The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-03-08

The prominence of General Belknsp, at
the present time, on account of his con-
fessed corruption, makes his previous his
tory an interesting study. He is son of
general of the old army, and by pro-
fession lawyer. He never ranked high
In his prot ssioD, nor earned much money
in practicing it. The maiden name OF his
in Viucennes, in this state. His second
wife was Carrie Tomlinson, a Ken
lucky lady OF good social standing
and considerable teauty OF person. She
it was who made the bargain with Marsh
which precipitated her husband into the
gulf of infamy which has swallowed him
up. His present wife is a sister of bis sec.
ond. She was a widow when he married
her, her first husband being John Bower,
once member of the late firm of Z. g..
Leonard 81 Co., of Cincinnati. The Bower
family once lived at Madison in this state,
and emigrated to Keokuk, lowe, about
twenty-four years ago. At Madison they
were engaged in the milling business,
in which they failed. The family
consisted OF a mother and four sons. The
eldest son, Robert +. Bower, married
Miss leonard, of Madison, for his frs.
wife, who died several years ago. His sec
ond and present wife is sister of the pres
ent Mrs Belknsp. When Gen. Belknap
went to Washington as secretary of war,
in money. He had, however, sufficient
means to support his family in a plain and
simple manner in his Western home.
Had he remained there it is probable
he would have been contented with what
he had, aud without attempting to enrich
himself by corruption and intrigue. At
Washington he breathed different atmos-
phere, and ore which seems to corrupt
most of those who inhale it. He and his
family became leaders in Washington So
ciety, his official position giving them the
entree to the most select circles at the CAP
ital. As General Grant has generally
chosen his cabinet off GERS from among
those who have made MIN the largest
ard costliest of presents, they have neces-
sarily been men of large wealth, and able
to stand the exper 50 of leading Washing
ton society. General Belknsp had not the
money of his own to keep pace with bis
associates in the cabinet, and In order to
do 1t had to sell his honor and his man
hood. Both his wives were society VIC
men and leaders of fashion In the metrop-
oils. They must dress elegantly and
give elegant parties. or take seats
behind Mrs. Secretary Fish, and
other leaders of Washington So
ciety. This they would not do. and
as the salary OF the secretary Of war was
not sufficient to enable them 20 live in the
style they desired, they became office
brokers and sold their husbands favors
for so much current money Of the realm.
Not being able to induce one Of those who
knew of their guilty traffic to commit
perjury and send his soul to perdition, an
exposure of their corrupt dealings was
made, and with 1t came the downfall ofthe
house of Belknsp. A sad lesson is this,
and one that must have great
influence upon the American people. II
it causes our public men and their fam
lilies to live more plainly and with less
pretence it will not be without its good
effect upon the country. Society every
where. and particularly at Washington
needs purifying. 1t is rotten, and ought
to be stripped Of Its giided covering. The