The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-15
CONOVER.

When Doctor FAUsTUs sold his soul to the evil
one, he not only made mistake as to principle,
but he exposed himself to great personal incon-
venience. MEPH1sToPu1IEs was always at hand,
jogging his elbow or threatening him with expo
sure As with sales so with purchases. They
are sometimes very troublesome. We remember
to have heard shrewd friend of ours say that
once, out West, he owned judge and he found it
O. very poor investment. When HOLT and STANTON
bought SANFORD CoNovER, they made proftless
purchase-for from lime to time he stands grimly
in their presence, and like the ghost Of a better
man, will not stdown at their bidding" CoNoyEn
has recently reappeared in very ghastly form.
A more atrocious scheme Of yillainy, perjury,
and subornation of perjury, than this never was
devised. II there is any competent officer Of JUS
tice in the District Of Columbia, there should not
be moments hesitation on this evidence in initi-
ating prosecution for conspiracy against ASH
LEY, HOLT, BUTLER, MATcHET and CONovER. 1t
would be striking spectacle to have the impeach-
ers indicted and an Executive requisition on Mas
sachusetts and Ohio for BUTLER, and ASHLEY as
fugtives from justice. There is no difficulty as to
HOLT, who is on the spot and can be taken at any
time. CoNovER, also, is on hand.
HOLT especially cherished him. He manufac-
tured witnesses then, just as he says he has been
asked to do lately. Then came the catastrophe.
His confederates 1--WE do not mean HOLT alone)
turned against him. He was exposed, tried, con-
victed and sentenced to penal servitude for per-
jury. No doubt he was guty-no doubt he de-
served all he got-bnt it don't lie in the mouth Of
I. &o Nor
he. He has kind feeling toward CoNovER. He
did not want to make him desperate. He was like
GILBERT GLossN with the murderer and snug
gler in Guy MANNER1NG (absit omen), and acccor-
dinghy We find that no sooner is CoNovER finally
sentenced, and tho Albany Penitentiary
yawning to receive him, than HOLT hoists friend
ly signal and recommends this doublo-dyed villain
for a pardon. 1t was beautiful terceh this inter-
cession for CoNovER. ASHLEY begins piano. 81
think MI; DuSnAM (mark the Mr.. y is clearly en-
titled to pardon" Then follows RIDDLE cres-
cendo, s'It seems tome that for his services ID the
Government should mark its appreciation OF them
in way not to be mistaken" Lastly comes HOLT
con .forza-stronger than them all. Thus he de-
scribes the pe1jured CoNovER, tho liar whom he
had himself convicted: ellis services seem to
have been performed in the interest of TRUTH and
Justice, and his disclosures should be accepted as
proof of his repentance, and as an atonement to
the law" Ono shuddcrs at tho thought Of him
who writes these words, and him Of whom they
are written. The dead riso up and gibber at them.
Now here let us, for moment, pause on fca-
ture of this dark transaction which, perhaps, has
not attracted casual attention. Let it be remem-
bered that the attempt Of ASHLEY and his con-
foderate to persuade the President to pardon
CoNovER, was made when they thought he could
be induced 10 mplicate Mr.. JOHNSON in the mur
der of LINCOLN. In plain English they ask the
President by his pardon to restore competency to
witness who has promised them to perjuro him
SELF anew and to testify against his bene-
factor. CoNovEh. is to 60 before the I'm.
peachment Committee to swear away the
character of the President with the
Presidents pardon in his hand Such par
don would have been a great endorsement. It
would have been what we believe lawyers call an
estople. 1este meipso to SANFORD CoNovER's
"truth," ANDREW JOHNSON could not have said o