New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-23
THE HON j. M ASHLEY on IHPE1cU
MENT

SIR: Permit me to correct a singular misap
prehenson, II not a systematic and deliberately Planned
misrepresentation, Of my Impeachment record.
ltls alleged by the newspaper press very generally
that one OF the specifications accompanying my mpeseh
ment resolution charges Mr. Johnson with completely IN
the assassination OF Mr.. Lincoln.
Nothing be further from tho truth The foIiowi,,
is copy Of the specifications and resolution:
The Clerk read the proposition of Mr. Ashley Of Ohio
which is IA follows
The 1led 81 states Of high crimes ani msiegeaHots
IN Tat be has ooruptY used the pardoning boaer
In that he has coruPtly used the veto power;
In that 10 has eoruP'y disposed Of public PnPs q IA Uati
eorrupv u,erfered in elections, sai .put.s At.
which contemplation Of tie Constitution are high crimes s0
h Resord Committee Judiciary b. ard t,y.rs
resident Of The United states dharias tie Pocr sud ,t
whether their opinion vi The sad ASiTs j I ia %
sabe f p i 5s' sa ere desasd Q, easte 70 oeIfs
% e thereof and whether The said Andrew johnson tls bess
temptation Of the Constitution are high erres e,
,s % o. .os constitutional poeer Of ti' bou'e and bot
@ the c rave s e send for soSs and papers I'D % aHs
majority Of tho judiciary Committee COMPOSED OF
able and experienced lawyers. after careful and labor
Gus investigation report that they find from The evidence
before them that the charges and specifications az made
are true.
In no public address did charge Mr. johnson with
completely in the assassination
The strongest language ever used In any speeeh in
reference TO that subject the floor of the House Of
Representatives. lam reported The Globe a. folows
.Sir, man of Mr. JOhnsOn's antecendents Of his men
tai and moral caber coming into tho Presidency ne
came INTO -ahd say nothing now OF The dark Suspicion
which crept over the minds Of men TO his completely in
the assassination plot nor Of the fact that cannot
Danish from my mind the mysterious connection between
death aud reaehery which this case preents say such
man, in view Of all that has happened, coming INTO he
PRESIDENTIAL Office as he came into IL, ought to have
walked Win uncovered bead and very huInby before the
loyal men Of this nation and their Representates in the
session KIN Congress, March T. '''y'
have always been very retcent this subject when
making public addresses, all who have heard pe can
testify.
With my private opinions and suspicious on any sub
ject, neither the Judiciary Committee, nor the public.
have any business. Ny official acts and public utter.
snces are legitimate subjects Of criticism
answered the questions put to me by members q tho
Judiciary Committee which had no possible connection
with the charges had made In the House. and which
they were alone authorized to investigate. because 1
thought better to do than to raise any question to
their right thus to nterogate me, and because had
conceaments to make.
II would have been just competent for them 70 ha7s
Intercepted about my overland trip California or
to have questioned me about what said privately Brig
mEYoung, or what thought Of the country, 1t
for them TO inerrogate me- they did, about what had
said privately to members Of the House Of Mr. Johnson
and his usurpatOns, OF my suspicious as 10 his completely
In the assassination plot.
have never sought to disguise the fact that have
visited more than prison under the promise OF re-
ceiying important documentary evidence about the
assassination, and under like circumstances am ready
to do again would, without hesitation, hold utter.
course with any convicted feon even IL murderer on
the assurance that documentary evidence would be
placed in my hands which would unvaI the conspiracy
which resulted In Mr. Lncolns DEATH and would do
If Of exnired. Ia a
only through such sources great crimes exposed
Certainly, would expect to obtain such information
from honest Honest men not often privy TO
premedltated murders.
The assassination plot is now well known to have been
widespread conspiracy The evidence before the mill
tary commission the trial OF the assasns disclosed the
fact that hundred armed in this c the night
OF Mr. Lincon's murder ready, needed, to engage in
that great crime.
The Judiciary Committee Iof the XXXIXth Congress
authorized 10 investigate the subject Of asassns
ton any evidence touching the matter OF the asass
nation came out on the impeachment investigation It
was carefully excluded by the Committee from the im.
parchment record and preserved cih the assassination
testimony
After Gen. Buffers special committee on assassination
appointed all the evidence which had been collected
by the judiciary Committee that subject Whchs very
yOluminOus handed to the Special Assassina
ton Committee. Whatever had come OF has since
to my knowledge Of supposed Importance touching that
subject have promptly communicated TO Gen. Butler.
felt IL my duty to do.
For aiding the assassination investigation in my
way and at my own expense, am assaed in most dis
creditabe by Republican journals and charged
with attempt to the testimony OF convicted feOus
to impeaoh Mr.. johnson. The truth is, that no known
disrepuabe witness before the Committee 40
my request, did present any statement 70 the
Committee from felon, any subject, as the record
will show.
have been anxious for the arrest and conviction Of
some OF the principal conspraors before court OF COM
peent Jurisdiction confident that such result would
lead to full expose OF the entire plot. All Who are
accessory either before after the fact would then be
subject to indictment and conviction the same test-
mony which convicted one Of the principals.
have labored TO complete expose OF this con-
splracy, not because 1t necessary TO sustain the
Impeachment charges which had made, but because
believed 1t to be the duty Of any when such state
ments are made 10 him as have been made to me- u
examine them, and satisfy himself TO their truth or
alslty have no apology TO offer for anything
have said or done officially. All ask IS to be iudgedy
the publle record have made. J. VI. ASHLEY.
Washington Dec IS, 1857.
Ia a