Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-08-29
8. Witnesses will first be called before the com


mittee. sa -r ..E
'This, Mr.. President, completes the full and Lit.
eral recital of oil the papers or other adhering data
before me. The parcel, comprising all but the
pardon papers, reached this Office in an envelope
from the Executive Mansion, endorsed Received
from Mrs. Dunham, July 30, 1857 The papers
having come from the hands Of person whose
application for pardon was undergoing official ex-
animation here were, for very obvious reasons, as
socated with it in considering the matter. Struck
by their extraordinary character, yet, remembering
in how unexpected and casual manner they had
been received ut the Executive Office, immedi-
atey determined, that until should have made
this report their qualityan significance, whatever
these may be, should remain unchanged by inves'
tigation, or by any extraneous connection or asso
citation whatever, not only Of record but, as far as
practicable, in my own mind. This course itisne
cessary to bear in recollection in the act of estma
ting the probable weight or value of the allegation
There is, indeed, one exception to this. Never
having seen the handwriting of the Hon. j. NJ.
Ashley, thought it due to him that I should moi
proceed without acquiring notion Of his genuine
chirography. I, therefore, exhibited that letter
which was written by Mr.. Ashley, to recommend
the pardon of Dunham, to gentleman acquainted
with his handwriting. The latter, without hesita-
ton, recognized that letter as genuine. The 9th
ers strikingly resemble it.
+ 'sIn conclusion, I beg leave to express the pro-
found sensibiity with which I find myself obliged
to bring to the serious notice of the President Oh
the United States, accusations and papers which
must occasion him painful embarrassment. They
expose prominent members of the Legislature Of
the Union to the shocking suspicion of having con:
spired with a convicted perurer for stupendous
imposition upon the House of Represents
tives, then upon the people, and then upon the
Senate of hhe United States for the purpose Of ef
fecting the impeachment and removal from Office
of President of the United States, solely upon
suborned testimony. I need not say with what as
tonishment mankind would hear it charged that O
scheme so abominable, was heightened still by the
peculiar wickedness of attempting to induce the
intended victim himself, through appeals to his
clemency, to qualify by pardon, with subsequent
competency to act and testify the principal instru
ment Of the imposture! But, improbable as the
existence Of such conspiracy may seem is not the
President exposed to grave accountability fol
whatever consequences may possibly follow an in
credulity too generous in the premises, to be in
dulged merely because these adventtious data have
been thrust upon his casual notice by party who
has been dishonored by criminalverdict, but who
still, in the expressed opinion of competent profes
sional persons, is qualified to be vehicle Of truth
in court Of justice?
I thus lay the whole matter before your Excel
lency, for your better judgment. In the mean
time the application for pardon will be suspended
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
." .. ".. JOHN NJ. BINCKLEY,
-.s. -' Acting Attorney General.
To Andrew johnson, President Of the Unitet