The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-11-03
JouNsoN,s IMPEACHMENT.
AShley's observation-disclosures Aware o
the Plot to Aaaaasiunta LInGoln.

AshlsJ's dOna-J1hnson Aware Of
the Plot to AaAaASiuata LIncOln.
NEw YORK, Nov. 2.-Ex Congressman
James NJ. Ashley, Of Ohio, mover Of the
resolution Of impeachment against Presi-
dent johnson in the Thirty-niuth Con-
gres was asked by reporter to night con-
cerniny the facts related by Chsuncey NJ.
Depew as having been told to him by
General Grant in a dinner table table talk
OF plot by johnson to reinstate the rebel
leaders in power. He said the allegations
were substantially correct. Bsing asked
why, II the fact OF the plot was kno wn to the
managers Of the Impeachment trial, they
did not use. it against the President, Mr..
Ashley ssid:
"Ths Judiciary Committee Of the House,
to whom was referred the resolution of i'm.
peschueut for investigation, were against
impeachment, and had differences among
themselves. Speaker Colfax had appoint.
ed men on the committee who were weak.
kneed in the matter. I told Mr. Coitax
one day that he was standing 80 that he
could be near enough the front to rush in
II we won, and near enough the rear TO
get safely out il we lost. Tue people stood
In awe OF the President, and were afraid
to proceed to extreme measures in the face
Of his great power. He had the whole
Secret Service on his side. The news
paper in Washington which acted as his
organ threatened war II the impeachment
proceedings were continued. On the floor
vi the House l accused johnson OF being
the leader Of negative rebellion, and Il
attempting to Eesuscitste the lost caas9."
WAS there anything in the testimony
before the Judiciary Committee Connect-
ing the President with any plot to put
the control OF the Government into the
hands Of the rebel leaders Of the South ?"
~ was not member Of the Judiciary
Committee, and though l made myself
acquainted with the first portions Of the
testimony given before them, / found
myself at odds with the members OF the
committee and absented myself from their
proceedings. they utterly refused 10
examine manyimportant witnesses against
the President brought forward by me. II
President johnson could have secured the
support OF the General OF the army (is
plan was to install Southern men in the
halls OF Congress during the night and
keep out by force the Northern members
who had arrayed themselves against him.
believed then, and said 80 in Congress,
and believe now that johnson had
known before hand OF the intended assas-
sination OF President Lincoln. When
made that statement on the floor Of Con-
gress Speaker Coliax called me to order,
but after the session came upon the floor
and said he was sorry he had done so."
"Why were these matters not brought
forward in the impeachment trial?"
"The evidence did not show that the
President had actually committed any act
in connection with the plot on which spe.
cited charges could be made. The ele-
venth article OF impeachment, which was
the only one voted upon by the Senate,
was especially prepared with view to
what might be shown by the testimony
concerning the matter. Thad Stevens,
who sat Just behind me in Congress for
many year,, prepared the article, and
assisted him. Before the final vote in the
Senate on the impeachment, Ross, Of Kan.
sas, had promised to vote for the impeach.
ment, but he went back on his word, and
we lost our case by one vote"