the summer of 18(i4 ; I carried
dispatches from Canada to Oordonsville,
and received a reply which I carried hack,
I catno through Washington each time
and delivered the dispatches to the Uni
ted States Government; reeeived tho
dispatch at Oordonsville from a man in
the Kebel State Department, from their
Secretary of State; 1 carried this paper
to Thompson. All these persons, named
Thompson, Clay Cleary, eto,, represent
ed themselves in the service of the Con.
federate Government. Heeeived this
ceivod this dispatch in October last.
Clay claimed to represent the War De
partment ; they approved the burning of
our Northern cities, and they represented
themselves us having full powers from
the Uebcl Oovcrnment to act, without
referring their project to ltichmond ;
Thompson and Clay both said so,; tho
attempt to burn New York City I know
they were engaged in, and went to Wash
ington three days before it happened to
communicate it; they approved, also of
the St. Albans raid ; in regard to raiding
Mr. Clay bad the funds; he said he had
always plenty of money to p<iy for any
thing that was worth paying for; I
know they deposited in different banks;
Clay said not to tell Sanders what <hey
intrusted to me; he said that he was a
very good man to do their dirty work ;
that he associated with men that they
could notassociate with ; that he was very
useful in that way; I inferred from Bev
erly Tucker's words that they had delay
ed the assassination, waiting the approval
from ltichmond, .
THE II ANP of GOD IN GREAT
EVENTS. —The Boston Pott, in an ed
itorial under the head "Thoughts for
the day,"says with great force :
No people was ever taught the les
son of direct dependence upon Heav
en more thoroughly than wc. Tho
course of war has inculcated it at ev.
ery stage. Where we felt tho most
assurance we have as often failed. We
have been directed into paths which
ourselves we should not have elected
to follow. Our unwilling steps have
proved the most direct to the place of
safety. The wisest counsels of our
wisest men have been thwarted by
events again and again. Unlooked
for instruments of deliverance have
been placediaour hands. The hum
ble have succeeded »n confounding the
high and mighty. Devices which
were built mainly or entirely on hu
man skill have put aside as a
child puts away its toys. Whereever
we have looked for"t>clp, if we havo
averted our faces from Heaven, wo
have looked invariably in vain. The
liulcr of the universe has visibly led
us through tho miraculous maze of
our national peril; and to Him we must
continue to appeal for safety and guidance,
if we would continue one people, and en
joy lasting prosperity and haptness.
—A well iuU'ruieJ correspondent states
that there i* a Urge amount of cotton at
Norfolk, Virginia, and iii the interior,
which has been accumulating for som#
time. A fact net generally known aitii#
North. «