The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-12

.,.piracy Of EmpcacherS Against
,,c rrcsidcnt-Attclnpt TO SnbOrn
witnesses 10 Convict tho President
=, completely with Booth 10 Assas-
.ina,c Mr. Lincoln.
WASHINGTON, July 90, 1867.
ri. jE> Ercn4cncy Andre1o Johnson, PrcSi-
.9:of the Jnited States:
n applying to your Excellcncy for par
Am ! lad not intended to offer any dis
|,@>n~cs concerning the plotting of Your
,.,rfcs against you which could be re-
ravdcd as an induccment for granting my
ss,rrra;ion. instructed my wife in pre-
wing the petition to refer to the cor
S,.~,cT or Ashley s Co., so far only as
t-N, arpear necessary TO remove any I'M
%:7rd,v feeling that might have been en-
..,FrrrG within You toward me by the
.w<,,9rr reports that | had engaged to
vI,,r enemies il their ncfariouS de-
signs.
.rr services l had rendered the Govern
r.r~t. As certified by Judge Holt, the Hon.
H. Middle. and Mr.. Ashley, would, in
,rr- view and judgement, render me de-
ewing Executive clcmcncy, and because
= desired that it should appear on the re-
,-r.i and on the face Of my pardon, that
c,.mr0cy had been extended TO MT solely
- .~.q.;dcratioa Of my services to the Go
,s~~,nc.:. and exclusively on the recon-
,.cnsa,ion Of prominent Radicals, to the
.-f ,la, when | should come to expose
,.a .,rocior> plot Of Ashley < Co., the
rs:jcals would not be in 4 position or able
charge me with doing 50 in c~onsidera-
INN Of = pardon, or that the President had
,,-5nacd me on condition Of my implica-
.,- lis enemies in On Infamous conspi-
-acv.
F~om the moment | was forced into asso-
.s,ion with these traitors and conSpira-
,.-< determined, as soon as | should be
-r,easrd, to place in the hands of your
Eyccl.ency, or lay before the public 4
complete exposure Of their diabolical de-
.sra, and most astounding proceedings.
This. ! believed, would DO my sacred duty,
tr although accused Of crime, | am not
.I destitute of honor and patriotism os not
20 feel some interest in and obligations TO
n c0C1trv.
The interest these persons have felt, and
.ac efforts they have made, (Which would
lave succeeded ere this butfor the blunder
o.. one Of thcm,) and which they still pro-
pose - make ior my release + 81, | know
were prompted by the most selfish mo-
lives. in order that they might use me as
N Instrument 70 accomplish their dcvilish
designs. and | shall not therefore be guilty
II inrraiitutc in abandoning and exposing
,Ncir yjilajoy.
NJ wife has, | believe, explained to you
&1w Ashley, first through his man Friday,
Ns.car;,, ani aftcrward in person, ma
.accd - make known TO me his wishes,
a.1s, &al purposes, and enlist meas far
q, forced promise would go-in his en-
:g~p.isc. | Shall, therefore, only advert
l-." 70 some things which have been said
AMI done by the conspirators, which are
susceptible OF being proved against them
ir the most irrciragiblc evidence.
After obtaining my promise torender all
,sr assistance in my power, Mr.. Ashley
s.pIainci to me the kind OF evidence he
.aorgh: it most advisable to present against
yra. Il must be very bricf.) He thought
would be very plausible TO prove:
l,,. That Booth had on cvcraloccasions
...a! vgu familiar visits at the lakewood.
tbs. il was hoped, | might be able to in
..er some Of the old female servants to
testify T.. II this could not be done, then
!. should, be proved by some of my friends
who happened to be at the house at the
time, who knew Booth, ETC., and saw the
visits.
u. That you co~rresponded with Booth,
which should be shown by one or more
person, who had taken notes from Booth
% YOU, and your replies contents I'M
..ywu1 thereto 10 Booth. The witnesses
should lie persons who profess to have
been intimate with Booth, and to have
been enlisted b. him to take part in the
assassination.
Il. That the placing Of Atzerodt with
w.aUoos Al the Kirkwood was only q
.aam although AtzerCdt was not aware
@. ito make it appear that you were
Intended as 9 victim, and thus distract all
suspicion from o Of c0nniviDg at Lin
coins murder. This also, it was suggest
I'd, could be proved by persons who could
testify that they had been induced to enter
.@.o the conspiracy with Booth, and had
rer.ormed a part in organizing 1t, &C.;
~.ich persons, il was to be understood,
ere induced to testify under an assn
..3cc from the Government that they
.aould not be prosecuted for any part they
Lad taken.
The resolution under which Buffers
committee was appointed, it will be OBJ
served, provides for the protection of such
ne.soas-who are furnished with a good
excuse for not coming forward be-
D:c-by Offering immunity to all who were
connected with the conspiracy, who will
now come forward and disclose their
knowledge on the subject.
4;h. That Booth, just after the 4th Of
March, stated TO intimate friends in New
York, whom he c~ndeavored to enlist in the
conspiracy, that he was acting with the
knowledge of the Nice-President that it
lad been arranged to kill Lincoln on the
Jay Of the inauguration, which would &C
cs4@, for Mr.. Johnson's strange conduct
Oh that occasion, which had provoked SO
@4cA comment III the press that you ex-
.4ctet the tragedy to be enacted then,
40 had taken several pOtations to CON-
Pose a@G nerve you for the event and
Ia, you We're not 50 much Intoxicated as
nervous and excited.
teeI much deiicacy in referring to such
.a9.cS, bat | canuot inform youof your
"yn@cs' plans and projects without being
plain, AID l am obliged to write in too
srra: haste TO be choice in my language.
assured Ashley that | should have no
s.lcul;y in finding persons Of good stand
.1E and moral character to prove these
matters, and it was agreed that | should
-g 50 rs soon as released. "A GIL