Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-06-07
Knoxville, Tenn, June 2, 1865.

We have felt constrained to express our convic-
ton, that, inasmuch as jeff Davis exhibited, under
his hand anxiety for the success of the rebel
plot TO employ secret agents for the destruction Of
all the important Federal cities and the Federal
shipping, he was certainly bad enough and unscru-
puloue enough TO engage as he is charged with hav
ing done, in the conspiracy 10 murder President
Lincoln, Vice-President johnson, and the Federal
Cabinet and Generals. But II happens that VIC are
not left 10 mere inference upon this subject A doc
lment, captured with tho rest Of the Confederate
archives, shoWs that an assassination scheme for the
benefit Of the Confederacy was proposed directly TO
Mr.. Davis last November, and that instead Of re-
jecting il with horror he gave il his consideration,
and referred II respectfully to his Secretary Of War
In this matter, rs in the conaagraton project, his
only fear evidently was that an attempt if made,
might fail.
Among Our Geographic dispatches the other day
was letter OF j. W. Aston TO Davis. II was found
In the archve- Of the Confederate State at Mont
gomery. Though VIC have already published it, we
reproduce it here;
WHITE SULPHUR SrRINGs, Va.
10 his Ecceltency Jefferson Darts:
have been thinking for some time would take
this communication TO you but have been deferred
from doing SO on account of i'll health. ! now Of
fer my services, and if you will favor me in my de-
signs, will proceed to rid my country of some of
her deadlest enemies by striking at the very hearts
blood Of those who seek TO enchain her in slavery.
consider nothing dshonorable having such ten
dency All l ask is TO favor me by granting the
necessary papers TO travel on while in tho urisdic-
!ion Of this government. | am perfectly familiar
With the North, and feel confident ] can execute
anything undertake. ] am still in Gen. Duke
command. ] was in the raid last summer under
Morgan. | and all except twenty-three officers
were prisoners, but, finding good opportunity
while being taken to prison, made my escape from
them in the garb Of citizen. / attempted TO pass
out through the mountains but finding that impos-
sible, narrowly escaping two or three times being
rstaken, directing my north and west through
Canada. BY the assistance Of Col. Hacome | sue
ceeded in making my way through the blockade,
and having taken the yellow fever at Bermuda, |
have been rendered unfit for service since my arri-
val. If do anything for you, shall expect your
confidence in return. IT, you give this can render
you and my country very important service, Let
me hear from you soon. | am anxious 10 be doing
something, and having no command at present-all,
or nearly all being in garrisonI desire you to ia
vor me in this for short time. | would desire to
have personal interview with you, to perfect ar
rsngements before starting.
am very respectfully your servant,
j. w. ALsToE.
Address me at the Springs in hospital.
On the back of this letter was President Davis
endorsement as follows:
Lieut.. Aston offers his services to his country to
rid it of its deadliesi epemias
nespecTTuuy referred by order of the President to
the Secretary of War for attention.
By order Of j, A. Campbell, A. &. w.
b. II. HARRISON, Private Secretary.
Here was letter, plainly and undisguisedly pro-
posing to Davis that the leading spirits of the war
on the Federal side should be got rid of by secret
murder and yet he, far from being shocked at the
horrid Offer far from rebuking and denouncng it
as tho endsh thing that it was respectfully refer
rcd it to his Secretary of War for attention.
This shows beyond all denial what the ex-Presi-
dent of the Contederacy was and is. 1t shows that
he was entirely capable of completely in the late
murder and attempt at murder in Washington
Whether his guilt in that murder and that attempt
can DO fully established by documents or witnesses
or both, we shall probably soon know In the
meantime, if his worshipors have 10 give up their
idol, they had better emigrate to that part Of the
world whore Devil worship is the established rcli-
gion--LouiSciLls Journal.