Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-10
WASHINGTON.
Thad. Stevens Threatens Confis-
cation for the Discharge Of Me-
groes-Assistant Attorney Gene
raj Buokley's Opinion on the
Petition for the Pardon of Dun
ham-Ashley Further Exposed.

WASHINGTON, August lO.-Thaddeus
Stevens writes that he shall offer bill
at the next session of Congress, provi-
ding for the confscation of the estates
of those "rebes " and " shareholders
who discharge negroes for voting the
Radical ticket.
Assistant Attorney General Buckley
has furnished the President with an
opinion in relation to the application for
pardon to Charles A. Durham alias San
ford Conover, which is recommended by
A. G. Riddle and Joseph Holt on account
of services rendered to the prosecution
in the trial of Surratt, and which was
evidently inspired by j, NJ. Ashley, Of
Ohio. Buckley gives the petition and also
long letter, addressed subsequently,
July 80, to the President by Durham, in
which he reveals an alleged plan on the
mart of Ashley, Butler and others to i'm
plicate the President in the plot for the
assassination of Mr.. Lincoln, which ne
says is capable of being proved by the
most irrefragible evidence. He says Ash
ley explained the kind of evidence he
thought most advisable to present, viz;
that Booth had on several occasions paid
familiar visits to Johnson at the Kirkwood
House; that johnson correspondent with
Booth; that the placing of Atzerott
at the Kirkwood House was only sham,
though Atzerott was not aware of 1T, to
make it appear that johnson was in
tended as a victim, and thus detract all
suspicion from Johnson's conniving at
the Lincoln murder; that Booth stated
on the 4,h of March, to an intimate
friend in New York, whom he en-
deavored to enlist in the conspi-
raey, that he was acting with
the knowledge Of the Vice President, and
that it had been agreed to kill Lincoln
on the day Of inauguration, which would
account for Johnsou's strange conduct
on that occasion, and that Johnson ex-
pected the tragedy to be enacted then
and had taken several potations to com
pose and nerve him for the event
Durham says he assured Ashley he
should have no difficulty in finding per
sons Of good standing and moral charae-
ter to prove these matters, and that it
was agreed be should do SO as soon as
released. BE also says Ashley aud
Butler pressed him to send for
two or three persons Of intelligence,
which was done, but Durham being in
Jail, it was found necessary for some one
else TO act as his preceptor, which was,
with slight hesitation, agreed TO by Ashly,
on Dunham's assurance that the parties
we're Radicals dyed in the wool, and men
Of honor in whom be could safely repose
confidence. The statement they were
desired to make was revised and
corrected. by Mr.. Ashley, and they
were assured by him that in case
la should be determined to
examine them before the committee, they
should be splendidly rewarded Suisse
auently the parties were presented TO
Butler, and introduced BY him and
Ashley to several Radical members,
who accompanied the foregoing IN
some statements about the visit Of
a Mr. Allen 10 Richmond, BY Johnson
through or in connection with Booth,
and some personal letters from Ashley
to Durham.