Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-06-09
JEFF. DAVIs's COMPLETELY IN THE
ASSASSINATION.


Northern cities, has not yet been given to
the public, but enough is published to indi-
cate the tendency Of what is kept back. The
following is the letter of Lieut.. Aston, pro-
posing the assassination to Davis, with the
memorandum upon it
MONTGOMERY WHITE SULPHUR
SPRINGS, Virginia. I
TO His Ercellency, President of The @. s. A.
DEAR SIR: have been thinking for some
time that would make this Communication
to you, but have been deferred from doing so
on account of ill-health. now offer you
my services, and II you will favor me in my
designs, will proceed, a. soon as my health
will permit, to rid my country Of some OF
her deadlest enemies, by striking at the
very hearts blood of those who seek to en-
chain her in slavery. ! consider nothing dis.
honorable having such tendency. All l
want Of you is to favor me by granting the
necessary papers to travel on, while in the
jurisdiction Of this government. am per-
fecuy familiar with the North, and feel con-
ident that | can execute anything that ] I'M
dertAke. | have just now returned from
within their lines. | am a lieutenant 10 Gen.
Dukes command. ! was on AFRAID last June
in Kentucky under Gen. John Morgan. |
and all my command except two or three
commissioned officers, were taken prisoners,
but finding good opportunity while being
taken to prison, ! made my escape from them.
10 the garb Of citizen | attempted to pass
out through the mountains, but finding that
mposslole--norrowly escaping two or three
times being retaken-drected my course
North, and went through the blockade but
having taken the yellow fever at Bermuda |
have been rendered unfit for service since
my arrival. l was reared up in the state Of
Alabama and educated in its University. The
Secretary of War and his Assistant, Judge
Campbell, are personally acquainted with my
father, William J. Aston, Of the Fifth Con-
gressional District of Alabama, having serv-
ed in the time Of the Congress in lS49, 1850
and 1851. Can do anything for you, |
shall expect your full confidence in return
II you give this, | can render you and my
country very important service Let me hear
from you soon. | am anxious to be doing
something, and having no command at pres
ent, all, or nearly all, being in garrison,
desire that you favor me in this a short time.
| would like to have personal interview
with you in order to perfect arrangements
before starting.
l am, very respectfully, your obi serv't.
l.. w. AL,ToN.
Address me at the Springs in hospital.
/ On the above letter were the following
endorsements
list. Brief of letter without sig"
ID Res pectfully referred by direction of
the President to Hon. Secretary Of War.
BURTON N. HARRISON,
Private Secretary.
Received November 30, 1864 Record
book Adjutant Generals office, December s,
1854"
Sd. :" A. G. for attention. By order of j.
A. Campbell, A. S. W"
New York, June 4.
The Cincinnati Commercial OF June % says
authority has just been given for the publi-
cation of dn additional installment of that
portion OF the testimony taken before the
Military Commission engaged in trying the
accomplices of Booth
Sanford CONQUER testified Fave resided
in Canada since October last F.; was conscript-
ed into the Confederate army and detailed to
service in the War Depar' ment OF the Con-
federacy, at Richmond, under John A. Sed-
don ; while in Canada was intimate with
George n. Sanders, Jacob Thompson, DR..
Blackburn, Tucker, William G. Cleary, Capt.
Gas tlemain Nh Cameron, Porteifeld, Capt.
Magruder and others. Also knew Clement
C. Clay and Gen. Carroll Of Tennessee
know Mr.. Surrat also, and J w. Booth, and
visited these gentlemen IN Canada saw Sur
rat there on several occasions last April in
Jacob Thompsons room, also in company
with g. n. Sanders and other rebels in Cana
da | saw him ABOUT the or 7th Of April
with Thompson, Sanders and Booth at that
time he delivered to Booth IN my presence
dispatches from Richmond to Thompson from
Ben amin aud from JEFF, Davis, the latter
either cipher dispatch or letter previous TO
this Thompson conyersed with mo upon the
subject of plot to assassinate President
Lincoln and Cabinet, of which gave notice
before the assassination in the MY. Tribune,
the paper for which | corresponded / had
been invited by Thompson to participate in
thai enterprise when Surratt delivered these
dispatches from Davis, Thompson laid bis
hand upon the papers, and sad-referring to
the ASSASSINATION and to the assent Of tho reb
ell authorities" This makes the thing al
right" The dispatches spoke of the persons
to be assassinated, viz Lincoln, Johnson
the Secretary of War, Secretary of State
Judge Chase and Gen. Grant. Mr.. Thomp'
son said on that occasion, the day befote
that the ASSASSINATION proposed Woulu leave
the government Of the United States entirely
without head that there no provision
in the Constitution OF the United States by
which they could elect another President
!, Mr. Weles was also named, but Mr.. Thomp
son said it was not worth while to kill him
Ny first interview with Thompson on tn,
subject Of the assassination was in the esrly
part OF February. He had commissions from
the rebel authorities for this work, and con
ferred one on Booth, or would confer one
Thompson told me that Booth had been com
: missioned, aud every man who would engage
in il would be. had conversation with
VIM. C. Cleary on the day before, or the dsl
! of the assassination, at st. Lawrence Hail.
We we're speaking Of the rejoicing in thu
states over the surrender of Lee and the cap
ture Of Richmond. Cleary said they woulC
have the laugh on the other sid OF theil
: mouths in day or two. | think this wal
the day before the assassination. He knew
was in the secret of the conspiracy it wal
; to that he referred. Assassination wa
spoken of among us commonly as the wealth
err. Before that Sanders asked me If knew
Booth very well, and expressed some appre-
hensinn that Rooth vyould rnaha a 6zzlA of IL