The New York Herald Newspaper, March 3, 1876, Page 3

BELKNAP’S FALL. Exposure of Flagrant Corruption and Malfeasance, Shameful Traffic in the Patronage of the War Department. RESIGNATION FROM THE CABINET. Acceptance by the President with Unseemly Regret. A TERRIBLE ARRAY OF FACTS Intense and. Painful Exeitement im the House of Representatives. Reading of the Report of the Investigation. THE SECRETARY IMPEACHED. Solemn Accusation of High Crimes and Misdemeanors. Women Dragged Into the Slough of Sordid Dishonesty. CONDUCT OF THE ACCUSED. Unfounded Rumors of Suicide Exciting the Capital. The War Department Rotten to ’ the Core. Wasuixeros, March 2, 1876, ‘The discovery of the Belknap frauds has created a very Weeat excitement here, and it takes rank as one of the most stirring events Washington hus seen. Very few persons knew this morning that anything unusual ‘would happen to-day. The Washington papers gave no hint, and only those who chanced to see an announce- ment of Mr. Belknap’s impending resignation and dis- grace in one of the Baltimore papers had the least idea of what was coming. Mr. Clymer and his committeo guarded their secret very vigilantly and very success. fully. ‘THE SCENE IX THE HOUSE. Rumor flies swiftly here, however, and by one o'clock all Washington was excited and crowds streamed to the Capitol in hopes of hearing the committee report, ‘The committee had meantime locked itself In, and when it adjourned in the middle of the day its mem- bers secluded themselves, The scene in the House in ‘the early afternoon was very curious, The Hawatian treaty came in regular order before the House, and the proper documents having been read at great length, Mr. Fernando Wood took the floor and proceeded to speak in favor of the legislation necessary to carry the treaty into effect. He spoke ably, but | to an audience which either whispered in corners or listened to him as though he were a jester at a funeral The floor was crowded with strangers, The unfortunate gentleman in the Speaker's chair found it very difficult to keep order, and every one who could be supposed, by reason of friendship with a member of the committee, to have private information was a centre of eager attraction, A GHASTLY RUMOR. About one o'clock a rumor was started in the House that Belknap had shot himself, and fora while it was believed. It was known by noon that he had re- signed, and it was then reported that the President had nominated Treasurer New to be Secretary of War. In both houses the republicans wore grave faces and ‘awaited the committee’s report with anxiety, The general fact that Mr. Belknap had been caught in such @ manner as to leave no doubt of his guilt was suf- ficiently ascertained to leave no question in any mind, andthe main consideration was as to the greater or lesser importancé of the affair as a political event bearing upon party prospects. About one o’clock a rumor obtatned that the Presi- dent had refused to accept Belknap’s resignation, and Jeft him to the House to be dealt with and at this both republicans and democrats were gratified, esteeming it ‘the proper condact. ENTRANCE OF THE COMMITTER. ‘The House was in Committee of the Whol®, listening to Mr. Wood, as well as its impatience would permit and fearful at repeated reports that the committee would not appear Wil to morrow, when, at hall-past three, Mr. Clymer quietly waiked to bis seat, Messrs. Biackbarn, Bass and others of the committee appear- ing simultaneously. Every one was immediately full ofattention. Mr, Clymer sat still and listened to Mr, Wood, and once more the hopes of the curious aud anx- _ fous fell, At last Clymer walked over to Mr. Wood for ® brief consultation, Mr. Wood, alter a pause, re- marked that a committee desiring-to make an import. ant report he was willing the Committee of the Whole should rise. This being at ouce agreed to, the Speaker resumed the chuir, and, after the essential formalities, Mr. Clymer saying that as his committee had no clerk, And bis report might uot easily be read by aclerk, he Would ask permisgion to read it bunself, opened his budget, THY RECEPTION OF Tit® REPORT, There was a general demand that he should go to the » Clerk's desk, which he did, and read from thence, ina clear voice, but evidently with some excitement and ‘unconcealed emotion, the House and galleries listening im painful silence and with quick annoyanco at | the least noise, Ho read first the report of the committee, accusing William W. Belkoap, late Sec- tetary of War, of high crimes and misdemeanors, and Proposing, 1m the name ot the House and of the Ameri- can peopte, articles of impeachment, The impressive Wording of Such a report had a solemn effect, When this was done be retired to his seat, and for a moment yore was au awiul sense of disgust in the House and jallories at the supposition that he was done; but he | immediately asked leave to read, also, the testimony bn which the report was based ana alt the documents aceompanying it. THE READING OF THE TESTIMONY. Listening to these details was a painful apd almost Yorrible experience, Mr. Clymer reaas slowly and rery distinctly. Every word was understood by the House, aod as detail after detail of a crime as vulgar as it is ‘hock {ng was brought out, ag it became apparent tha- this was no single offeuce, but a deliberate, long- tontinued saccession of offences, as it began to be un, ferstood that not only Mr. Belknap was involved vut both his former and his present wife, As it NEW. YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, MARCH 3, was seen that he had continued for years to re | ceive the price of a fraud, disgust and indignation at the meanness of the criminal and the sordidness of the crifne took possession of the people, TUK PRESIDENT’S ACTION, When the letter of the President was read, stating thathe had accepted the Secreta: resignation at half-past ten o'clock, there was a murmur of amaze- ment at what looked to everybody then like an act de- liberately intended to shield Mr. Belknap, but when dent tells Mr. Belknap that he accepts bis resignation with great regret, people turned to each otber with in- digtation at something which seemed to them an open defiance of decency and of public opinion. On the re- publican side there were frowns, for it was felt and openly acknowledged that these words were indefensi- bie and indecent. The report gave great satisfaction by reason of its falness of detail, TUK SECRETARY'S PROPOSAL TO CONFESS. It left but one point unexpiained, and this is per- haps the best place to explain it. It alluded to a propo- sition made by Mr. Belknap to the committee by his counsel, Mr. Montgomery Blair. As this was rejected the committee did not embody it in their report. Mr. Belknap’s proposition was “that if the committee would so report the facts as to leave Mra, Belknap’s share in the transactions unmentioned he would give them a written confession of his crime.’’ This was necessarily rejected, as no true report could in such case have been made, and to consent would have placed the committee in a fatally false position. Moreover, it was evident trom mittee that an attempt bad been made during the course of the myestigation to entangle them in somo way so as to make them incapable of acting effectively. Cruel as the exposure of women seems in this case, as Mr. Clymer read on, it was generally admitted that painful, act of duty—the more necessary because the gossip of Washington had already spoken of the friendly relations which existed between Mr. Belktap’s family and some members of the committee, THE QUESTION OF IMVEACHMENT, When Mr. Clymer was done reading he returned to his seat and announced that be should now move the previous question upon the question that the House do impeach General Beiknap before the bar of the Senate, At this point Mr, Kasson and Mr. Hoar demurred, pleading that the hour was late and that delay for reflection was advisable, but the motion of Mr. Clymer prevailed, and thereupon an hour was consumed in debate, in which there was some attempt at sparring by Mr. Hoar, but with no success, as {tt was upon minor points. The members of the committee, republicans and democrats, occupied most of the time. Mr- Bass, republican, of New York, made a clear and forcible statement of the case on that side; and Mr, Black- burn, of Kentucky, democrat, made one of the most brilliant and effective speeches of the session, and one which has made him a man of mark in the House. THR EVYECT OF BELKNAP’S KBTIREMENT, ‘The discussion turned mainly on the question of the power of the House to impeach a person who had re- signed office, and Mr. Blackburn, with great spirit, but in an adinirably impartial tone, asserted the power and dignity of the House, and brought down a burst of ap- | plause when he said that, if itwere true that the House in such a case as this was powerless, then it must be on the old ground that *'the King can do no wrong,’” for it gave the President the power to shield offenders by accepting their resignations; but, ho said, though it may be true that the King can do no wrong, we have not yet, in this country, heard it asserted that the President can do no wrong. There he touched the feeling of indignation which had filled all faces when the President’s letter accepting Belknap's resignation was read, and galleries and House applauded. THE VOTE YOR IMPEACHMENT UNANIMOUS, The House was evidently in no humor to listen to abstract discussions of its lack of powor m the prem- tses, and Mr, Hoar’s attempts to interrupt tho speak- ers gave annoyance, especially as it was presently known that the vote for presenting articles of impeach- ment would be unanimous, The democrats were plainly determined to como to a conclusion, and thus gave up an excellent opportunity to make party capital out of a long debate, in which the republicans who should oppose their motion must have placed themselves and their party in a false position before the ¥ountry of seeking to shelter acriminal because be was a member of the adminis- ration. Finally the vote was taken viva voce, and there | knap’s resignation and adding that “he did it with re- were no nays. Thereupon tho Impeachment Commit- tee was named by the Speaker, and the House ad. journed after one of its most eventful and exciting ses- sions, ‘THE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTER, The committee deputed to impeach Mr. Belknap at the bar of the Senate consists of Messrs. Clymer, Rob- bins, Blackburn, Bass and Danforth, the same who form the Investigating Committee which brought in the report. A leading republican member remarked that he thought the President's right to accept Belknap’s resignation undoubted, but that the House had also an undoubted powerto impeach him after his resignation was ac_ cepted, and the terms of regret used by the President were a fatal blunder. ‘The committee were late in reporting to the House, because they had, at Belknap’s request, given bim till three o’clock to make another appear- ance before them, but they waited for him until half past three and then, as ho gave no sign, came in to report. Itis probable that the House will to-morrow ask the President to report to it for what purpose he accepted Belknap's resignation in the face of the pro- ceedings of the House Committee against him, Itis now known that the President knew of the circum- stances which invétved and Belknap before he accepted his resignation. ‘The com- mittee have in their possession express receipts for money sent to Belknap by Marsh, and other subsidiary evidence, which they did not think necessary to pro- duce to-day. THE PEELING OF THE SENATE. The news of Mr. Belknap’s fall created a profound impression in the Senate, especially among the re- publicans, They were excecdingly solemn, and gathered in groups and conversed in low, earnest tones during the day. Senator Edmunds said that the exposures were terrible and sickening. It had been given out by him that he was to speak in the Pinchback case, but the flying rumors of Belknap’s resignation and suicide dampened the ardor on Louis- jana mattors, and Mr. Edmunds said that he should postpone the delivery of his speech. Senator Logan made no concealment of his regret at the Secretarv’s downfall. He characterized it as a most terrible calamity and said that his resignation ought not to have been accepted by the President, “Mr. Belknap ought to be tried, impeached and sent to the Peniten- tiary, the same as myself,” said the Senator, “if [ were guilty -of the whiskey charges, as alleged by the imdependent press.” Mr. Logan went on to say that he and his wife had been criticised because they did not make more display in society and give frequent receptions. He was opposed to the reck- Jess extravagances of fashionable political life m Wash. ington. He believed in plain living. Senator Cameron repeated the words, ‘Terrible, terrible.” “This | comes,” said he, ‘trom GRANT'S SYSTEM OF APPOINTMENTS,” He frequently told him that he ought not to put ob- scure men in high positions, He always had alot of theve uuknown characters around him. “The only way for people to live,’ said be, “is within their means. Mr. Buchanan and myself used to pay from | $8 to $10 ns week for board and two rooms, and we iived well. The Scripture | is right—‘Lead us not into temptation.’ ’” Mr. Spencer, of Alabama, seemed considerably im- pressed, He exclaimed, iu a moralizing way, “There is nothing like being honest.” His enemies, he said, charged him with all kids of tniquities, even to steal- he was imnocent and could not be in- | afraid Yoat the disclosures would loge his State to the | republic in the approaching election, Senator Ba; urd, of Delaware, was asked what he thought of Belk hap. coe MR, PERRY'S VIEWS, ond a great shame to think a man holding such a high position of trust could not prove true to it, He felt very much dejected about it, and thought i* was likely to have a very bad effect on the = cumin, elections it New Hampshire and Connecticut. He was astonished that Mr, Belknap the terms of the letter were read, in which the Presi- | the explanatory letters submitted by two of the com- | the committee had performed a necessary, though | incriminated = Mr. | | | | | | | | } | | jug sums as small as $5, but be was glad to know that | had becn formally accepted. The fact seems ta | peached, This remark somewhat relieved the su- | sivice (rom any quarter and without giving the matter lemnity of those who heard him, Mr. Cragin, of | special consideration himself, as only @ few minutos New Hampshire, wes very much cust down, He was | ¢lapsed after General Belkoap reached the | House before he came out with his resignation ac- | cepted, There was “Bad, bad!’ said be, “but Bot so bad as Bab } held to-day, , | allowed to go over until to-morrow. The /resigna- | Vice President Ferry says that itis a very sad thing | of War, is but (temporary, and it was | returning, walked to the Capitol and had an interview | phatic deusal of this statement, and says he did not could so fur forget himself. Senator Wadleigh ex- pressed himself in most emphatic terms as disgusted, and thought it was simply an outcropping of the Shepherd Ring. {twas the result of inordinate ex- travagance and the general demoralization of the day, an entire loss of the principles of bonesty and integrity, It was just such men as this who bad joaded down and embarrassed the republican party, which bad achieved such grand results, and had been so giorious in principles | and men, It was a burning shame that its glorious | record should be pulled down so and dragged in the dirt. He had no patience to contemplate the subject, avd felt that it was disgraceful in the extreme. He expected more of it and thought it would end by some of them going to jail. Senator Hitch- cock, of Nebraska, was grieved ia the extreme over it, and regarded it as a great calamity. He concurred in @ great measure with what Senator Wadleigh had said. Senator Conover, of Florida, said while be had no rea+ son to doubt the main facta, he still thought, as only one side of the case had been heard, that perhaps there were some extenuating circumstances, Senator Bout- well, of Massachusetts, was dejected and appalled in the extreme at the sad event, which ho could barely credit, and he inquired whether it was really true. He felt that it was avery upfortupate affuir, and seems shocked at the suddenness of it, “I think it is a very melancholy thing, and it is too bad that it ever oc- curred,’ said Senator Morton, He was taken all aback, The Beiknap matter came upon us like a clap of thunder om a clear summer's das lam very sad over it, 1 did not think Secretary Belknap would make such a@ foolish show of himself; but, on the whole, I never expected any great things of him. I cannot say how it will act politically, but it | looks very ugly. It was falsely rumored that I went up to the President’s to-day to ad- vise him to accept Mr, Belknap’s resignation; but I had nothing of the kind in my head; [ bad to go up there | on some other business, and as I was going in I met ex-Senator Chandler coming out with Secretary Bel- koap, and when I saw President Grant he told me about what he had just done in the matter of accept- ing Secretary Gelknap’s resignation; | suppose 1t was from my visit that the report came’ out that Mr. was appointed to succeed Mr. Belknap. Ex-Senator Trambull, of Ilttnols, said he was very much surprised. He had always taken Belknap for an honest man, but if the thing had struck in one of three or four other places he would not have been so as- toflished. He thought, however, it was A VERY STRANGR COMMENTARY upon what bad happened in this terrible business, that such a man as Secretary Robeson should bave been selected to act as Secretary of War ad interim—a man who had really been proved guilty more than four years ago before the American people. He was very much grieved about it, as it affected the whole country and made us appear very badly and humiliated in the eyes of Europe , and, in fact, before the whole world. It was an indiguity upon American people. “I look for even worse things yet, and I can’t say where it is going to end.”’ McCreery, of Kentucky, listened to the remarks of bystanders regarding the possibility of Belknap’s im- peachment by the House, and slyly remarked that, as he had been in one impeachment trial (Andrew Joha- son's), he would say nothing about it, THE SENATE was in session till late, but the regular order of busi- ness was changed to the reception and disposition of bills, evidently because the republican members bad bo desire to make speeches. Early in the afternoon the report was generally circalated through the Senate that Belknap had SHOT HIMSELY, and when it was announced that the investigation com- mittee were about to report in the House there was a speedy thinning out inthe galleries and many of the Senators withdrew, At the close of the session Sena- tors Conkling and Edmunds had a long conference and it was remarked that their faces were unusually grave. THE POLITICAL RPPECT, Senator Norwood, of Georgia, who expects to defeat Hill for the Senate next year, thought that the result of the Belknap investigation would be to carry New Hampshire by a democratic majority if Hill’s amnesty speech did not neutralize it. He was of the opinion that the ex-Secretary could be impeached, notwith- standing he had resigned. THE GENERAL OPINION among the democratic Senators was that Grant made a great and unpardonable mistake tn accepting Bel- gret.”” “What is the matter with tho President,” was the frequent exclamation heard on the floor and in the lobbiés trom members of both parties. THR ¥ACTS MADR KNOWN. Washington, in all.its official and private life, was startled and shocked this morning by news that was telegraphed to the country last night concerning Sec- retary Belknap. At midnight scarce a score of people in the city knew even tbe outline of the story, and not even that number outside of members of the committee engaged in the investigation. Besides these members there were a few lawyers who had been consulted, one or two members on each side of the House and four or five correspondents who bad the main facts, The mem- bers of the committee were sworn to « ABSOLUTE SECRESY. Though the case had been virtually made out against the Secretary for several days, yet, at his urgent ro- quest and entreaty, it was kept secret up to the last moment of the session, which lasted till long after midnight. The morning papers here had no allusion to | the matter, and the first pdblic intimation of the | situation reached the city im the Baltimore Gazette. But the story, though told with great accu- racy, was 80 jneredible that it was generally discussed as sensational, Even among members and Senators the story which soon gained currency was not believed } until near the hour of meeting of the two Houses, when some of the members of Mr. Clymer’s Committee came on the floor and confirmed the des- | patches from Baltimore. Long before the matter ob tained credence in Washington, telegrams had arrived from Boston, New York, Cincinnati und Chicago asking for detail, and in many cases whetber the story could possibly be true, It seemed almost incredible, but it is troe that ‘THE PRESIDENT KNKW NOTHING of the facts which had been developed before the Cly- mer Committce until about ten o'clock this morning. Republican members of the committee were in a posi- tion where they could not tell bit, as all were solemnly sworn to secresy. So in common with nearly all | members of Congress und citizens generally the Presi- | dent remained in entire ignorance of what had hap- pened long alter the country outside of Washington was in possession of the mnain facts, and also with the | fact that a membcr of his Cabinet bad fully decided to resign. j ‘The President had just been made aware that seri- | ous matters, gravely affecting some member of his Cabinet had come out before a House Committee and had been given to the public, and had just sent to Mr. Bass, a member of the comenittee, when Secretary Belkaap appeared and handed him MIS WKITTEN RESIGNATION, The Presideut thea trst learped iu brief thé main features of the case from the lips of Secretary Belknap himself, Consultation was very brief and the resigna- tion was promptly accepted, The President then at once started out for a walk with his son and, before with several Senators, Senator Morton appeared just as the President left the White House, and the story gained circulation that he had advised the President to accept the resignation immediately for the purpose of DEFEATING AN ATTEMPT atimpeachment. Senator Morton authorizes a most em- reach the White House tilt after the resignation be that the President acted without asking hite } bay been SO MERTING OY THE CAMINeT and the whole matter tion of Secretary RobesOn, ax acting retary ensary to make such an appointment \mmediately, ap there is no provision of law for any officer of the War De- partment ischargiug the duties of Secretary in case of his absence or disability. / ALARM AMONG REPUBLICANS, Tho feeling this evening amoug the republican Sena tors and representatives is one of ill-concealed alarm t at the effect which this exposure may have upon republican prospects in the Presi- dential lection. None of them _ belittle the magnitude of this event, viewed from this point, | but they are generally unwilling to talk about it, Sen- | ator Morton said that it was agreat and painful sur- | prise to him and to his republican fellow Senators, but of course, would express no opinion as to the merits of the case. He had seen the President in the morning and when asked / whether he appeared greatly shocked at this exposure of his Secretary of War, Mr, Morton replied, “Ob! you know he is nota man who easily shows his feel- ings? It must be said for the democrats that they do not regard this matter as a party .triumph, but as a national calamity and disgrace. They mean, of course, to pursue this and other investigations theroughly, and they hold that in doing so they may rightly ask the co-operation of the republicans, and freely concede that they had this fully in the present investigation, Messrs, Bass and Danford, republican members of the committee, haying been most zealous and firm ip ferreting out the matter. TUB VIOLATED LAW. The provision of statute law which the Secretary bas violated appears in the Revised Statutes, as follows (see. 1,781) :-— | Every member of Congress, or any officer or agent of the government, who, ‘directly or indirectly, takes, receives, or agrees Ww receive. any | money, property, or other valuable consideration, whatever, from any person, for procuring, or aiding to procure, any contract, ollice or piace from the govern- tent or any departinent thereof, or from any officer of the United States, for any person whatever, of for giving any such contract, oifice or place to any per- son whomsoever, and every person who, directly or indirectly, offers or agrees to give, or gives or bestows any money, property or other valuable consideration whatever for the procuring or aiding to procure any | such contract, ollice or place, and every Member of Congress who, directly or indirectly, takes, receives or agrees to receive any mouey, property or other Valuable cousideration whatever, after his cle om as such member, for his attention to service: uction, vote or decision, ou any question, matter, cause or proceeding which may then be Pending, or ‘may by law, or under the constitu: tion, brought before hun in his ollicial capacity, or in nis place, as such member of Congress, shatl be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, und shail be imprisoned not more thau two years, and fined not more than — $10,000, And “any sach con tract or agreement may, at the option of the President, be "declared ~—absoiutely uull and void, aud any member of Congress or officer convicted of 4 Violation of this section shall, moreover, be disqualified from holding any oflice of bonor, profit or trust under the government of the United States.” THE INVESTIGATION. CIRCUMSTANTIAL EXPOSURE OF BELKNAP'S IN- TRIGUE FOR CORRUPT GAIN—SALE OF A POST TRADERSHIP, Wasinseroy, March 2, 157@ | Mr, Clymer, after submitting in the House the unan- imous report of the committee, read on the Belknap affair the following testimony and accompaniments :— Tuesday, Feb. 29, 1874.—The committee met at half- past ten o'clock A. M. Present, Messrs, Clymer, Black bura and Robbins. Mr. Caleb P. Marsh, one of the witnesses ordered to be subpmnaed by the commiltee, being present, was duly sworn according to law. Question by the Chairman—Where do you reside? A. [reside at No. 30 West Fifty-seventh streot, New York; have resided in New York about eight years, Question by the Chairman—Were you or not ap- pointed, or tendered an appointment, as a post trader at Fort Sill, I. T., 1n the fall of 1870, by the Secretary ot War—if so, under what circumstances was said ap- pointment secured to you? State also if you were commissioned by the Secretary as such post trader, or if not who was so commissioned; and if any other person than yourself was so commissioned give his name, the reason why be was commissioned; if any agreement was made begween you and the appointee state it, or produce it if in writing, and was such agree- ent made with the knowledge of the Secretary of War? and state the circumstances connected with the making of that agreement, and all the transactions in detail thereunder fully and particularly, as if you were specially investigated in regard to the several trans- actions, and so fully as to save the necessity of re- peated interrogatories. STATEMENT OF MR. MARSH. In reply to your question I would state that in the summer of 1870 myself and wife spent some weeks at Long Branch, and on our return to New York Mrs. Belknap and Mrs. Bowers, by our invitation, came for & visit to our house; Mrs, Belknap was ill during this visit some three or tour weeks; I suppose in conse- quence of our kindness to her she felt under some ob- lightion, for she asked me one day in the course of a conversation why I did not apply for a post tradership on the frontier; Lasked what they were and was told that there were many of them, very lucrative offices | or positions, in the gift of the Secrctary of War, and that if L wanted one she would ask the Secretary for | one for me; upon my replying that I thought such offices belonged to disabled soldiers, and, besides, that ‘I was without political influence, she answered that politicians got such places, &c,, &c.; Ido not remem- ber saying that if I had a valuablo post of that kina | that | would remember her, but I do remember her | saying something hke this:—if [ can prevail upon the | Secretary of War to award you a post, you must be | careful to say nothing to him about presents, for a man | once offered him $10,000 for 4 tradership of this kind, | and he told him that if he did not leave the office he would kick him down stairs; remembering as I do this story, 1 presume the antecedent statement to be | correct; Mrs. Belknap and Mrs. Bowers returned to | Washington, and afew weeks thdreafter Mrs, Belknap | sent me word to come over; I did so; she then told | me that the post tradership at Port Sill was vacant; | that it was a valuable post as she understood, and | that she had either asked for it for me | or had prevailed upon the Secretary of War to agree to give it to me at all events; I called upon the Secretary of War, and, as near as I can remember, made appiica- tion for this post on a regular printed form; the Secro- tary said he would appoint me if I could bring proper recommendatory letters, and this, I said, I could do; | either Mra. Belknap or the Secretary told me that tho present trader atthe post, John 3. Evans, was an ap- plicant for reappointment, and that I had better see | him, he being in the city, as it would not be fair to turn | him oat of office without sume notice, as he would lose | largely on bis buildings, merchandise, &c,, if the ollice | i} was taken from bim, and that it would be proper and Justfor me to make some arrangement with him for their asaee if L wished to run tho post myself; I saw vans und found him alarmed at the prospect of losing — the place; I remember that he said that a firm of | Western post traders, who claimed a good deal of mflu- | ence with the Secretary of War, had promised to have | him appointed, but he found, on coming to Washington, | | this drm to be entirely without tntuence; Mr. Evans first proposed ‘a partnership, which I deetined; | and then a bonus of a certain portion of the profits if I | would allow him to hold the position and continue the | business; we daally agreed upon $15,000 per year; | Mr, Evans and myself went on to New York together, | where the contract was made and executed, which'ts | herewith submitted (paper marked A); during our trip | over, however, Mr. Evaus suw something tn the Army and Navy Journal which led bim to think that some | ofthe troops were to be removed from the fort, and | he had offered too large a sum, and before the contract | was drawn it was reduced by agreement to $12,000, | the game being payable quarterly iu advance, FIRST REMITTANCE TO MES. WELANAP, When the first remittance came to me—say probably in November, 1870-—I sent one-half thereof to Mrs. Belknap, either, I presume, by certificate of deposit or bank notes by express; being in Washington ata funeral rome weeks after this | baa @ convers tion with Mra Bowers to the following pur- | port, as far as 1 can now remember, but | imust say that just here my memory ts exceedingly | indbatinct, and 1 judge in yur, perhaps from | what followed as to the details of the conversation; | | went up stairs in the nursery with Mrs. Bowers to eee the baby; I said to her, “This child will have money | coming to tt before a great while; ehe said, “Yes; | the roother gave the child to me and told we that the | mouey coming from you she must take and keep for it,” Lead, ‘All right,” and it seems to me I said that por- ps the father ought to be consulted; 1 tay, it seems so, and yet I cau give no reason for it, for, as tar as I knew, the father knew nothing of any money transac. tions between the mother and myself; I bave @ taint recollection of a remark of Mra. Bowers that if I sent tho money to the father that it belonged to her, aud ‘thal would get it anyway, SURSIDY TO THE SECRETARY, 1 certainly had some understanding then or aubdse. quently with ber or him, for when the next navment 1876.—TRIPLE SHEET. came due and was paid I sent the one-half thereof to the Secretary of War, and have continued substantially from that day forward to the present time to do the same; about, I should say, a year anda half or two years after the commencement of these payments I re- duced the amount to $6,000 per annum; the reason of this reduction was partly because of the com- bined complaints on the part of Mr. Evans and his partner, and partly, so far as 1 now remember, in con- sequence of an article in the newspapers about that time reflecting on the injustice done to soldiers at this fort, caused by exorbitant charges made necessary on the part of the trader by reason of the payment of this bonus; to the best of my knowledge and belief the above isa true statement of all the facts in the caso and as complete as I can remember occurrences of so many years ago. METHODS OF PAYMENT. Question by the Chairman—State how the payments were made to the Secretary of War subsequent to the funeral of his then wife, which you attended in Wash- ington in December, 1870, whether in cash, by check, draft, certificate of deposit, ponds, or by express or otherwise. A. The money was sent according to the instructions of the Seeretary of War; sometimes in bank notes by Adams’ Express; I think on one or more oc cusions by certificates of deposit on the National Bank of America in New York; sometimes I have paid him in New York in person; oxcéps the first payment, in the fall of 1870, and the last, in December, 1872, all to be made to the Secretary tn the modes I have stated, un- less, perhaps, on ono or two occasions, at lits instance, I bought a government bond with the moneys tn.my hands arising from the contract with Mr, Evans, which 1 either sent or handed to him. TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HELKNAP. Question by Mr. Blackburn—Can you state the sum, in the aggregate, received by you under the contract with Mr, Evans, and what portion thereof you have paid to the Secretary of War, including the first and last payments, which you stated were not paid to lim? A. Ihave ne memorandum whatever on which to make answer; itis a very simple calculation; tho first payment to me by Evans was made In the full of 1870, at the rate of $12,000 a year; be paid at that rate about a year anda half or two years, and since then at the rate of $6,000 a year; it would aggregate about $40,000, the one-half of which 1 have disposed of a5 above stated, Question by the Chairman—Did you receive letters from the Secretary of War acknowledging the receipts of the sums forwarded to him in the manner you have stated, or did he acknowledge the receipt of the same inany way? A. Usually, when { sent money by ex- press I would send him the receipt of the company, which he would either return marked +0. K."’ or otherwise acknowledgo the receip: of tho same; some- Umes | paid it to him tn person in New York, when no receipt Was necessary; | have not preserved any re- ceipts or letters; when sent by express I always depos- ited the money personally and took a receipt for it Question by the Chairman—Have you at any time had any conversations with the Secretary of War regarding the post tradership as Fort Sill, or have you corresponded. with hgm regarding the same? A, Oh! frequently I have forwarded requests to the Secrotary, made to me by Mr. Evans, wishing privileges about the fort, such fs to sell liquors, & don’t remember what action was taken upon them; they were not returned to mo far as I kvow; Evans corresponded regarding affairs 4t Fort Sill through me with the Secretary of War; I never heard of any other way, Question by the Chairman—Was the contract between youand Evans ever the subject of conversation between you and the Secretary of War? A. It never was, as [ remember, save in one instance, but I am not positive, yet {t seems to me when the article in the newspapers regarding affairs at Fort Sill, probably in 1872, about the ume the redaction was made in the payments from $12,000 to $6,000 appeared, tho next time I saw the Secretary of War he asked me it I hada contract with Evans; [ told him I had; I never showed it to him or any one else until 1 produced it here, APTER THS SUBPGNA, Question by the Chairman—Atter receiving the tel- egraphic subp@na from the Sergeant-at-Arms to ap- peur before this committee, which was en Monday, the 2ist of this month, did you come to Washington, and if so, had you an interview with the Secretary of War, and when and where? A, I came to Washington on Wednesday, the 234 of this month; I went to the house of the Secretary of War, stayed Wednesday night and returned on Thursday morning; I showed him the tel. egraphic subpeena and asked him what it meant; he said he supposed st was to state before the commitiee what I knew about our transactions together; | said 1 | did not like to appear, because I thought my testimony would be damaging to or would implicate him or give him trouble; he said he thought not, and advised ne to stay and meet the committee; during that evening my conversation was principally’with his wife, he be- ing present part of the time and understand- ing the general tenor of our conversation; she sug- gested that I could make @ statement which would satisfy the committee and exculpate the Secretary ; she wanted me to go before the committee and represent that she and I bad business transactions together for many years, and that all this money I had sent the Secretary was money that she had from time to time deposited with me as a@ kind of banker, and that she bad instructed me to send it to the Secretary for he: Idined there and spent the evening and stayed a night, retiring about twelve o’clock; the evening was devoted to discussing this matter; I toid her the state- ment would not hold water before the committee, and even if it wouM I could not make ft; at the same time 1 was so wrought up and had such an anxiety—she pressing and pressing me about it~and having slept but little since the receipt of the subpoena, and sympa- thizing with their condition, | did not give them a pos- itive answer that night; I went to bed at twelve o'clock and I do not suppose I slept a wink; they said they would breakfast about nine o'clock; 1 came down at eight and met the Secretary alone, MARSH AND BELKNAP IN CONPERENCE, T told him [thought I had better leave and get out of the country, for [ would not perjure myself for any one; that I could afford to have my throat cut, but not to perjure myself; he did not wish me to do that; that we could Ox 1t up some other way; I said, “I think l better leave the country he Secretary said I would ruin him if] lett; I said, “41 go before the commu I will sarely rain you, for I will tell the truth; he was greatly excited; when I came down stairs to leave ho followed and asked me ito the parlor and said, “I want to make a last appeal to you to stay longer;" he said if 1 went he would be ruined; 1 said [ would ruin him | if T went before the committee, and I left and took the limited, express for New York; on reaching home I consulted my attorney, asking him if the committee could reach me by subpona if I loft the country; I stated the case to nim (Mr. Bartlett), 120 Broadway, Equitable Building; he asked jf 1 was subpanacd; 1 told him I fiad a telegraphic despatch calling me to Washington; he said if a subpoena had been duly served they could give me considerable trouble, but that on a telegraphic message they could not reach me if | was out of the country; I asked hitn how long | would have to stay; he said if the committee had leave to sit dur- ing the recess I could not come back unt the present Congress expired, TOMLINSON'S PLAN OF RBVASION, I then went home and found there a despatch from Dr. William Tomlinson, the brother in-law of the Sec retary; {ts purport was not to leave; that he had good news; that he was coming over; | determined not to bo governed by.Jt and [ was going; that they only wished to fx up some new story, but that I would not be a party to it; my trunk was being packed to Jeave; about midnight Thursday, February 24, Dr. Tom. linsov had arrived at my house; had seen Joe Black. burn, a cousin of mine, who said he thought you (Marsh) would write @ letter something like one ot which he (fomlingon) would suggest, which would be dificult for me to answer, and that Mr. Blackburn said he thought that if the committee still wanted to exam. ine me they would appoint a sub-committee and come over to New York to do #0; he came to my bedroom aud I told him to go into the «itting room and araw the sketch of the proposed letter, and when dressed 1 would join bim, and I would write such @ letter as be wanted, it T could; 1 wrote the letter from the sketch of Tom- Jinson, THE LATTER OF RXCULPATION. ‘The endeavor was to exculpate the Secretary; there was nothing im It untrue to the best of my recollections Dut it did not state the wholé truth; it was avery short letter; he took it with the contract enclosed; be said he would take the letter and contract to Mr. Black- burn, who would show it to the committee, aud that left my house at two o'clock Friday morning; at midn'ght Friday I was roused up, and had the subpmna of the committee served on me; Saturday moroing. at about eight o’ctock. Dr, Tomlin gon again appeared, and said he had been to Washing: ton; he wanted to know, the first thing, if I had bees subpoenaed; I told him I had; be began talking the whole thing over again, still wanting me to say before the committee what was sug gested at the Secretary’s at the interview on Thursday night; he wanted me to telegraph to the committee, before whom I had been subpanaed by telegraph to appear the next morning (Friday), that my wife was sick and that I could not attend; my wife being sick, I consented and did so telegraph; recurring to the interview again on Saturday morning, I said [ could not make the statement he desired; he said he had seen Mr. Blackburn in the interval and had showm him the letter of Tharsday night; he then returned if and the contract to me; 1 said, “Dr. Tomliusoa, 1 have thought of this thing so much it has nearly mad@ me crazy; | am not going to talk about it any more; w will go down to my lawyer and consult him abcut it;’? my object was to have a lawyer to tell him how mdicu- lous the story he wanted me to tell would appear before the committee, THE PROPOSED FICTION. We went down and called on Mr, Bartlett, aud I told him the whole truth in the presence of Dr. Tomlineony Mr. Bartlett said { could not manufactureany story if 1 wanted, and 1 must not if 1 could; Dr. Tomlinson still insisted that if | could swear that General Belknap know nothing of the arrangement with his sister, now deceased, and if] could swear that at the time 1 wat at her funeral { made an arrangement with Mra Bowers, the present Mrs, Belknap, by which I was te send her all this money through the Secretary, that the whole thing could still be settiet; | replied I cannot State it, for it is nottrue, my impression then being that at that funeral I had said something about the matter to General Belknap; Tomlinson said, “If you cannot swear to that you had better leave the coun+ try; Mr. Bartlett said, “This is a bad business; it is not a legal question you have submitted to me, and im the positiva of affairs the Secretary of War should decide if you should go to Washington or leave the country ;’’ Dr. Tomlinson said he would return to Washington; he prepared two formulas of telegrams whieh I would anderstand; one was, “I hope your wife is wetl,’? and was to be inter- preted to leave the country, the other was, “I hope your wite {3 better,” which meant come to Washings ton; we then parted; on going homein the strect ear, thinking the whole thing over about the conversation atthe time of the funeral, 1 made up my mind that although I had stated to Mr. Bartlett that I thought I bad had some conversation at the time of the funeral with the Secretary of War about sending thit money, yet [I was so undecided about it that was certainly willing to give the Secretary the benefit of the doubt; [ thought | would seo Tomlinson and tell him; we parted at one o'clock; he was ta leave for Washington at three o'clock; 1 Went to the depot and met him, and told him that on thinking over the matter I was so undecided about the con- versation with the Secretary at the time of the funcral that I would give bim the beneiit of the doubt; he said, “Lam very glad to hear this, because my sister, Mrs, Belknap, said this was the fact;”” that Saturday even« ing I got a telegraphic despatch from Mr, Belknap which said, “Gome to Washington to-night—!tistneces- sary;’? I received it in the evening; next morning (last Sunday) I received a despatch from Dr. Tomlin- son—l hope your wife is bettor’’—which, according to our agreement, meant, Come to Washington; in the afternoon I gota second despatch from Dr. Tomlinson a3 follows:—“Come without fail. Answer; I an- swered ;—“I shall come to-night without fail THM PLAN OP PLIGUT ANANDONED. Iwas very glad not to have to leave the country, the conviction having grown on my mind that it would da no good; Il reached Washington yesterday morning at half-past six, and stopped at the Arlington; my wite being with me, we were shown to a temporary room; about seven o'clock I laid down, being greatly fatigued, * and about eight o’clock Dr, Tomlinson called me to the door of the room; he said he had seen Blackburn and that he still thought this matter could be fixed up without any trouble; he asked me if I had the letter [ had written to the committee on Thursaay night; E said I had not; he said, “Blackburn says you had bet- ter write another of the same purport and send it up to the committee, with a note explaining why it did not come sooner)? I did 80; the note avd letter were marked 8, ©;’? shortly before two P. M. yesterday | came to the Capi- tol to meet the committee, and Dr. Tomlinson found me in the corridor, near the comm#ittee room door; he said, “You are going before the committee, and I want you to remember that there was uo arrangement with you and the Secretary of War at the time of the funeral, and thatthe money you have always paid ta General Belknap was for Mrs. Belknap and by her directions;” I told him I was going before the com- mittee to tell the whole story as far as | recollected it; Isaid I had thought of leaving the country, but was overruled, and now ehall tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing bat the truth; he said, “I don’t want you to tell any lies; [only want you to tell tho truth and that was the truth;’’ I said, “The truth & shall certainly tell, and if it does not hurt General Belknap no one will be more rejoiced than myself;” Len, tered the committee room at about two o'clock yester. day, and without being sworn I mado a statement to cers tain members of the committee of the facts in the eases more briefly but substantially as I have now answered in reply to your chief interrogatories; when I re- turned to the hotel yesterday afternoon Dr. Tomlinson was waiting at my room at the Arlington to see me; he asked me how I got along with the committee; I | told him 1 had told the story from beginning to end, and at the reques, of the gentleman present | was go- ing to reduce it to writing and appear before the com- mittee to-day at half-past ten with it; he wanted to know how I had stated the fact that all these payments to the Secretary had been made im consequence of tho original agreement with Mrs. Belknap; I said I had stated the facts as they were according to my best recollection and belief; I told him I would farnish him a copy of the statement I would make before the committee; I prepared the state. ment last night and gave him a copy about, eight o’clock this moruing, being substantially a copy of that I submitted as an answer to your chief interroga- tory save that I have filled up tho blanks; Dr. Tomlin- son came back to my room at about half-past seven , olclock last evening, and I asked him whether he had seen Mr. Blackburn since | had made my statement in the afternoon and what impression 1t bad made upon the gentiomen who heard it; he said he did not like to say he had seen Mr. Blackburn, but he said he had seen one of the committee, who expressed the opinion that my statement would involve the Secretary; he then made a stronger appeal to mo than ever before, saying that I was the friend of the Secretary; that if this thing came out it would ruin him; that his wife was in great distress about it, and he himself, as ber brother and friend of the family, was in great trouble, and that if I could state——; I said, “Stop, Dr. Tomlinson; I have about finished my written statement and I will read 1t to you,” I then read it to him; ho ‘said he did not see but it was all right; that THINGS COULD BE EXPLAINRD YET; if they could prove that this money was origtnally set — to General Belknap by Mrs, Belknap’s oraer, General Belknap would be subpewnaed, and would prove to the committee that Mrs, Belkpap’s estate is entirely sep_ arated from his, and that this money, received through me, he had always kept distinct from bis and for her. By the Chairman—Did you ever have apy busi, ness felations, of any kind or nature whatever, with the late Mrs. Belknap or the present Mre. Belknap, or either of them, other than those arising from this Fort Sill tradership? Have you now or have you ever bad any sum or sums of money or any evidences of indebtedness or securities of any sort or de- scription whatever belovging to either of them, or have you at any time been indebted to either of them im any way, manner, form or de- scription’ A. Never; tho preseut Mrs. Belknap years ago may have consulted me on business matters, but there were no monetary transactions whatever between us other than I have heretofore stated. Q. By the Chairman—When was the baby of the tata Mrs. Belknap born, and when did it die? A, The baby of the late Mrs. Beikoap was born in the autumn of 1870; it ied during the summer of 1871. By Mr. Robbint—in the conversation had with the present Mrs, Belknap at tho funeral of her sister in December, 1870, or in auy other conversation had with her or another person at any time, was itthe under standing that the money you were to pay and were pays ing was to be the money of Mrs. Belkuap, the present wite of the Secretary of War’ A. It was not The foregoing deposition and statement made under oath, having been carefully read over in fullto Mr, Caleb P. Marsh, the witness, in the presence of the committee, and he having made such alterations and i corrections therein as he deemed just, he assents toat » .