The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-23
IMPEACHMENT.


Panic.
From the Toledo (Ohio) Blade, Dec I9
WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. 13. Editor Blade:-I
suppose IL will be conceded that Representa-
tive Is entitled, when assailed, to hearing and
to fair dealing at least from his own party press
Every fair man will concede that Representa-
tive who devotes his time talents, and means TO
arraigning ana bringing to justice an admitted
political criminal, ought not to be assalled by
his own party without the best of reasons even
though he committed blunders, and, in his zeal
did acts which the more prudent might say
were indiscreet, and gave utterance, in moments
OF excitement, to suspicious which no evidence
could be found to fully sustain.
In no public speech which | ever made did !
ever charge Mr.. Johnson with completely in the
assa sinaiion plot. In my public speeches I
have been far more reticent on this question
than any of the gentlemen who have been
speaking with me, and when have alluded to
1t in public addresses, have only stated what
were my impressions and suspicious. On the
7th of March, when introducing, without the
alteration of a word, the same charges aud
specifications above quoted, referred TO the
assassination in the speech which then made
under more than ordinary excitement. OF
course no one will claim that In what then
said Mr. johnson is charged with completely IN
the assassination.
As ] made no such charge, did not, when
presenting evidence TO the Committee, direct
the attention OF witnesses particularly to that
matter.
l have privately expressed the opinion that
Harrison and Taylor were tOully taken off. [
never intmated, however, that either of the
Yice-Presdents, John Tyler or Fillmore, were
in the conspiracy, nor that BreCknrdge CO.
operated with those who attempted the life
OF Buchanan by poison.
That from the hrst suspected Mr.. Johnson of
guilty knowledge of the assassination is true,
and have repeatedly said in private conversa-
ton, that events had transpued since mis- in
auguration tending to confirm me in that suspi-
cion.
General Loan, of Missouri, is the only Repre-
| hnlipVp.
charged Mr.. Johnson on the floor OF the House
with completely in the great crime of assassina-
ton.
The testimony on the a. sassination trials dis.
closed the fact that, on the night Of Mr. Lin
coln's murder, there were hunuTed armed men
In this city TO cooperate with the conspirators
in the horrible work OF assassination. That II
was a wide spread conspiracy is now well
known. Evidence which cannot be disputed has
established that fact. No effort worthy of the
name has ever been made by the Government to
arrest and bring to justice any one OF the con-
spTators now at large. Surratt was captured
and brought home despite the indifference Of
the administration as was shown in the report
OF the Judiciary Committee submitted by Mr..
Woodbridge, and it is believed by many that he
will never be convicted, because the Government
refuses or neglects to conduct the case rs they
would an ordinary suit involving few thou
sand dollars. 1t is believed by many that the
conviction of Surratt would lead to disclosures
which would lit the veil which to day con-
ceal and shields many of tue consDirators.
UenCe tuS cAtIdOIulndIy SuOIJ5 W prevent us
conviction.
do rot disguise the fact that am, and have
be en-, anxious to obtain any evidence which
would tend to unravel the assassination plot,
To obtain evidence on this subject, | have tra-
yelled many miles and spent much time, and
visited more than one prison. If a criminal,
whose execution was fixed for tomorrow, should
send for me tonight, assuring me that he could
and would put me in possession of written evil
dence, and give me the names OF persons whose
testimony would aid in getting at the truth
about the assassination of MIR. Lincoln, would
most certainly 60 at once, and should go If MIR.
johnson had ceased to be President. When
visited the PRISON in this city, it was with
ceiving letters written by Davis, johnson,
and others, who, 1t was alleged, had
q guilty knowledge of the assassination,
and that these letters were in the handwriting
of the parties named, and would establish that
! fact. Under the same circumstances l would
! visit any prison tomorrow. And here, and now,
! permit me to say that the reckless assertion is
| without foundation which charges me, or auy
! one for me, or for any member of the committee,
with dragging into the light the statement OF
any perjurer, or that !, or any one for me, ever
sought to parade before the public, or before the
having any regard for the truth, who knows any
thing OF the facts in this impeachment case or
has read my statement before the committee,
! would ever have made such an utterly unlounded
charge as the above.
have gone through long, laborlous, and
! thankless fight. / entered into it with great
reluctance, ana only DeCdube DeileNeu ~ 10 De
an imperative duty. 1 have been assailed and
maiened without scruple by the minions oi
! Executive power, and have either been misun-
| derstood or puTposelY misrepresented by those
| whom | regarded as friends while pTolessed
| Republican journals exult over every sensation
paragraph any penny-a-liner may set afoat and
| many OF these journals seem to regret that they
1 cannot fasten upon me some dishonorable act
| That have been disappointed Is true in moi
getting a number Of letters which / supposed
would undoubtedly be obtained, and which
being in the handwriting OF the parties, pro
missed to reveal much OF the assassination plot
| never made any such statement publicly, how
ever, Tor fear OF failure. Conscious that have
done no act in pursuing this unpleasant nvesti
| cation, inconsistent with my duty as a Repre-
sentative, am content to bide my time. l have
been often and unjustly assailed, but time ha
Vindicated me.
The facts adduced by the Judiciary COMMITTEES
will make an ninefaCeablerecord,a and heverdct o
history will be that Andrew johnson was guilty
of "hieh crimes and misdemeanors,n as charged
and, in addition, that he became the ally of thu
authors of the Rebellion, and attempted tt
secure their restoration to power. That III
ought to have been impeached on the charge
made, a majority of the ablest lawyers on th
JUDICIARY Committee, who carefully and pa
tiently Investigated the case for nearly year
fully bel eve, and so reported.
Almost every Republican newspaper was out
spok en- for impeachment when MIR. Stanton wa
removed, aud number of Representatives VIII
voted against 1t were also known to have pr
Vaieiy and publicly on the stump eXpresse
themselves in its favor.
The elections and the financial condition @
the country produced reaction which ende
ip disgraceful panic. | can only liken 1t {
the senseless panic at Bull Run, when bot
, armies were on the retreat at the same tint
Reyerses at elections and financial embarras
ments may do much, as we have seen, to demo