Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-01
Andrew Johnson and the Charge Of Treason
made against him by the Richmond
EnouifeP.
from the Richmond r

Il
We have Just seen a letter from Amos A. Law
renee, Of Boston, well known to the country az
one of her men of capital, and leading black
republican, In the full confidence Of President
Lincoln and his government at Washington. II
| 10 addressed to Andrew johnson, Of Tennessee
and encloses draft for one thousand dollars, as
pcrt Of tie pay Intended for his services in be-
trayIng those conhding portions Of the people Of
Tennessee who have stood by him In support Of
the maintenance Of the Federal Union. We give
this letter TO the public II was intercepted in its
passage to Johnson, and 10 now In possession of a
| reliable gentleman of this oity-well known TO
the country There Is no doubt of the genuine
ness of the letter.
Let the people Of Tennessee ponder over this
letter, and ask themselves II 50 base a traitor
should longer exist In her midst Note the re-
mark Of Lawrence, that IL the information given
oy TINS Infamous wretch was printed in the North
| ern newspapers, that at trould be good for ten
thousand doIldrS in tirss days time " This thou
sand, however, Is given him In order that she
IJohnson) may be sHre Of sontsthtng at once "
never, perhaps, have we been brought to witness
such perfdy and corruption on the part Of one
who has held so high an office In the government
OF our country So blasting crime cannot be
| Of Tennessee He ought TO be arrested at once
BosroN, May IS, 1861.
Dear Sir: II your note to me were printed in
our newspapers, itwould be good for ten thousand
dollars in three days time. But Of course must
only use Ii as a private letter.
In order that you may be sure Of something at
once, write below this a draft, which some Of
to cash at the usual premium for East exchange
Probably Gardner & Co. Evans & Co Douglas
| & Co., Of Nashville, will know it,
the Government will soon exhibit a power
which will astonish even you. The nuilifers
| have been playing into Sc0tt's hsnds for three
weeks, and now they have lost the game.
ours with regard, AMOS A. LAWRENCE
me what to send.
BosroS, May 1s, 1861.
Al agh,, without grace, pay to Andrew John
son, or order, one thousand dollars for value re-
ceived, and Charge to my account.
AMOS A. LAWRENCE.
To Mason, Lawrence & Co -, Boston.
Across the face Of the draft 10 the acceptance Of
Mason, Lawrence Co.
No one, am sure, could have been more sur.
Prised than 1, at the appearance of the above
article. As had Hersr written to Amos A. Law
| renee, Esq, upon the subject of East Tennessee
affairs. with the view Of obtaining either money
or other material aid, | saw at a glance that
| forgery, fraud, and robbery of the mails formed
| the basis of this mendacious article and there
| fore wrote to MIR. Lawrence, (ths first and only
letter srsr tcritten BY me TO M L. upon auy sub
Jset tohatsrer,) requesting him to forward to me
the original letter letters upon which his draft
had been predicated.
have just received his reply thereto, in which
he expresses his regret at the deception practiced
and incloses two letters, purporting to have been
4 written by me; as fOllows:
| tPrivate KNOXVILLE, Tenn May Is, 1861.
Amos LaicTeHee, Esq (nsGr) Boston, Mass
| Dear SIR received your kind favor on yester-
day and hasten to reply
| Tlank you for the high regard you seem to have
/ Tor my patriotism and my devotion To INV country
w hat assurances can have from you and yoir
people Of material AID in the wav Of money, men
and arms if can succeed in a:ousing my people
10 res stance to this damnabe treason in the South
This Is very important We have formidable
Union element Ia East Tennessse which can be
| luded to. Harris, Governor of this state will not
i appeal to you.
Let me hear from you forthwith.
1 Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, June 9th, 1861.
| Amos Laurence, Esq, (aear) Boston Mass:
| MY pear ot i received your two letters to-
| aid We need it-need 1t badly As vet nave
| not been able to use your draft-sm afraid 10 d O
50 send me, If you can, or $40, coo In New
| England currency, In large halls, by mail, via
| cincinnati Be sure 10 do II promptly Don {
| delay can now purchase a lot Of arms If had
| the means
How do you propose to Introduce aid or arm,
| Ihto L tennessee! BY what T0Ets, and by what
method Answer soon.
Respectfully, your ob't serv,t,
| ANDREW JOHNSON.
pronounce both Of the above letters deli berste
"llfui, and unmitigated Iorgeries, perpetrated
| no doubt with the view not only Of iniurinu me
but of damaging the Union party of Tennessee
oyconnecting me with northern men and northern
| means In manner supposed to be obnoxious 70
| the noble patriots of my own State
| The letter Of the 18th ultimo, it seems In tn,
private letter to which Mr. Lawrence refers In HI,
letter as published In the Enquirer, and upor
| which the draft was drawn This Is the s,s
forgery.
The letter Of the 9Th instant clearly show. thu,
the draft-which could not be IN ade available se
palpaole was the fraud-was to be retained md
used In the work OF injuring me Jus, as circum
stances might favor while the call for as ono q,
$1,000 in New England currency, in large bin, !,
II faVora0ly responded to, would have served In.
oIVioual purposes and doubt not would have
| oeen uhhesltaunSly used therefor. To NAL thi,
fraud and bold attempt at robbery still more con.
elusive, Will state the fact that the 18th Nav
ne oaIe OF tne nrst letter, was present at and ad
dressed large Union meeting in Elizabethton.
one hundred and eighteen miles from Knoxville
where the above letters were written and mailed
and on the 9th June, the date of the nd lette,
was hllins one of series of appointments at Mont
gomcry, about forty miles west of KnoYv,lls
This town Of Knoxville, let II be remembered :,
about seventy-ive miles distant from ;r.env,i,s
my post office address. will add, further. tina,
there Is not either In the body Of the letter. n,
II
signatures thereto the slightest similarity to nv
| handwriting signature
| hwould have been impossible for such fraud
L ulent and mail-robbing transaction to have hesr
carried on In the Post tice at Knoxville witbop,
the knowledge or consent Of the postmaster, and
he and his confederates must be held responsible,
Tor II oy an enlig htened public judgment. Tim,
may develop all the facts connected with tbI. nd
otner transactions Of similar character perpetrsted
| at this same Post ONCE.
have not made this statement of facts for III,
purpose OF exonorating myself from the charge o
ueachery' treason and corruption based upon tn,
publication Of the Riehmsnd Enquirer, for feel
that stand beyond the reach of their sbaf,s q,
calumny and defamation; but my object is to ex.
pose the dishonorable and wicked means re,o,,ed
TO by accession" TO carry out it, nefarious and
eOrruPt designs, In attempting TO overthrow and
break up the best overnment the world ever ssw
| ANDREW JOHNSON
Washington city, June 30, 1861.
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