Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-06-21


in the plan for the burning, because he knew
it was false. Blu. you see the extent of my
connection. 1t assumes this proportion, no
more.
But of all the astonishing things which
have happened during this war between tho
States. the late proclamation OF the Presi-
dent is the most unreasonable and unjust. 1t
seems there has been created new bureau,
called the Bureau of Military Justice In.
that, it seems, there is evidence thatthe as
sassinatlon of the late President was "incited,
concerted and procured by and between JEFF
ferson Davis, at Richmond, Va" and myself
and other rebels and traitors " harbored
in Canada" When this proclamation reached
me. / was in New Brunswick, Oh my way
home. This is novel mode of Punishment.
Now, sir, mark how direct statement will
meet every point made by the evidence in
the Bureau of Military Justice" and put to
open shame SO solemn an act as procana-
ton. | aver upon honor that ! have never
known. or conversed, or held communication,
either directly Or indirectly, with Booth, the
assassin Of the President, or with any of his
associates, so far as have seen tfem named.
| knew nothing of their plans. l defy the
evidence in the Bureau of Military Justice.
The proof, whatever it is, is tissue OF false
hood, and its publication cannot be made
without exposing its utter rottenness.
know there is not half the ground to sus-
pecs me that there is to suspect President
Johnston himself.
First-There was absence of all motive on
nv part. To have removed Lincoln at the
time it was done was most unfortunate both
for me and for the people Of the South. This
bave believed, and have often so expressed
myself President Johnson was TO acquire
dazzling power in the event of Llncoln's
death.
SecoId--A paper is found in President
Johnson's room, after the assassination. signed
by the assassin himself, to the effect that he
lBooth) does not wish 10 trouble him John
SON. y but wants to know if he (Johnson) is
in. Now consider this is not from a private
citizen to high official, and it is certain that
if it had been sent by any other man, at any
other time, to any other official except the
one most deeply interested il the event about
to happen, it would have implied previous
intirscv and intercourse, and :. wish to have
an interview without witnesses, which the
writer expected, circumstances admitting 1t.
President johnson goes to bed, on
the night of the assassination, atthe unusual
hour. for Washington, Of nine O'Clock, and
is asleep of csurse, when an anxious gentle
man leaves the side of the dying President
10 inform the new incumbent of his great
GOOD fortune, which filled him with unuttera-
BILE distress.
Now, mark me, DO not say that ali this
creates suspicion in my mind OF. the com
Aicity of President johnson in the foul wor!;
upon President Lincoln. Bat this do say,
thai if such circumstances could be so we'll
taken against the Hon. Is. G. Harris, CT Ma
ryland: Ben. Wood, of New York, or Mr..
Iallandigtam of Ohio, they would have been
received in the Bureau Of Military Justice
as testimony as strong as proofs from Holy
Writ. These facIs may possibly suggest to
President johnson and those VINO owe their
official. position aud personal consequence TO
the breath of lis nos rils, good and sufficient
reason why the excited public mEd of the
people OF tic United States which has been
iaslicd into fiery by. we'll concerted manipu!a-
tious. and now dem .nds q victim, should be-
eve that there was evidence in the " Bureau
Of Military Justice to congict Souiicra men
-"rebe!s and lraitors''-ol having "incted,
concerted and procured" the assassination oi
President Lincoln. But, at ali cvci.tS, thee
facts ought 10 teach President johnson les
son OF moderation and charity to all those
suspected feel confident no fact, susco:ti
bic ci being tortured by tic s2rowtios; iEgc
nuny into q coiur!ng 50 uuiarorah!r, can be
sluw, il tru,h against President Davis or
IL, LII, e
the gentlemen named in tie proclamation.
again, an Denounced as q r"itpr and
rebel in this proclamation. Let the world
juace between President Johnson and my
self, not according to the law Of might, but
according to the rules Of right.
For Our years prior TO the secession Of
Mississippi, va. absent from the State, en-
gased in the service OF the Uuied St;:es. |
bad no control and could exert no illucHce
over the political action of the State. Prcsi-
dent johnson, on the contrary. had been in
the meantime in tn" service of the Stale Of
Tennessee. a while her Chief Magistrate,
and then the representative Of her scvorcign.
ty in the Senate Of the United States.
body in which ali the States are sovereign
and equal irrespective of strength and popu-
lation. Prior to the war between the States,
we both had been democrats and belonged to
the same party. In our creed. the Virsinia
and Kentucky resolutions of '9S and 90 set
forth the doctrine of State rights. The demo-
cratic party for sixty years, with only tempo,
rary departures, had held to their cardinal
principles as Initiated by Jefferson and Madi-
son, who had become the great apostles Of
the party. By them, we learn that the con-
stitution of the United States is 4 compact
between sovereign States, each State acting
for itself and as an integral party. The.
powers. granted were. delegated powers, to
be exercised by common agency for the
common welfare. 10 avoid future misunder-
standings, three Of the States, in their ari-
cles of ratification, expressly reserved the
right to resume the powers delegated when
ever they believed they. were not used for
their advantage. On the subject of treason
the United States couid declare no act trea-
son, except the making war upon the United
States and the giving aid and comfort to the