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Editorial
June 5, 1867
The Louisiana Democrat
Alexandria, Rapides County, Louisiana
What is this article about?
The Washington National Intelligencer criticizes Representative Ashley for repeatedly interviewing convicted perjurer Conover in jail to gather testimony implicating the President in impeachment proceedings, likening it to a Titus Oates conspiracy and calling for public condemnation.
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The Washington National Intelligencer
of the 8th, opens fire in this wise:
" The sentence of the court in the case
of Conover is not yet enforced. Convicted
of one of the basest crimes of which a
man may be guilty, stained by a verdict of
his countrymen with the offence of bearing
false testimony against another, he is still
detained in this city, while interview after
interview is had with him by an honorable
representative of the people, who has
resumed the high office of impeaching the
President of the United States. Conover;
under the inspiration of the bureau of military
justice, sought to establish the complicity
of Jefferson Davis with the assassination
of Mr. Lincoln, and after acknowledging
that his whole statement was a tissue
of false swearing, and thus proving
himself utterly unworthy of confidence, he
is sought out day after day by the 'great
impeacher,' in the hope of securing—what?
The spectacle is unexampled. A member
of Congress, who is pledged to convict the
President of the United States of high
crimes and misdemeanors, returning to this
city to prepare testimony for the judiciary
committee, puts himself in daily and nightly
communication with a convicted perjurer,
the execution of whose sentence is postponed
while the Congressman and the felon
consult over charges against the President.
Are we to have another Titus Oates conspiracy?
Is Mr. Ashley to haunt the jail that he may extract something from a perjurer,
whose fabricated testimony dishonors
the records of Government trials, which
shall be used against the Executive of the
United States? Let the public understand
this despicable business, and the withering
indignation of a free people fall upon the
prosecutor who, from such a source, would
obtain material with which to gratify his
malice. Nor is the jailor free from culpability.
To grant midnight interviews between
such a ward and such a visitor, no
matter if he is a Congressman, does not
comport with the responsibility of his position.
It becomes him to put an end to
this unseemly converse; and if, by such
arts only, the object of the great impeacher'
is to be accomplished, it is high time
that the farce of impeachment was ended."
of the 8th, opens fire in this wise:
" The sentence of the court in the case
of Conover is not yet enforced. Convicted
of one of the basest crimes of which a
man may be guilty, stained by a verdict of
his countrymen with the offence of bearing
false testimony against another, he is still
detained in this city, while interview after
interview is had with him by an honorable
representative of the people, who has
resumed the high office of impeaching the
President of the United States. Conover;
under the inspiration of the bureau of military
justice, sought to establish the complicity
of Jefferson Davis with the assassination
of Mr. Lincoln, and after acknowledging
that his whole statement was a tissue
of false swearing, and thus proving
himself utterly unworthy of confidence, he
is sought out day after day by the 'great
impeacher,' in the hope of securing—what?
The spectacle is unexampled. A member
of Congress, who is pledged to convict the
President of the United States of high
crimes and misdemeanors, returning to this
city to prepare testimony for the judiciary
committee, puts himself in daily and nightly
communication with a convicted perjurer,
the execution of whose sentence is postponed
while the Congressman and the felon
consult over charges against the President.
Are we to have another Titus Oates conspiracy?
Is Mr. Ashley to haunt the jail that he may extract something from a perjurer,
whose fabricated testimony dishonors
the records of Government trials, which
shall be used against the Executive of the
United States? Let the public understand
this despicable business, and the withering
indignation of a free people fall upon the
prosecutor who, from such a source, would
obtain material with which to gratify his
malice. Nor is the jailor free from culpability.
To grant midnight interviews between
such a ward and such a visitor, no
matter if he is a Congressman, does not
comport with the responsibility of his position.
It becomes him to put an end to
this unseemly converse; and if, by such
arts only, the object of the great impeacher'
is to be accomplished, it is high time
that the farce of impeachment was ended."
What sub-type of article is it?
Partisan Politics
Crime Or Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Impeachment
Perjury
Conover
Ashley
Lincoln Assassination
Titus Oates
What entities or persons were involved?
Conover
Jefferson Davis
Mr. Lincoln
Mr. Ashley
President Of The United States
Titus Oates
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Impeachment Efforts Using Perjurer Conover's Testimony
Stance / Tone
Strongly Critical Of Ashley And The Impeachment Process
Key Figures
Conover
Jefferson Davis
Mr. Lincoln
Mr. Ashley
President Of The United States
Titus Oates
Key Arguments
Conover Convicted Of Perjury For False Testimony On Lincoln Assassination
Ashley Consulting Conover In Jail For Impeachment Evidence
This Creates An Unseemly Spectacle Akin To Titus Oates Conspiracy
Public Should Condemn Such Tactics
Jailor Should End These Interviews