The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-13

The Cardinal Point in the Defence o
General Belknap.
ONE PRESENT YlEER As GOOD As ANOTHER.
Republican Fear Of Establishing an Un-
pleasant Precedent
PENNSYLVANIA AND THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, April L. 1870
GENERAL sxLxxAP's DErxNcE-AN OFFENCE
AGAINST PRoPRIErY sIMPLY-RzpuBLIcAH
FEARS OF AN MOVEMENT PRECEDENT
WILL THE ARTICLES or IMPEACHMENT BE
ENTERTAINED?
II is understood that the chief points which will be
made in defence OF Beknap by his counsel on tho i'm
parchment trial will be:-First, that his resignation
placed him beyond the reach OF impeachment, on the
ground that this process Is designed remove GRIM
ina from Office and not to punish who has already
abandoned his place. and second that tho charges in
HE articles OF impeachment, FULLY proved, do
Aot constitute high crime or y misdemeanor. 1t
wi b. contended in behalf Of General Belknap
that all that is charged in tho arii-
sles of impeachment is matter Of
ase and proprety not Of criminalIty, and that the
Senate has Jurisdiction to try citizen for an in
traction Of mere dccorum or official propriety.
republican alarmist remarked to-day that the con-
sequences Of submitting Mr. Belknap to trial by I'M
parchment might become very serious he said, the
democrats could perhaps would in that SO
and impeach other persons. He said
"lr they induce the senate to hold that citizen
may be impeached after he ia OF Office for malfeas
Williams and several other exocials and II they can
induce the Senate to hold that articles OF impeach
ment against Beknap sustanabe they will impeach
General Grant" He added
1.-The articles against Bclknap, when carefully
yzcd amount simply to this, that he, a superior
Dicer, accepted presents from inferior subject to
his removal II the Senate shall hold this to be an
Improbable offence then the House could impeach tho
President for tho present or gold watch from General
ingalls, to Mrs. Grant, and 1t romans to be seen
whether the Senate will decide that receiving present
under these circumstances is high crme and misdes
within the meaning OF the constitution. If not
Belknap must be acquitted but II the Senate decides
this question in tho affirmative the demo-
Gratis can mpeach Grant What high
crimes and misdoineanors the constitution does
not declare, but all contemporary history
and all commentators upon the constitution declare
that the high crimes and msdemeanors contemplated
by the constitution are those fragrant and enormous
offences which endanger the life Of tho government
md the security Of the community and 1t may we'll
,ontended that the offence charged against General
Belknap does not rise to tho magnitude and import-
10 justify an impeachment"
But It be safely sad that nothing further from
nc thoughts OF the democrats than to impeach the
President no matter how good they might be
able TO mako against him. They hold that he is q
burden upon the republicans. Of which thoy do not
to relieve them, and that, for this and higher
causes, they would regard 1t calamity TO have
to discuss the propriely Of impeaching him.
THE CURRENCY QUEsTIoN-GEowING FEELING
IN FAVOR OF A POUR PER CENT LONG BOND.
Tho currency question is not likely to be settled
untl late In the session, but there Is good
believe that bill substantially providing for the issue
OF four per cent long bond with which to extngush
the greenbacks, at very moderate rate OF . million
or perhaps millions per month, will become law
this session There growing feeling in favor Of
such measure, and belief that, while 1t would be
very successful and cause monetary arrangement,
but the reverse the enactment OF such law would
once restore confidence all the country ana do
very much revive business and industry everywhere
There doubt that tho plan approved by promi-
ncnt business men all the country. great many
OF whom arc writing here to urge its adoption the
grounds above stated They urge that such measure
mild, yet effective, would improve credit at once
rive confidence to capitalists and lead them 10 begin
sew enterprises and thus give employment to labor.
THE NEW TARIFF BILL-UsELEss ALARM OF
MERCHANTS AND IMPORTERS.
Importers and other merchants from different parts
Of the country arc showing y good deal OF anxiety
about the tariff, and many inquiries are
made hero about the shape in which this measure
Is likely 10 pass that It Is evident commerce
Is already disturbed by the fear and anticipation Of
coming changes These fears needless. It Is not
probable that any Tariff bill will passed this
sion. IL is quite possible that tho bill reported from
Ihe Committee of Ways and Means may, with further
amendments, pass the House. but the republicans in
the Senate not likely to act upon It this session
They viii probably lay It over until next December,
when thoy take 1t up rs unfinished business and
then do what shall at that time seem cxpedient TO
them There Is but little cause, therefore, for business
men to make themselves uneasy about tarir changes
for II likely thar the Tariff bill become
law.