The New York Herald Newspaper, March 3, 1876, Page 4

as a correct record of his testimony and attests the | Belknap that] feit assured no member of the commit- | game by his signature hereto attacl ed tee would desire to prosecute the inquiry further than CALEB P, MARSH. | to ascertain whether the Secretary of War | Wasueron, D. C, Feb. 29, 1876. | or any subordinate of that department was | Mr. Blackburn submitted a statement regarding his | mvolved. 1 said to her further that 1 | interview with the wife of the Secretary of War in the | would communicate the facts as stated by her to presence of Dr. Tomlinson, marked “D. Messrs, Clymer and Stebbins, of the committee, and Mr, Clymer and Mr, Robbins also submitted state- | would state to them the assurance 1 had given her. ments relative thereto, marked respectively ’ and | This I did immediately, within an hour after the inter- op” | View referred to occurred, stating fully to those gentle- CROSS-EXAMIN ATION men all that had taken place; whereupon both these Turnspay Morsive, March 2, 1876.—The witness, | gentlemen approved What I had said and done, and | C. P. Marsh, being recalled, was cross-examined by | thoroughly concurred with mo in the purpose of | Jadge Blair, | prosecuting no investigation that did not promise or Q In your examination-in-chicf you say that Secre- | tend to implicate or involve the Secretary or his subor- | tary Belknap remenstrated against your going away | inate officials. This is the only assurance ever given | Without appearing before the committee, Did the | or conversation had by me upon this subject, either | Secretary, in desiring you to go before the commit- | with Mrs, Belknap, Dr. Tomlinson, or with apy other tee to testify, ask you to testify toany untrath? A. 1 | person whatever, at any time, nor am I related or cons certainly do not think he did. on wine | nected by blood or by marriage, in any degree, either to General Belknap or bis wife, or Dr, Tomlinson. ER COMNOATS Se ee STATEMENT OF MR, CLYMER REGARDING MR, BLACKBURN, [Axhibit A.) Agreements:—Johu 8. Evans and Caleb P. Marsh, October 8, 1870.—E. T. Bartlett, Attorney, &c., No. 170 | Broadway, New York city.—Articles of agreement made and entered into this Sth of October, in the year of our Lord 1870, by and between John 8. Evans Mr. Clymer stated that on Tharsday morping, the 2ith of February, just before the House met, Mr. Blackburn requested him to accompany him to the im of the committee, when and where he stated that re be had just had an mterview with the wife of the Sec- of Fort Sill, Indian Territory, United States of America, of the first part, and Caleb P, Marsh, of No. 51 West Thir- | Tetary of War, at her instance, in the presence of Dr. ty-fifth street, of the city, county and State of New | Tomlinson, her brother, and that he narrated to bim York, of the second part, witnesseth, viz:--Whereas | "@ conversation between them at that interview, the said Caled P, Marsh bag received from General | Which was in substance as he has stated it, Late in Villiam W. Belknap, Secretary of War of the United | ¢ day, mmodiately after the House adjourned, Mr. States, the appointment of post trader at Fort sill, | Robbims and myself, at his request, came to the committee rooms, where Mr. Blackburn again aforesaid; and whereas the name of said John 8. Evans is to be filled into the mission of , TePeated the substance of the interview, whereupon ssi | appointment of said post trader at Fort Sill aforesaid, | N@ WAS assured by Mr. Robbins and myself that we by permission and at the instance and request of said | CORCUFFed with him as to the objects of the pending in- Caled P, Marsh, and for the purpose of carrying out | Vestigation and that he was justified in giving tho as- the terms of this agreement; and whereas said John 8, | SUrance that no Investigation would be made which Evans {sto hold said position of post trader as afore. | “id not tend to reach the Secretary of War or some of said solely as the appointee of the said Caleb P, Marsh his subordinates, i and for the purpose hereinafter stated. STATEMENT OF Mi, KOBBINS. Now, therefere, said John S. Evans, in consideration | [Bxhibit F.) of said appomtment and the sum of $1 to him in hand Mr. Robbins deemed it sufficient for him to say sim- puid by said Caled P. Marsh, the receipt of which is | Ply that on Thursday, February 24, Mr. Blackburn hereby acknowledged, hereby covenants and agrees to | CMmunicated to Mr. Clymer and himself the fact that : ‘i , | on that morhing the wife of the Secretary of War had pay to said Caleb P, Marsh the suin of $12,000 annu- illy, payable quarterly in advance, in the city of New | YeFY Unexpectedly sought an interview with him and York aforesaid, said sum to bo so payable during the | thatsuch interview had taken place, He recounted to Orst year of the agreement absolutely and under alletr. |" Wha had passed at that interview and cumstances, anything hereinafter contained to | he has embodied the same ina statement which accom- the contrary notwithstanding, and thereafter said sum | Pantes the report, which statement accurately recites shall be so payable, unless increased or reduced in | the Matter ashe communicated it to us. The state. amount, in accordance with the subsequent provisions | Ment made by Mr. Clymer, Chairman of the committee, in reference to Mr. Blackburn’s communication to us concerning that interview, and our opinions and deci- sions thereupon, is in all respects accurate. We all | concurred in the ides that it would be our duty to push every investigation which tended to throw light upon of this agreement, In consideration of the premises it is mutually agreed between the parties aforesaid as | follows, viz: First—This agreement is made on the basis of seven cavalry companies of the United States army, which are Hoveatationasuemen will Wrncebetal the official conduct of the Secretary of War and his sub. Second-—If, at the end of the first year of this agrece | Mlinates of that department, however painful might ment, the forces of the United States army, stationed | D¢ the performance of sach duty; but if we, at any at Fort Sill aforesaid, shall be ivcreased or diminished, | “M4 discovered evidence which Involved only unofll- sot to exceed 100men, then this agrecmout shall re. | ‘Ml persons, and espectally ladies, we should not feel | aiain in full force and unchanged for the next year, | bound to prosecute any inquiry which we kn@w could if, Nowever, the said forces shall be increased or | DAVE no other resu’s than that, for our investigation diminished beyond the number of 100 men, then the | hd nothing todo with private individuals, but only tmount to be paid under this agreement by said Jonn | With officials, Evans to said Caleb P, Marsh shall be increased or | A0UEPEANGE: OF SELESAP!e REsIGKATION. reduced in accordance therewith and in proper pro- | [Behibit @.) srtion thereto, The above rule laid down for the | Executive Mansion, hihacur dk aude anes ans o Wasuixatoy, D. 0, March 2, 1876, ustruction of this agreement at the close of the first | yap sim—Your tender of resignation as Secretary of ear thei nplied ESE CIR ual bs head oe aan : ee hear hsue- | War, with the request to have it accepted immediately, es veh agreement shall remain 4. received, and the samo is hereby accepted with greut in force and effect, * 7 sigh tis . pg hun geen regret. Yours, &c., U.S GRANT, Third—Vhis agreement shall remain in force and | ., TOMLINSON'S DISAVOWAL, effect so long as said Caleb P. Marsh shall bold or con trol, directly or indirectly, the appointment azd posi- tion of post trader at Fort Sill aforesaid. Fourth—-This agreement shall take effect from the date and day the Secretary of War aforesaid shall sign the commission of post trader at Fort Sill as aforesaid, | Sin—I have been informed that my name has been said commission to be issued to tho said John S, mentioned in connection with the recent charges Evans at the instance and request of said Caleb b. | against the Secretary of War—First, that [ attempted Marsh, and solely for the purpose of carrying out the | to induce the witness, C. P. Marsh, to swear falsely, provisions of this agreement. | and, second, that the Hon. J. ©. 8 Blackburn, a mem- Figth—Exception is hereby made in regard to the | ber of your committee, was a relative and would sup Hirst quarterly payment under this agreement, it being | press the whole matter. What I desire to state is, Qgreed and understood that the same may be paid at | that each of the above stateme: is utterly and en- any time within the next thirty days after the Seere- | tirely false, Very respectiully, tary of War shall sign the aforesaid commission of post | WILLIAM M. TOMLINSON. tracer at Fort Sill. | I demand, in justice to myself as well as to the Hon, Sith—Sald Caleb P. Marsh is, at all tines, at the re. | J. CS. Blackburn, a personal explanation. quest of said John 8. Evans, to use any proper influ- | WM. M. 7. ence be may have with said Secretary of War for the | William M, Tomlinson deposes and says that the protection of said John S. Evans while im the discharge | foregoing statement is just and true to the best of his of his legitimate duties in the conduct of the business | knowledge and belief Sworn and subscribed before Evhibit H.) OUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Wasuinetoy, D. C., March 2, 1876, To Hon. Heister CLymer, Chairman of the Committee of Expenditures of the War Department :— | H | | | | | NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1876-~ RIPLE past twelve P.M. There were present the chairman and Messrs, Robbins and Blackburn, The committee ordered the chairman to address & letter to the President forthwith asking him for a copy of the letter of resignation of the late Secretary of War and informing them at what hour this day it was re- coved, which was submitted to and approved of by the com- mittee, and sent to the President by a messenger of the House, with orders to wait fora reply, At one o'clock Messrs Bass and Dantord appeared. The committeo having taken a recess for the purpose of considering the request of William W. Belknap, | made by his counsel, Judge Blair, to be permitted to appear before the committee to make a sworn states ment, it was determined that he should be beard. Whereupon Judge Blair was Informed of the decision and requested to have General Belknap appear before the committee at three P. M. to-day if he still desired to do so, The committee met at three o’clock—present all the members, W. W. Belknap having fatled to appear the chairman submitted the report to the committee, and it having been unanimously approved, the chairman was or- dered to make the same to the House forthwith. THE SUBJECT IN CONGRESS. REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATING COMMIT?EE-— RESOLUTIONS OF IMPEACHMENT—DISCUSSION ON THE EFFECT OF THE RES{GNATION—ULTI- MATE ACTION OF THE HOUSE. Wasuinerox, March 2, 1876. In the House of Representatives to-day Mr, Clymer, of Pennsylvania, presented resolutions of impeach- ment against Wiliam W. Belknap, late Secretary of War, for high crimes and misdemeanors in office. In the midst of great excitement and with an unusual stillness in the House Mr, Clymer rose and said:— MR. CLYMER'S REPORT, I ask permission of the House to make a report from the Commitice on Expenditures in the War De- partinent of sograve importance that 1 am quite cer- tain thatwhen it is heard this House will agree that T aim justified in asking that permission at this time, Permission was given, and Mr, Clymer, taking his position at the Clerk’s desk, read the following re- port; ‘The committee found at the very threshold of its in- vestigation such unquestioned evidence of the mal- feasance of General William W. Belknap, then Secre- tary of War, that they found it to be their duty to lay the same before the House. They further report that this day at eleven o'clock a letter of the President of the United States was presented to the committee, accepting the resignation of the Secretary of War, together with a copy of his letter of resignation, which, the President intormed the committee, was accepted about twenty minutes past ten this morning, They therefore unanimously report and demand that the said William W. Belknfp, late Secretary of War, be dealt with according to the law of the land, and to that end submit herewith the testimony in the case taken, together with the several statements and exhibits thereto attached, and also a receipt of the proceedings oft the committee had during the investigation of this subject, and submit the following resolutions :— RESOLUTIONS OF IMPRACHMENT. Resolved, That William W, Belknap, late Secretary of War, be impeached of nigh crimes and misdemean- o rs. Resolved, That the testimony in the case of W. W. Belknap, late Secretary of War, be reterred to the Judiciary Committee, With instructions to prepare and report, without unnecessary delay, suitable articles of impeachment of said W. W. Belknap, late Secretary of Wor. esolved, That a comunittee of five members of the House be appointed and instructed to proceed imme- diately to the Bar of the Senate and there impeach Willumn W. Belknap, late Secretary ot War, in the uame of the people of the United States, of high crimes and, misdemeanors when tu office, and to inform that body that formal articles of impeachment will in due time be presented, und to request the Senate to take such order in the premisés as they may deem appropriate, Mr. Clymer then proceeded to read the testimony of Caleb P. Marsh, taken yesterday before the committee, showing thathe had paid Secretary Belknap about $20,000 in consideration of his appointment as post trader at Fort Sill, I. T. ‘The reading was listened f with intense interest by the mombers of the House and by a large audience in the galleries. In the more pathetic portions of the narrative Mr. Clymer was frequently forced by his feelings to pause until his voice recovered from its tremulousness and himself from his agitation, At the close of the reading, aud after the many members who had taken up positions near the Clerk’s desk, the better to hear the testimony and accompanying state- ments, had returned to their seats, Mr. Clymer, who had also gone to his sé@at, again rose and said, wita great emotion: : REMARKS OF MR, CLYMER. Mr. Speaker, I would not if I could, and could not in my present condition if 1 would, add anything to the facts just reported to the House. Another occasion as post trader at Fort Sill aforesaid. | me this 2d March, 1876. may be afforded me to do so, They are so plain that Seventh—Said John 3, Evans is to conduct the busi- | HEISTER CLYMER, Chairman, | everywhere throughout this broad land ‘and ness of post trader at Fort Sill aforesaid solely on his | WM. M. TOMLINSON, throughous Christendom, wherever the English THE SECRETARY'S RESIGNATION, (Bxkibie 1.) Wasiuxotos, D. C., March 2, 1876, own responsibility and in hisewn name, it being ex- pressly agreed and understood said Caleb P. Marsh | shall assume no hability in the premises whatever, ghth—And it is expressiy understood and agreed th the stipulations and covenant aforesaid are to spply to and to bind the heirs, executors aud adminis- trators of the respective partes. in Witness whereof the parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals, the day aud year | | Mr. Parsipest:— | “1 herevy tender my resignation as Secretary of War | and request its immediate acceptauce. Thaukiug you | tor your constant and continued kindness, Iam re- | specttully and truly yours, WM. W. BELKNAP, (A true copy.) F. BD, Grayt, [Exhibit K.) first above written, J. 8 EVANS, | ©. P. MARSH. Executive Mansion, WaswixaTon, March 2, 1876, Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of E. T. | Six.—In reply to your note of inquiry of to-day’s Bartlett, ak | date, the President directs me to say that the hour of ce ei. | the acceptance of the resignation of the Hon, W. W. Belknap, as Secretary of War, was about twenty min- utes past ten o'clock this morning. Ascopy of the lat- rue Wank Derartaent:— ter of resignation is with enclosed, lam, sir, your Duan Sins—Lduly received yourtelegram of February | Svedient servant, ©, C, SNIFFEN, Secretary. 21, summoning me to appear before you, and answered | Hou. Hxiwrxe Cuvaex, Chairman, Committee on that I would do #0, but my wife lias since Lecome so ill | Expenditures in the War Department, House of Repre- | As to make it almost impossible for me to leave her for:| **utatives, Preseut | any time; and I to-day send you a teie- | PROCERUINGS OF THE COMMITTEE. gram. to this effect, and will also give a | Extract from proceedings of the committee Tuesday stalbment of my connection with the post tradership | Morning, February 29, 1876:—The committee met; | rt Sill, whieh will, L wrust, avord the necessity ot ; Present, Messrs, Clymer, Blackburn ad Robbins. Mr. | aying home. I will, however, come as soon agi | Marsh, a witness, being present, was duly sworn oy the ! 1 will be happy tose any one or all of the com. | Chaitman and was examined by the committee. (See | mittee at my house in this city. At the time applied | ¢Vidence.) Messra Blackburn, Clymer and Robbins | for the positon of post trader at Fort Sill 1 presumed submitted statements regardng an interview had by | that | would furnish recommendations that would se. Mr. Blackburn with the wife of the Secretary of War, | cure me the appointment which was afterward prom. | Which are marked “C,” “D,” ““E,” respectively, aud ised to me. After this I saw Mr, Evans in Wash. _ Tiered to be made part of the evidence. ington and made an arrangement with him, in conse. ARORTEEG. 0 SONG: yPROET EN. EE Sone quence of which I withdrew in his favor and he re. | o'clock. Wrpxesvay Morsino, March 1—The committee met .} New York, Feb, 28, 1876. ‘To rae HONORARLE THR Commtrree ON ExrexoiTURes 1N ceived the appointment, This arrangement was made without the advice or cousont of the | Pursuant to adjournment; present, Messrs, Clymer, Bocretary of War, neither did he have any knowledge | Blackburn, Robbins, ass and Danford, ‘The Secretary of such an arrangement from mo or any one cise, so far | o! WAt, having been notified of the meeting, appeared as I kuow, Hor was he intrusted in any such arrangement | Whereupon the testimony of the witness, Caleb P. or the fruits of any arrangement between us. There Marsh, taken yesterday, with the several exhibity therein referred to, were read by the Chairman, The witness C, P. Marsh being also present, and the Secretary of War desiring to cross-examine tim and wishing time to employ counsel, the committee agreed that when it would adjourn it would be until three P. M. today, The Chairman was directed to ask leave of the House for the committee to sit during the sessions thereof, Adjourned, THE SECRETARY'S PROPOSITION, | , at three P. M., the committee met, all the | members being present. General Belknap appeared, accompanied by his counsel, Judge Blair, The testi- mony, exhibits and the statements taken beiore the committee were fully read by the chairman for the in- formation of Judge Blair, the Secretary having with. | drawn, after which Judge Blair made a verbal propost- | STATEMENT OF MR, BLACKBURN, tion to the committee regarding the report which might | [Brkibit D.) | be made to the House, whereupon the Gommittee aa- | Alter the foregoing deposition was taken Mr, Black. | journed, to meet this evening at the rooms of Mr. Bass, burn said, witnout desiring to express any opinion as at twenty-nine minutes past eleven, 1 to the accuracy of the conversation detailed by Mr, FourTkeyty Stkeet, WeoxespaY Evextxo, March 1.— | Morsh as having occurred between Mr. Tomlinson and | The committee met at the house of Mr. Bass, at eignt Limself relative to any remarks made by me, | think | P. M., porsuant to adjournment, The proposition of | it best to submit to the committee the following state. | the Secretary, made at the afternoon session through | ments of tacts, of which my democratic colleagues ofthe | Judge Blair, was fully discussed, and, after mature de. mittee were promptly advised. On the morving of | liberation, was unanimonsly rejected. The committee | the 24th of February , 1876, Thursday, about ten o'clock, | adjourned to meet to-morrow at half-past ten A. M. Dr. William Tomiingon called at my rooms and asked |+ Tworspay, March 2—The committee met at half-past | me to go with him to attend to some business, with. ten} A. M., pursaant to adjournment, Judge Blair ap- out stating what it was, to which I assented. He pro- ven o'clock, and presented a letter dated teeded to the residence of General Belknap, and upon , Signed by U. 8, Grant, President of the arriving there he said that his sister, Mrs. | United States, accepting the resignation of the Secre. H Belknap, desired to see me. I reqnested bis presence | tary of War, marked ‘‘G."" Dr. Tomlinson appeared at the interview, to which he assented, and | and presented « letter addressed to the chairman, to be was present during the whole time, In this inter. | the contents of which he was duly sworn; marked | view Mra Belknap said that the testimony of one | «HL ‘The witness, Mr, Marsh, being present, was re- | Caleb P. Marsh before the Committee on Expenditures | called by Mr. Blair, counsel for General Belknap, and | im the War Department would tend to implicate ber. | was cross-examined, (See testimony.) self in matéers that would occasion criticiam, but | The committee authorized the chairman to drafta would utterly failto show any complicity upon the | report of the case to the House to be submitted to the | part of General Belknap in the matter of the Fort 8 committee. tradership, and she asked that she might notjbe made | The committee on motion took a recess until half the subject of investigation where the testimony did nog past twelve P. M. never bas been, nor is there now, any contract, agree- ment or arrangement between the Secretary of War and myself in regard to these matters, 1 am, very sin- cerely, your obedient servant, ©. P, MARSH, [Exhibit Anuneton Hore, Wasnixerox, Feb, 28, 1876, fo Tax Commirrex on Exrexorrexes ix min Wan Dr. Deak Sixs—I herewith fle a copy of a letter which I wrote you from New York, but not having mailed when I received your subpena, concluded not to send it, This morning, however, I thought best to send it, in the hope that it may teud to shorten the time of my examination, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ©. P. MARSH. P.S,—I will pring the contract you inquired for. Same da, | opinion as to the impeachability of a resigned language is read or spoken, they will for loug vears constitute a record of official corruption and crime such as there 1s no parullel for in our own his- tory or in that of any other country that hkuow of If ju this hour one sentiment of pity, one word of sym- pathy, could flud utterance from me, it would be because I fool that the late Secretary of War 1s but the proper outgrowth, the true exponent of the corruption, the extravagance, the misgovernment that have cursed this land for years past. That be‘ng my own reflection I will discharge my duty best to myself and to this House by demanding the previous question on the adoption of the resolution, Mr. Kassos, (rep.) of lowa, appealed to Mr. Clymer to give an opportunity for some suggestions to be made Defore asking the previous question on a matter of so grave importance. Mr. Cuymen regretted that he could not oblige his friend—(several democratic members, “Yes! yes!) — and for the reason that his colleagues on the commit. tee desired to be heard hereatter. The previous ques- tion was seconued. . % Mr. Kasson—Allow me to say that there will not be the slightest opposition to their being all heard, Mr. CLimek—lI decline to yield aud demand the pre- vious question, Mr. Kasson—Does the gentieman expect the House to-night, after five o'clock, and without this report being printed, to vote on these resolutions, whep even the impeachability of the oilicer at present is a pout to be considered by the House ? Mr, CLymek—After the previous question bas been | ordered I will yiela half the hour to the members of | the committee who are on tho other side of the Houge. | After some further discussion the previous question | was seconded, and Mr, Clymer yielded the floor to ! ts colleague on thé committee, Mr. Robbins, of North | Carolina, fr | Mr. Romine pleaded his mental and physicainf- | haustion from his continuous service on the committee | as the reason why he should not address the House at | any length, He spoke of the report as presenting a case of great shame and disgrace to all American citi- zens. AS tothe question of the impeachability of an | officer who had resigned, he was nov prepared to speak | worthily, except 0 suggest that it could not be trae that an officer who was being investigated, and who had been found by evidence to be a criminal, could flee from justice. He alluded to what he called ° THE UNSEEMLY ACCEPTANCE of Secretary Beiknap’s resignation and referred to the English cases of Warren Hastings and Lord Francis Bacon, both of. whom bad Leen impeached after they had ceased to hold offices in which they committed crimes and m mea nor Mr, Bass, (rep.) of N. Y., another me committee, questioned the statement of (Mr. Clymer) as to this case having no pay 1 ayid | shat be would not have to leave his «+ -Horders ie order to find not only a parallel for it, be iat he cous find cases compared with which this case was aa While as the driven snow, He admitted that = mene @tate, ment of this case as presented by the trot was, sufficient to justify every member to vote for, utions presented, Mr. Lamar, (dem) of Miss., inquired of Me f Mr. Bass replied that the English authorities to maintain the jurisdiction of impeach) s cases, but that in this country it was an unadjud) question and one that was not free from doubt | his own best judgment was in favor of the right peach and to let the question be adjudicated by) @ Senate, 7 Mr. Hoar, (rep.) of Mass.—In reference to the Temark of some member as to this being a polle™ question, entirely disclaimed and repudiated sac =& idea. On the points of the impeachability of a per hot in office, he referred to the case of Mr. Whittma of South Carolina, in which the House nad determine) that a formal, actual renunciation of an office term: ua con vy ated the office, and that any American Jay down an office held by him without Whereupon Mr. Clymer prepared the letter, | doctrine that it could not be done in England; but there any citizen could be impeached, and, therefore, the Enghsh cases of Warren and Hust- ings and Lord Bacon did not apply. In America and when he ceased to be a civi! officer he ceased to be within the literal description of the constitution. In in an impeachment case was removal from office and statutes dicted, tried and sentenced by the criminal courts of the coantry. He protested against hot haste in the matter without having the testimony printed. He thought such haste unworthy of this grave question and if he stood alone he would still stand here to 80. Mr. Bracksvry, (dem.) of Ky., another member of port which had been read by his éolleague, Mr. Clymer, showed to the world that nothing had been left undone by the committee to shield and shelter from dishonor the committee to investigate and report upon) He would not consent that the gentleman from Massa- chusétts should .make this a political ora partisan House should be placed in the position of prosecutors and the other side should take the position of defend- ers. It was a question which addressed itself alike to every meiber of the House. He regarded the case as an unprecedented one in more respects than one, The action of the President in accepting Secretary Belknap’s resignation under the circumstances was unprece- dented, and this was the first instance in the history of the country where any man claiming manhood and holding an exalted station had sought to shelter him- self from legitimate investigation by interposing the dishonor of a wife, (Sensation.) tion of the impeachability of Mr. Belknap, be suggested that that question, as Judge Story bad intimated, might properly be lett to the decision of the Senate, On such wstate of facts would the House, he asked, shrink from the performance of its duty because | there might be the mist or shadow of a doubt on that point’ The House could uot doso, It would not be admissible: He quoted from the impeachment case of Lord Bacon, in which it was stated that where the Lord Chancellor had songht to save himself by « resignation of his high office the attomp’ was vain, as the King did not and could not interpose. Was the House to be told thatthe man in power at the other end of the avenue was able to $ KOU AN AMERICAN CONGRESS | of aright and power which a King of Great Britain could not take from Parhament? (Sensation and ap- plause.) It used to be the theory that the king could done wrong; but no man had ever been found bold enough in this country to say that the President can do no wrong. If the man who had uttered the mem- orable sentence, ‘Let no guilty man escape,’’ held it in his power to rob an American Congress of its right to inflict punishment or to pronounce censure on a publicly conyicted eriminal, where was the barricr to be found beneath whose shelter the liberties of the people could rest secure? (Applause.) Mr. Hoar—Does the gentieman say that Congress has the power tu punish any man in this country? Mr. BLacknery—I will not submit to interruptions, IT am the last man who would introduce one atom of politics in this discussion, It ts not admissible here, The republican members of the committee were as earnest and honest in the prosecution of the inquiry and 1m the presentation of this report as the members representing the majority of this House. We have seen no difference in the committee room, to the members of the House that there shall be no difference manifested here, If fraud has been perpe- trated, if criniinality exists, if corruption has been proved, let the representatives of the people in this House so declare it and send the issue to the court where it may finally be tried; and if we are unable to punish where guilt is almost openly confessed let the responsibility for that failure rest om other shoulders than ours, Mr. Daxvorrn, (rep.) of Ohio, another member ot the committee, expressed it as bis judgment that the acceptance of Mr. Belknap’s resignation in no manner changed the position of that officer to the country, He disagreed, however, with the statement of the chairman (Mr. Clymer) that the conduct of this officer was the legitimate outgrowth of the principles of the party in power, aud he expressed the hope that there would not be a single vote on the republican side of the House against the resolution, REMARKS OP MR, KASSON, Mr. Kasson, of Iowa, said that a few years ago there had gone from his State a young, well educated and | gallant gentleman to fight the battles of his country. He haa gone through the war, and the President bad afterward called him toa seat in his Cabinet, piacing him at the hedd of that army of which he had been an humble but somewhat distinguished member. This morning, for the first time, the delegation from Iowa bad heard that that gentleman, who had been so much respected in his own State and isso much honored by ‘the nation, had been found guilty of receiving a com- pensation for some act of official duty, avd that that compensation had been continuous. The House would judge of the emotion with which the members from that State had listened to the reading of the evidence. He had never heard anything read with greater interest than the report, and when at the close of the reading he had nfade an appeal to his friend from Pennsylvania (Mr, Clymer$ not for himself alone, but for his colleagues, whose pride and honor were so touched by the character of the report, for a moment’s delay, that vhey might find out whether there maght not be in the evidence ove mand for the previous question, He did not desire to claim any exemption for Mr, Belknap from ali the pen- alties to which his acts entitled him; but he found the MOST PAINFUL FEATURE word of it touched the officer in question until the death which broke a heart had occurred. (Sensation.) Was he to be blamed that he and his colleagues wanted @ right to ascertain the extent of that officer’s guilt by } reading the evidence in point? Was be to be blamed that, when be found that the most delicate relations in the human life involved in this proceeding—a relation no man could be impeached but a civil officer | this country the only judgment that could be rendered | future disqualification from holding office, but by the | person guilty of such offences could be in- | y | the committee, expressed his satisfaction that the re- | every person except the one whom it was the duty of question, H@® would not consent that his side of the | ing to the ques- | I appeal | extenuating circumstance, he bad been met by the de- | disclosed by the evidence to be the fact that not one | so delicate that he dared not allude to itin detail—he | SHEET. Mr. Cuywer, in making his preliminary remarks to the House, and im subsequently reading from the Clerk's desk the testimony which told in such a plain | | and convincing manner the guilt of the man who had | been so trusted and honored, was visibly alfected, and | had to exercise a strong mastery over his feelings to suppress the public display of his emotions, He was particularly affected when he came to read that portion of it which deseribed the scene between the witness (Mareh), Mrs, Belknap and Mrs, Bowers (the sister of the then Mrs, Belknap, and now herself holding that name) in the nursery, where the pecuniary prospects of the innocent child were alluded to, and the other | Portion which described tho efloris made by the wife 0 screen the husband, and the mental anguish of | the witness, straggling betweon jhe desire to sa¥o bis friend and the resolve not to do" so at the expense of his own soul Mr. Clymer had to pause several times when he came to these passages, and his strong emo- tion won favor for him from all spectators, | During the proceedings Mr. Kerr occupied the | Speaker's chair, and beneath him, at the Clerk’s desk, | sat his predecessor (Mr. Blaine), evincing a painful in- | terest in the story as told im the testimoay of Marsh. | Many members whose seats are in a remote part of the | hail took up positions in the area in front of the Clerk's | desk, and all the rest occupied their seats, paying the | most marked attention to the reading, Before the | scene had closed | THE GALLERIRS had all become crowded, inciuding the viplomatie gallery, where the Danish Minster and his wife were | among the spectators. There was a feeling of relief | experienced by all after the vote was taken and the | aftair brought to a close. THR PROCERDINGS TO-DAY, The committee appointed by the Speaker will to- morrow proceed to the Senate Chamber and communi- cate to that body the action of the House. The Judiciary Committee to-morrow will also draw up the articles of impeachment and report them to the House, When adopted by the House that body will, headed by its Speaker and high officers, proceed to the Seuate Chamber and demand the impeachment of Mr. Bel- | knap, Then the Senate will (in parhamentary phrase) “take order’ for the impeachment—that is, arrange the time and manner of conducting the trial, which will be prosecuted on the part of the House by its Judiciary Committee. The House then, at fitecn minutes past six, ad- | Journed, when it was announced that the democratic | caucus, which had been fixed for to-night, had been ad Journed till Saturday night. THE PRESIDENT FOREWARNED. CHARGES OF CORRUPTION AGAINST BELKNAP SENT TO THE PRESIDENT IN 1873 AND 18T4—HE IGNORES THEM—THE ACCUSING OFFICER PLACED UNDER ARREST. Baurimorg, March 2, 1876. Captain George T. Robinson, formerly of the Tenth | United States cavalry, and now living in this.city, furs | | nishes the following additional information concerning ex-Secretary Belknap’s corrupt partnership in the | profits of post traderships on. the frontier, Captain | Robinson early im the present session of Congress pre- | ferred the charges of corruption before the Military Committee against Secretary Belknap, which have led to the recent startling developments. Dr. Marsh was subpoenaed by the committee in accordance with sug- gestions made by Robinson, who has probably been more familiar with General Belknap’s corrupt practices than any one else, 1n 1868 Robinson was or- dered with his regiment to the Indian Territory as en- | gineer of the military district. He selected the site | of Fort Sill and superintended the erection of the fort. By reason of bis continued residence at | this post for nearly six years, he became familiar with the deiails of military service onthe frontier, As member of post council of administration, and for a time its president, it devolved upon Captain Robinson to inquire into the prices charged for merchandise by the post traders, At this time—1868-'9—the post tradership at Fort Sill was controlled by the firm of J. S. Evans & Co, Complaint having been made to the | firm that exorbitant prices were charged, they replied privilege of trading at the post FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR had to be paid to W, W. Belknap, Secretary of War. This, as was shown, was the contract price. The post council, through Captain Robinson, then demanded that the statement of Evans & Co, should be put in the form of an aifdavit, This was promptly done and the affidavit ‘was sworn to in the presence of several officers of the Tenth cavalry, It is now on file in the records of the council, together with other documentary evidence of asimilar character. It afterward appeared {rom state- ments of Evans & Co, that the anuual payment at the end of three years was reduced to $12,000, This amount was by agreement payable monthly in | advance. It is known by statements of J. 3. Evans to Captain Robinson that the monthly payments were continued up to March, 1875. The accuracy of these | | statements was unguestioned among the officers of the | | Teuth cavalry and Sixth United States infantry, and | the facts have for several years been notorious among | army officers generally. Tnata like amount was paid anpually to Secretary Belknap by the post trader at Camp Supply, Indian Territory, is stated on no less an authority than that cf General B, W. Hazen, when General Hazen evinced a disposition to criticise corrupt practices of his chief, he was ordered to a | more remote point on the frontier. While the proof | may be lacking in some instances there is every reason to believe that General Belknap, since be- comng a member of the Cabinet, has generally | participated in the profits of the post traderships. | | | | About twenty of them are very profitable aud it is thus | seen that the tirifty Secretary has reapell a rich ; harvest. The method of conducting the business hus | been to sell the traderships to a middleman who, it Seems, in several instauces. was one Marsh or Dr. Marsh, of New York. Marsh then sold the privileges to the highest bidder. | A GUILTY KNOWLEDGE IMPUTED TO THE PRESIDENT, The country will be startled, however, when itis | | known that President Grant has for some time been | | aware of irregularities, now exposed for the first time, | and more, that the articles o Swar and ruies of pro cedure have been disregarded and trampled upon by the doughty Belknap in the promotion of his personal that the difficulty could not be remedied, as for the |. asked an opportunity to consider whether there was | interests, Soon. after the discovery of the | anything to be saidgin extenustion of so high and 80 sraugs at Fort Sill, Captain Robinson, as Presi- | greet 9, migdemennor? But i.wentaodate tego beck | den, of the Post. Connell aud in the | tothatnow. He aud his colleagues had been retused | line of his duty, reported the corruption { that opportunity, and now be only asked the attention of the House to the question whether the House did not need more time to ascertain whether this officer impeachable. | more formal re port of the irregylarities was made, afin sucking from Judge Story ou this point he | when Captain Robinsen was at once ordered on argued that t al gape Congress were limited by the | recruiting service at Philadelphia. He was soon after gai ase On crrpasut sad | ordered to this city and placed in command of the mate ci sani: bs tonal Provision | recruiting post here, From Baltimore, during thi which declares that he aball be removed from oillee. | jvtter part of 187s, he pretorred Paints ond 1 he were liable to impeaghment let it be understood | sonya1 cuanues OF CORRUPTION AGAINST SECRETARY that they were all BELKNAP, WITHOUT BXCEPTION FOR IMPEACHMENT, to the President, through the customary channels. | The only result was iis transfer to the position of Su- pervisor of the Issuing of Indian Supplies in 1873, A and forwarded proofs and specifications to President but if the House was establishing a precedent which did | Grant. As aresult of this act he-was at once placed under military arrest on September 11, 1874, PREITY TYRANNY. It is provided by the act of Congress that formal charges must be preferred against an officer of the army within ten di after bis arrest, Failing to do | this, it is provided he shall be immediately set | at liberty. Captain Robinson, however, by speciay order of Secretary Belknap, wag placed uader close ar- restand no liberty was allowed him, nor were any charges preferred against him until the tollowiug spring, when he was sent to St. Louis for trial by a commission organized for the avowed purpose of a con- yietion, ‘The pious Belknap was authoritatively re- ported as saying at the time, “If this commission don't | not rest op the constitution and which was daugerous for the future, he thought it right that the House sould pause and consider by a report from its Ju- diciary Committee the question of its mght to make this impeachment, If the House could impeach , & man not in office it might go back and impeach | Jeflerson Davis and John B. Floyd for conspiracy, | Mr. Rot of North Carolina, suggested that there | was a great difference between a conviction on im- _ peachment and a conviction on indictment, In the ) wer case the man might be pardoned by the Exeeu- ve, but in the former case it could not be, As to the Poggestion as to the impeachment of Jefferson Davis, » Pe replied that it had been decided that a Senator could no be impeached, not being an officer of the United TUK RESOLUTIONS ADOPTRD, Yhe debate being closed, the House proceeded to ‘© on the resolutions, and they were unanimously opted. The Speaker appointed as the committee to notify the -enate of the action of the House, Messrs. Clymer, Re ving, Blackburn, Bass and Danforth (these mem- the ) or Department, making the report). THE SCENE IN THR HOUSE. . \ The coceedings not being anticipated nor the ote Phheh lo them generally known, thero was at SWectno Jory isoge attondance in the galleries, Mr, | Wood was epeokiny on the Hawaiian treaty in Commit. | tee of the Who, cat om an intimation of what was | mbowl to take place, he left his speech ished, and tend to involve the Secretary of War, Isaidto Mrs, | The committee met pursuant to adjournment at half. | of his resignation, Judge Story had laid down thy ' be hind ‘6 @ molou Chat the committee rise, ‘ere composing the Committee on the Expenditures of | Tho# eoded the most bitterly painful scene that ever | WOK plliee te this hall, the theatre of so many exciting | convict Captain Robinson then, by God, I wil fx one that will!” The charges | Gnally preferred consisted of alleged frauds, | | the preferring of unfounded charges againstya superior | | officer, &e, General Belknap's commission, however, | | did its appointed Work, aud Captain Robinson was dis- | missed the service. To show the irregular character of | the St, Louis commission it is only necéssary to state | | that five of its members were promoted by the dis- missal of Captain Robinson, The articles of War pro- | vide that an oifleer shall only be tried by his equals or superiors in rank, Ip this way is shown how the officers of the army, while cognizant of Secretary Belknap’s corruptions, | dared not protest against them for fear of persecutions | Which would at once have been instituted, It canuot | be doubted that President Grant, as stated above, has ldng been familiar with the corrupt practites of General Belknap, With bim, however, THE INTEREST OF THE PARTY was paramount, and his jdus Achates was shielded. 1s Seems certain that, but for the imvest'gationg of & demoeratic Cougress, the thrifty habits of our conten- nial Seeretary of War would lave rema ned Lidden for an indefinite period, Captain Robinson is about to demand an investigation of his case by the Militury Committee of the House and ask a reinstatement in the service, It is thought that the recent developmen! will encourage the officers of the army to divulge what ever iniormation they may possess concerning the cor- ruptions of the War Department, and thus render ma- terial aid in purifying the one depurt:nent of the gov- ernment which has been thought to be free from blemish. ~ COMMERCIAL EFFECT OF BELKNAP’S DISGRACE. CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE sHAKEN—PRE- DICTION OF AN EMINENT IRON MANUFAC TURER. Pirrsuure, March 2, 1876. The news of Secretary Belknap’s disgrace fell upot this community to-day like a thunder clap, and it was the theme of discussion at all public places of resort. Following so closely on the discovery of irregularities and the removals in the Custom House at this ity, it will bave the effect m & cer gneasure of disturbing the confidence of the people iv | everybody holding public positions, A prominent | iron manufacturer said to-night that Belknap’s con. duct would pot only humble the people of the United | States in their estimate of their own government, but would add nyaterially to the present depression in mor cantile affairs. He expected that te iron industries would feel it suddenly, for though confidence was being restored slowly it required nothing more than a blow like this to let it down into the rut again, SKETCH OF GENERAL BELKNAP. William Worth Belknap, whose official career an¢ public life came to such an unexpected and disgracefw end yesterday, comes of a military family. His father was William Belknap, a brave and distinguished officer of the war of 1812 and of the war with Mexico. He belonged to the old town of Newburg, on the Hudson, where his family, ou both sides, had been engaged in the wars of the Revolution, The elder Belknap dis tinguished himsoif in the attack on Fort Erie in 1814, and so eminent were bis services that after the wat with England be was retained in the regular army. He was so systematic in nabit that he was appointed one of the professors at West Point, At Resaca de la Palma, during the war with Mexico, the father of the Secretary of War distinguished nim. self for a recklessness of courage that ill-comportee with his usual staid and mathematical habits. At the battle of Buena Vista served on General Taylor’s staf, The citizens of his own State, in honor of his bravery, presented him with asword, His portrait now adorns the old headquarters at Newburg. He be. came a brigadier general. In 1851 General W. G. Bel- knap, while proceeding to his post in Texas, died of fever. One of the evidences of the sense of respect in which be was held is that he once presided over a court | martial which investigated the conduct of Genera’ Scott, The particular friend of the elder Belknap was Gon- eral William Worth ; the son was named William Wortk Belknap. Young Belknap was born at Hudson, N. ¥., Septem- ber 22, 1829, His early fe was passed in his native place, but he was educated at Princeton College, from which he was graduated in 1848. Among his class- mates were George M. Robeson, who has been so long associated with him in General Grant’s Cabinet, and Heister Clymer, of Pennsylvania, before whose commit- tee the exposures were made which led to his retirement and downfall, He subsequently read Jaw in the office of H. Caperton, at Georgetown, D. C., and then re- moved to Keokuk, lowa, where he practised his pro- fession in connection with Ralph P. Lowe, afterward Governor of the State and Juage of the Supreme Court. He began the practice of the law in 1851, and pursued his profession until he entered the army after the breaking out of the rebellion, During one term, that of 1857-8, he was member of the lowa Legisla- ture. He was elected as a democrat, but he opposed the measures of the Lecompton wing of his party, and in the subsequent political movements of the time ho identified himself with the fortunes of Stephen A. Douglas, His sympathies were entirely with the Union, and it was not long after the beginning of the rebellion until he gave his services to the country in the war with the South, ‘William W. Belknap entered the army as major the Fifteenth lowa Volunteers, under Colonel Hugh T. Reid, and served with bis regiment in the Army of the Tennessee throughout its various campaigns, Major Belknap was in the battle of Shiloh, which will be re- membered as one of the earliest struggles of the war, Grant being driven back to the river and his army only saved from destruction by the fortunate arrival of Buell, Later on Major Belknap participated in the siege and battle of Corinth and tn the long campaigo against Vicksburg. During these arduous campaigns his merits as a soldier were brought into prominence, and he rose to be the colonel of his regiment, As such he participated in the siege and battles of Atlanta ib 1864. He was in all of the battles of July 21, 22 and 28; and in the remarkable battle of the 22d, when parte of General Blair's corps were used on both sides of the works, he had the pleasure of capturing a rebel colonel | and fouror five of his men (all he could get to follow him of his whole regiment) who bad actually taken position on the opposite side of the work. One of the men bad pointed his gun over the para pet to shoot Colonel Belknap, but he adroitly pushed it away and boldly demanded tho surren- der of the whole party. After the capture ot Atlanta Colonel Belknap, who was promoted to be brigadier general for bis bravery in the action of the ‘22d, marched with Sherman to the sea and finally te Washington, participating in all the actions of that brilliant campaign. Not only was his special gallantry in the memorable battle of Atlanta recognized and re- warded, bat he was breveted major general March 13, 1865, for meritorious conduct during the war. After leaving the army upon the close of the war General Belknap returped to Keokuk, where he was appointed by President Johnson Collector of Internal Revenué for the First district of Iowa General Belknap held this insignificant office at the | ume when General Grant was inaugurated President of | the United States, In his own mind there was a doubt whether he would be permitted to hold it longer, an¢ he made a journey to Washington to endeavor to secure the place during the next administration. The result of that visit was that he became Secretary ot War, The President, recoguizing his merits asa soldier and beheving fn his worth as a citizen, first offered him the post of Collector of Customs at New Orleans, which he was compelled to decline for personal reasons, Subse. quently General Grant named him as Secretary of War, to succeed General Rawlins The ent was made October 12, 1869, and on the 3d of November fol- | lowing the Secretary said, in reply to an address from the citizens of Towa:—‘Honored as I have been by the President with a. position conferred upon me without solicitation, it will be my endeavor, with the enforcement of rigid economy, 80 to conduct its affairs as to command the approval of the country, rely. ing on that patriotism which has ever guided the American people, with the great examples ot a Stauton and a Rawlins before me. Ifthe result should indicate that your kind congratulations have not been misplaced I ghall be satisfied."’ For a long time such a result seemed likely, and the Secretary rose in public consideration and esjeem. The literary societies of his Alma Mater asked bim to qeliver their arnual address in 1871, and in the same and the subsequent year Le» addressed the graduating classes of the Military Academy at West Point In many ways during his terms of service as Secretary of War he seemed to merit that approval which he was anxious to recoive in the beginning, and recently his name was promi nently mentioned ia connection with the lowa Sen atorship, All these bright promises now are ende¢ apd 4 well earned reputation as a soldier is blasted for ever, In such a case it is possible only to pity a mat whose career had in it so much that was good and ye ended with such deep disgrace. As Mrs. Belknap’s name has been prominently mem toned in connection with this terrible scandal it may | be well to recall the story of his married tite, General Beikuap was thrice married, His first wife was a sister of General Hugh T, Reid, with whose regiment ne first eutered the military service, His first wife dying he subsequently married Miss Tomlinson, of Keokuk, Sowa, and after her death he married, in 1873, Mrs, HL - L. Bowors, the sister of bis second wife. It seems unnecessary in this place to sum up General Belknap's character. He was always regarded by his {riends a8 a good lawyer apd an honest man, and ifin the latter respect the verdict must now be he bas only to thank his own cupidity or or temp tation led hig into evil,