The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-10

ham, Present." and is much pocket-soiled.
The same applies to the following:
(Dl SATURDAY, A. M, June l, 1S67.-Dear
Sir; Your note is just received. Let your
counsel act as he deem best, taking advantage
OF every legal point which may be presented.
think the course proposed by them is all thatwe
want. Truly, j. NJ, ASHLEY.
Next we have the following;
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, July 8, 1867
My Dear Sir; have just seen your wife, and
have your letter. You may rest assured that
/ do not credit the false and stupid reports
made against you. If you had the letters 1
know you never would send copies to j..
II you can put the originals in my hands will.
say that no one shall take or destroy them
without your express order in writing, except
you are released. Will see your wife again
this evening. Respectfully, JIM. ASHLEY.
G. A. Dunham.
This note is not written in ink, but in pencil,
and though dated "House Reps" is upon a
half sheet of plain note paper, apparently torn
from some note which had been carried in the
rocket. It comes here in an envelope, super
scribed &c. A. Dunham, Esq, Prison." The
envelope also shows some apparently idle
scribbling.
F0 APRn 26, '67.-Dunham: 1t is all right.
The matter will rest for the present, or until
the thing is argued in May. You will not
leave The city ad interim. Mr.. A. will return
next week, when any other matters will be ad-
iusted. Yours, W. B. M.
This is written on a small scrap, in ink, su-
prescribed &c. A. Dunham, Present." On
still smaller and much soied scrap, in penctl,
but evidently by the same hand, is this memo
randum or explanation:
co. l. The Court cannot act without being
partiCepS criminiS.
2. Congress will, at the proper time, exercise
its power.
g. Witnesses will be first called before the
committee.
This, Mr.. President, completes the full and
literal recital of all the papers or other adhere
ing data before me. The parcel comprising
all but the pardon papers reached this office in
an envelope from the Executive Mansion, in
| dorsed, "Received from Mrs. Dunham, July
80, 1867" The papers having come from the
hands of a person whose application for par
don was undergoing official examination here,
| were, for very obvious reasons, associated
with it in considering the matter. Struck
| by their extraordinary character, yet remem-
bering in how unexpected and casual a
manner they had been received at the Execu-
| tive office, / Immediately determined that, un-
til l should have made this report, their quality
! and significance, whatever these may be-,
should remain unchanged by investigation, or
| by any extraneOus connection or association
whatever, not only of record, but, as far as
practicable, in my own mind. This course it is
necessary to bear in recollection in the act of
estimating the probable weight or value ofthe
allegations. Never having seen the hand
writing of the Hon. j. M. Ashley, l thought it
due to him that should not proceed without
acquiring notion of his genuine chirography.
l therefore exhibited that letter which was
written by Mr.. Ashley to recommend the par
don of Durham to gentleman acquainted
with his handwriting. The latter without hesi-
tation recognized that letter as genuine. The
others strikingly resemble it.
In conclusion, beg leave to express the
profound sensibility with which find myself
obliged to bring to the serious notice of the
President of the United States accusations and
papers which must occasion him painful en-
barrassment. They expose prominent men,
bers of the Legislature of the Union to
the shocking suspicion of having conspired
with convicted perjurer for stupen-
dous imposition, first upon the House OF
Representatives, then upon the people, and
then upon the Senate of the United States,
for the purpose of effectiDg the Impeachment
and removal from Office of President of the
United States. solely upon suborned testimony.
l need not say how greatly astonished man
kind would be was it charged that q scheme so
abominable was heightened still by the pecu-
liar wickedness Of attempting to induce the
intended victim himself, through appeals to
his clemency, to qualify by pardon, with
consequent competency to act and testify, the
principal instrument of the imposture.
But, impossible as the existence of such a
conspiracy may seem, is not the President ex-
posed to a grave accountability for whatever
consequences may possibly follow an in
credulity far too generous in the premises, to
be indulged merely because these adVentitious
data have been thrust upon his casual notice
by party who has been dishonored by q
criminal verdict, but who is still, in the ex-
pressed opinion of competent professional
persons, qualified to be vehicle of truth in Q
court of justice?
] thus lay the whole matter before your Elk
cellency for your better judgment. In the
meantime the application for pardon will bC
suspended.
Very respectfully, your Obedient servant,
JOHN NJ. BRINCKLEY,
Acting Attorney General.
To Andrew Johnson, President of the United
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