The New York herald., 1867-12-22
IN MP FAC NJ z Mt.

Letter from Hon. J. M. Ashley.
[From the Toledo ,Ohsol Blade, Dec 10 mr. Ashlsys
Congressional District
WASHINGTON CRY, Dec. 13, 1907.
EpnoR BIADH-I suppose u win be conceded that
representative entitled, whom assailed, hearing
and 10 fair dealing, least party press
Every fair man will conceds that representative who
devotes his time. talents and means to arrsgning and
bringing 70 justice an admitted political criminal ought
not TO DO assaed by his own party without the best OF
reasons, even though hs committed blundsn. and in
his zeal did acts which the more prudent might say
they ndiscree and give utterance In moments OF
exctsmsnt TO suspicious which no evidence could be
found 70 fully sustain.
scapsgoat, and have been selected BY the anti-im-
peachen TO bear on their sins and to divert public a
sension from the stupid Inconsistencies o. the panic
most noisy Tor impeachment when first proposed and
up the moment when the committee reported in its
against t. without reading either the evidence the
reports-not because the charges made were not all
fully sustained by unquestoned testimony, but they
Allege, because charges which never made were
In no public speech which I ever made did ever
charge Mr. johnson with completely the assassination
plot In my public speeches have been far moro reti-
cent this question than any Of the gentlemen who
10 it in public addresses, have only stated what wsro
my Impressions and suspicious On the 7th Of March,
when introducing, without the alteration Of word the
same charges and specifications above quoted referred
the assassination In the speech which then made
under more than ordinary sxesmsnt U course no one
charged with completely In the assassination
As made no such charge did not. when presenting
particularly TO that matter any fact thought
to be material the matter Of the ASSASSINATION
stated BY witness during the Investigation and before
the expiration Of tho Thity.nnth Congress such state
ment carefully excluded by the committee from
and % with the
also charned a that time with the investigation OF the
assassination conspiracy The very fact that ths Judc
peachment record and preserved II With the aseassna
lion evidence and handed over TO the Butler Assassin
that neither the committees nor myself looked upon nv
impeachment resolution - charging assassination
Asa representative ! am accountable for my onical
acts and uttsrances but not for private opnions
have prvatcy expressed the opinion that Harrison and
Taylor were foully taken on ! never intmated how
Fillmore. in the Conspiracy nor that Breckln-
ridge cooperated with those who attempted the life Of
Tnst from tie first suspected Mr. johnson OF guilty
knowledge Of the assassination 10 true, and have
psaedy said In private conversation that events had
transpired his inauguration tending TO confirm me
General ioan OF Missouri the only representative,
the floor OF the house with completely the great
crime Of assassination.
fact that the night Of Mr. Lncoln's murder there
were hundrsd armed men In this city % Operate
nSo~n T Erasnc. vSsa csssos b dspus.d hss - .."S
been made b. the government % arrest and bring to
justice any one OF the consprators now at large Surra
enc. q the a. was shown in The rpor,
OF the judiciary Committee submitted BY Mr. Wood.
bridge and it is believed BY many that be will never be
convicted because the government refuses neglects
to conduct the ~ they would an ordinary suit In.
vovipg few thousand dollars II u believed by many
tho conviction VI Surrau would lead 70 disclosures
which would lin the veil which today conesals eps
shields many Of the conspirators Hence ths tzra-
ordinary efforts 10 prevent his conv1cti6k
do not dsguiDc the fact that am, ard have beeu
anxious 70 obtain any evidence which Mould tend to un
raysl the hssassnaon pie. 10 obtain evidence on this
Subject sss: s,s;S .s %ss and much
FOR N. . E. could ssa wsss
rs name! q "no:s s %
getting - the truth about the assassination OF Mr. Lin
%0 sss g 4 10 sS g
me expectation and assurance Of receiving letters
written By DAVIS, johnson and others, who
alleged had guilty knowledge OF the assassination
and that these letters were in the handwriting Of the
the same circumstances would visit any prison To-.
morrow. And here and now permit me to say that the
m or soy ons or me- or or anu mewbsr n ss
mites, with drasgug into the light the statement Of
periurer that Or any one for me. sought
false statement No having any regard for
the truth who knows anything Of the facts in this Inn
Committee would ever have made such an utterly un
founded charge a the above
have gone through long, laborious and thankless
Tight entered into IL with great reluctance and only
because believed IL 70 BE- an imperative duty. have
been assalsd and maligned without scruple by the
ions OF Executive power and have either been msun-
derstood or purposey misrsprsssnted by those whom
regarded friends while professsd republican journals
might sst siost and many Of these journals seem 70
regret that they cannot fastsn upon me dshonor-
able act That have essn dsspPonsed e sss IN mot
doubledly be obtained, and which, being the hand
writing OF the parties promised TO reveal much OF The
assassination plot nado such ssalemsp pub
cly however for fear OF failure Conscious that have
act In pursung this unpleasant invcst ga,iop,
content 70 bids NV lime. have tssn often and un.
Justly assacd but time has viadioassd me- | have
faith TO bshevs that shall again be vadcasi ever and
hwJa
Truth enemy wins q defeat with victory.
The facts adduced BY the Judiciary Commlssse viii
inenaceabe record, and the verdict OF history
and misdemeanors as charged, and in sdd,siss. that
be became the ally OF the authors Of the rebellion and
ought 20 have been mpsachsd on The charge: ma.
majority Of tho abest lawyers the Judiciary Commit
tee, who carefully and patiently investigated The case
for nearly . year, fully believe and % reported.
A large majority Of the legal nswspapsr press North
and south, and majority OF The Thirty ninth Congress-
Forte,h Congress could have been convened imme.
dIaeiy after the removal Of Secretary Stanton no ons
dietary Comms.e and voted 20 msch The s,Ss1c. .c
then before the committee has been strengthened by
additional facts sisce while the defiant attitude Of Mr..
johnson has remained unchanged and yet mon who
a. the July session were for Impeachment voted
against IT,
Almost every republican nswspaper was outspoksn
for impeachment whom Mr.. Stanton removed and
anumbcr Of Representatives who voted asa,nst u were
also known ITO have privately and publicly the suup
expressed themselves IL Its favor.
me elections and the financial condton Of The couu
try produced reaction which ended In dsgracsful
panic can only ken " 20 the senseless panic Bull
Run, when both armies the retreat Il Same
time. Reverses ~ slect'ons end financial smbarrass
mcnts may do much, ~ We have seeu. 10 demoraIixs
party but they cannot chsnse facts alter the force
Of legal evidences. am eompsllsd on my oath 70 vote
the facts and evidences ~ presented and against
and evidence either because the elections have
disappointed me or bscauss Of Q financial panic
How those who have bcen unQualnedIy for Mr.
Johnsons Impeachment, and even now declare that on
the evidence presented he ought 70 be mpeached have
able In the negative, and through the press
10 pronounce promptly against without reading the
evidence the reports OF the committee,
ioss 10 understand uness admit that thsy all
the influence Of general panic
do hesitate 70 say that iAs report Of sbe JsdIc