Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-09
THE EVENING STAR
Washington News and Gossip.

BelkIap, formerly purser at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard, who alleges that the President mas
neglected to restore him to his official position
from which he was suspended some two or
three years ago. Belknaps statement is that
the government funds at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard were stolen; that he caused to
be arrested several parties whom he
believed to be the. thieves, and had them
delivered into the custody of the Navy
Department.; that afterwards the accused were
liberated; that Belknap was charged with de-
falcation in S10o GOO, the sum stolen: that le
demanded OF the Secretary Of the Navy trial
by court-martial; that, according to law, if no
trial be ordered in twelve months after de-
nded, the President must restore the sus
pended officer to his former official position;
that no trial was ordered; that Belknap has
asked to be restored, but the President and the
Secretary Of the Navy have failed to comply
with the demand. Upon this statement Beik-
nap urges another article of impea UAment, and
il is proposed that Gen. Butler will propose
such article in the House to-day.
GENERAL HANoocK.--Gen. Grant has fur
nished the President with copies of the CORES
pondence between the General in Chief and
Gen. Hancock relative to the removal of civil
officers In New Orleans, and in which General
Hancock asks to be relieved from the command
of the Fifth District. Gen. Hancock also tele-
graphs to the President the hope that no repre-
sentations of parties in New Orleans will pre-
vent the Executive from relieving him, as his
usefulness as commander Of the Fifth District
has been impaired and his action paralyzed
No action has been taken in the matter by the
President, but it is not imp robable that the re-
quest TO be relieved will b. granted, and Gen
Hancock be placed in command OF the Depart
ment of the Atlantic.
SERVING THE SUMMoNs.-At seven O'Clock
Saturday evening, the Sergeant at Arms of the
Senate called at the White House to serve upon
the President the writ Of summons OH the i'm
peachment The proceedings were very brief
Upon the announcement of the usher that the
officer OF the Senate had arrived TO see Mr..
Johnson, the latter directed Mr.. Brown, the
Sergeant-at-Arms, TO be admitted After the
usual civil salutations Mr.. Brown said, aMr.
President have here package which am or
dered by the Senate of the United States to deliy.
er TO you at the same time handing a sealed en-.
velope or package containing the writ, etc Mr.
johnson replied-ssVery well, sir; il shall have
my attention Mr.. Brown-"Good evening,
Dir. President" Mr.. Johnson-ssGood even
ing, Mr.. Brown" And here Mr. Brown with
drew. Shortly afterward the President opened
1he package, and found therein the writ in.
clUding copy of the articles of impeac hmept,
etc.
HOUSE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE EXAM
INING REPoRTERs.-On Saturday last the man.
ayers of the House Impeachment Committee
were engaged in taking The evidence of news
paper reporters concerning the character of
speeches and addresses delivered by President
johnson during his re-idential term. Some
VI lutH were questioned as To whether Mr.
Johnson was inebriated or not at any time
while on his tours in the North. West and
South. One among the number examined was
l.. A. Gobright, Esq, agent for the Associated
Press i'll this city. Several others remain yet
10 be examined by the committee.
PERsoNAL.-Dr Cornelius Boyle, formerly
OF this city, Is row in town, looking very little
the worse, physically, for the wear and tear
of the Confederate service. He has recently
purchased the valuable Warrenton Springs
property. ''.'Mark Twain''-Clemens-
left Washington for California to make arrange
ments for the publication of his work
ALFRED Spates, Esq. president and super
iniendent of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,
II at the Seaton House, and says that the canal
VIII be opened about the Goth OF this month.
The STEAMER Observation-Disclosures Mas.
ter William Budd, Of the United States steamer
PurveyOr, reports to the Navy Department the
arriNa OF that vessel at ST. Croix, w l., on the
3lst OF January, after passage of fourteen days
from New York. The work of getting the
steamer Monongahela-whi hich was landed high
and dry on that island during the late earth.
quake-bad commenced, and il was expected
that she would be launched by the 18th OF aOtb
OF February, and Immediately start for the
nited states. Mr.. Davidson, the naval con-
struetor who has charge Of the work. reports
that the ship is in good order, and rests upon
bed OF hard sand stone. Her stores and furni-
lure are III good condition.
The PRESIDENTS LINE OF DEFEScE-It is
believed that the following are the main points
IN the line OF defence now contemplated in be.
half OF the President, though, of course IL will
be subject TO future notifications, as circum.
stances may seem 10 dictate, or as counsel NAV
suggest:
First. On appearing by counsel on Friday
Is IN h., od. \.
postponed until the first Monday in May. Fail.
ing in this. they will
Second. Make a motion e euasR the articles
of impeachment, on the ground that, If true.
they do not constitute high crime or misde-
meanoI.
Third. Exceptions will be taken to certalu
Senators, on the ground that they have pre-
Judged the case, and that the Senate has already
declared the President guilty of the main
charges, by the passage of the resolution con.
demning the removal OF Secretary Stanton
Fourth. Exceptions will be taken TO The lu-
risdiction of the Court, on the ground that il Is
not the Senate Of the United States.
Fifth. That the tenure-of-o -offiee bill cannot
apply 10 the case OF Mr. Stanton, not only on
account OF the proyiso in the first section, bat
also on the ground that having been passed
after Mr.. Stanton's appointment, il cannst be
applle0 10 MS tenure-Oj-onlce, without having
a retroactive effect, and becoming thereby an
ex post tdcto lac,
Sixth. That Mr. Stanton vas fuactus oBicto
after the 4th day of March, 1857, the expiration
of Mr.. Lincoln's first term, and that he has
not since that date been Secretary of War ds
Jnre, although exercising the functions OF that
Office.
DISTRIBUTION OF SEEDs.-The supply of
seed for the Department of Agriculture, which
were purchased and contracted for within the
past year, have all been exhausted. and no
is thoroughly reorganized. 1t is the desire of
the present Commissioner to discontin ne the
Wholesale distribution Of seeds, and to confne
himself to the distribution of rare and valuable
seeds, which will be given out to respons ible
persons III small quantities only, for the pur-
pose Of having them introduced in the country
few persons who have been employedl IN
packing seeds will be dismissed, there being no
further need OF their services.
REDUCING THE EXPENSES or rnR NAVY
In the House to-day Mr. Peters introduced
bill TO reduce the expenses Of the navy: which
was referred TO the Committee ON Naval Az.
fairs. Ii provides that on and after the mas.
sage of the act all officers of the line in the
navy shall be retired upon reaching the age of
sixty years; that prom otions shall hereafter tax
place in or into any new grade which has been
created since January ], 1860; that whenever
the grades Of Admiral, Vice Admiral, Rear Ad.
miral. Commander, Lieut.. Commander, and
fnsl lgn shall become vacant, in consequence of