The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-12-27
Mr.. Ashley and the Assassination


Mr.. Ashley and the Assassination
Plot. 81.
The Hon. j. NJ. Ashley is very
much displeased that his record on
impeachment has been misapprehend-
ed, if not deliberately misrepresent,
ed. He has written letters to the
Toledo Blade and New York Trib-
une, in which he denies that one of the
specifications, accompanying his i'm
peachment resolution, charges Mr..
Johnson with completely in the as
sassination of Mr.. Lincoln. The
specifications alleged only usurpa-
ton of power, violation of law, and
corrupt uses of the appointing, par
doning and veto rpowers. These
charges, Mr.. Ashley says, were be
lieved true by majority of the Ju-
dietary Committee of the House He
also denies having ever charged Mr..
johnson, in any speech, with CON-
plicity with assassination. He ad-
mits that from the first he suspected
Mr.. johnson Of a guilty knowledge
of the assassination, and repeatedly
said in private conversation that
events had transpired since his in
tending to confirm that
His private opinions were
his own, however, and no one had
right to question him respecting them
The strongest language he ever used
in a speech was on the floor of Con-
gress. His remarks were thus repor-
ted:
Sir, man of Johnson's aDtece-
dents: OF his mortal and moral caliber,
coming into the. Presldency as he
came into it-and Issy nothing now
Of the dark suspicion which creptt
over the minds of men as to his COM
phcity in the assassination plot, nor
Of the fact, that / can not Danish from
ny mind the mysterious connection
between death and treachery which
his case presents say such a man,
n view of all that has happened, COM
ng into the Presidential office as he
,ame into thought to have walked
With uncovered head, and humbly,
before the loyal men of this nation :
md thir representatives in the
American Congress.-(See Congress
onal Globe, First Session XLth Con-
,ress, March Z.
Mr.. Ashley adds, in his letter to the
Tribune
I have never sought to disguise
he fact that / have visited more than
me prison under the promise of re- {
;eiving important documentary ev- Z
dence about the assassination, and
Inder like circumstances l am ready
o do so again. l would without t
hold intercourse with any
felon, even a murderer, on 3
he assurance that documentary ev- :,
lence would be placed in my hands
rhich would unvail the conspiracy
'hich resulted in Mr.. Lincoln's death; {
nd / would do so IL Mr.. Johnson's G
,rm of service had expired. AS a ;,
nle, only through such sources are
reat crimes exposed. Certainly, no s
ne would expect to obtain such in a
,rmation from honest men. Honest %
zen are not often privy to premedi- n
tied murders. The assassination plot = =
now well known to have been q
ide-spread conspiracy. The evi- "
ence before the military commits
on on the trial of the assassins dis ..
osed the fact that hundred armed ;,
en- were in this city the night of Mr.. I
incoln's murder, ready, if needed, oI
engage in that great crime. ] bi
I'VE been anxious for the arrest and r
,nviction of some of the principal VI
before court of CON- w
,tent Jurisdiction, confident that et
Ich result would lead to full ex- in
,se of the entire plot. All who are Fl,
,cessory, either before or after the :
ct, would then be subject to indict- sc
ent and conviction or the same tn
stimony which convicted one of the an
incipals. have labored to secure cl,
expose of this conspiracy, 81,
It because / believed it to be the ."
Ity of any man, when such state WI
ents are made to him as have been dc
sde to me, to examine them, and ct
tisfy himself as to their truth or
slty. have no apology or excuse
offer for anything / have said or
ne officially. All ask is TO be elt
1ged by the public record 1 have at
ade. In