Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-01-24
Tne Somce or ihe Impeaehment

The National Republican, at Wash.
ington, makes such an exhibit of the
would.be impeacher of the President
as indicates that he himself is not
wholly immaculate as q public man,
and seeing the position in which he is
himself placed by the following, il
probably is on the theory that "mis-
cry loves company" that be seeks to
draw Mr. johnson into the category
with himself:
The Ohio impedcher.-"IIe that is
without sin among you, let him cast
the first stone" On Monday Mr.
Ashley, Of Ohio, arose in his place in
the House of Representatives and
charged the President with high crimes
and misdemcanors, and asked that he
be impeached. at was a painful du.
ty," and ho had, during the recess OF
Congress, besought various members
Of tho House TO perform IT, We sup
pose he sought to find one who could
meet the requirement we have quoted
at the beginning of this article. We
presume that that which rendered tho
duty so painful TO him was the fact,
well known to the House and TO ali
who have read the records Of the
Thirty-seventh Congress, that he could
not meet that requirement which our
Savior demanded of those who would
take the reputation and life Of their
fcllow-being.
We had road the record, whom II was
made by committee of the House
proving the Hon. J. NJ. Ashley guilty
OF official conduct that ought to have
disgraced him in the eyes of his con.
stituency forever. This record is to
be found in Report No. AZ Of the Sd
session of the 37th Congress-the ro.
port of a select committee. made on
February %, 1868, by Hon. II. G.
Blake, chairman. 1t appears from
this document, which is quite volumin-
GUS, that Mr. Ashley was only saved
from Impeachment by a flaw in the
indictment. lie was charged with
corrupt official conduct sin procuring
the appointment Of f. NJ. Case as Sur.
veyor General Of the Territory of Col
orado for consideration previously
made
The letters of Ashley and others,
produced before the committee. and
the testimony of witnesses, printed in
their report, develop as much corrup-
ton as large-sized Congrcssman's
skin could hold but the committee
came to the conclusion that "the con
sideration' was not exactly proved TO
have been previously agreed upon, -
and therefore the charge was dropped.
This was during tho rebellion, and at
that time Mr. Ashley was very zeal
GUS in the cause of the war "to pre-
serve the Union" Ho managed. un-
der those circumstances, to get a re-
election.
We have not the space today to
give that amount of the testimony
bearing upon the case which ought to
be repubished in view of the action of
the great impeachcr.
Among the letters which appear in
the committees printed report is one
from Ashley to Case, dated February
I'd, 1861, in which he dwclls upon the
Importance and advantages of the Of
fee, Surveyor General of Colorado
Territory saying that il would ena-
bic q good business man to make a
fortune Of $4,000 or 100000, and in
this letter he Ashley says: 81 want
my brother as chief clerk"
In letter dated March II, 1861.
Ashley informs Case that he had made
some progress, and that sin order to
secure;the Indiana delegation and SEN
ator Lane to operate on Smith, he had
promised that the sub-appointments
should be made jointly, he giving
them their first choice" He asks for
a letter authorizing him to make such
a pledge, He also says to Case. in
his letter, that ne wants tounito with
him as full partner in oil land spec.
ulatlons and town sites. Here. in
deed, is an immaculate impeacher.
Ihpro aro said 20 bo t,,..,,4.- a..