The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-03
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BELKNAPsS DISGRACE.
STEERING scEsEs IN THR HOUSE.
Especial telegram to tho psp.aeh j

Especial telegram to tho Dispatch,
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 2.--The start.
ling announcement this morning that svi.
dence had come before the Hsuss Committee
On War Departments Expenditures tnpiisa.
ting Secretary Belknip in the bargain and
asle Of offices created the widest kind Of .
sensation. The discovery Of Bslknap's por-
Ady, bringing with 1t HE moral and polls
cal death, has created An smotien that 10
almost unprecedented. !.
The sur prise and xsteRishmsnt Of all, to
say nothing Of tie Indignation among meme
bsrs OF his party, have bsen 80 great 40 to
easulf everything else. Early this morning
gelknap, knswisg that the awful tale was
public. went with bowed head to the Presi.
don't and handed 10 his resignation, with the
request that it be at once accepted. In this
matter the President accommodated him,
aud be went home crushed and huniiisted,
and, rs his friends feared, With thoughts Of
suicide In his head. ',.'z = i
The President, stsical as he H., fslt hurt
and Indignant at the criminal conduct Of his
var-officsr, and so expressed himself, saying,
in answer TO Belkaap's remark that be
wished he had killed himself, &c wish you
had" Much unfavorable comment meets
the action Of the Executive in accepting the
resignation, as many believe that person
cannot be inpeached after he Is out OF the
Office in,which he committed the impeachs.
BILE crime This has been subject Of dis
cussiop all day, and the best lawyers have
differed On the subject. The Attorney.Gen-
eral. without expressing an opinion until ne
could examine into the subject, was Inclined
to the belief that proceedings would not lie
after the resignation was accepted; while
Secretary Bristow, with an equally brilliant
law record, entertained an opposite view,
and the subject was the cause of an hours
debate in the House this ?. NJ, though at
the close the adoption of the resolution pro-
yiding for the impeachment Of General Bel.
KNAPP was unanimous.
The Iowa delegation In Congress feel That
the disgrace reaches them and their State,
and express themselves bitterly. There is
nothing else talked Of or thought OF tonight.
The hotels, corridors, and Hobbies are full of
people discussing every detail OF the sicken-
ing business. Politicians regard it in one
light, those who have esteemed Belknap as
friend regard 1t in another. His conduct is
declared by some prominent among his ex-
colleagues as the most direct case Of corrup-
ton that has yet come 10 light.
Yesterday morning Belknap moved among
bis peers strong in his conviction Of security
from such fate ss overlook him before the
evening Of that day came Oh, and even AFRO.
CANT. Tonight he sits at his magnificent
but ruined home, almost deserted, broken.
hearted-a ruined man, and none so poor as
to do him reverence. The substance of
Marsh's testimony, which brought this de-
struction on him, is given in the following:
The witness testified that in the summer OF
1870 he spent some time at Long Branch,
and on his return to New York Mrs. Bel.
KNAPP and Mrs. Bowers Qhe present Mrs.
Belknap) went to his house, and Mrs. Bow
ers, on account Of kindness shown her, asked
witness if he would not like post-trader's
position. He replied that he thought
those positions should be given to honorably
discharged soldiers, besides he had no polit-
cal influence. Mrs. Bowers said she could
secure it, but suggested to Marsh not to
mention the matter to the Secretary of War,
because on one occasion of the kind he had
threatened to kick the applicant down stairs.
She added that the post at Fort Sill was about
to be abandoned, and that she could obtain
it for Mr.. Marsh. He then made application
for the post at Fort Still. Subsequently saw
Evans, the former post-trader, who was
alarmed at the prospect of losing the place.
After consultation with Evans it was agreed
that Marsh should secure the place; that
Evans was to get the commission, and that
he was to pay Marsh $4,000 annually. After
receiving the first 900 he sent half of it
to Mrs. Bowers. The next payment was
sent 70 the Secretary of War himself,
and he had continued so to send
down to the last payment, in 1876. Marsh
also said that he attended the first Mrs. Bel
knap's funeral, In December, 1870, and while
| lUeT6 Ue Wcut Wy 5eaho W oSS VIZ oaoy
| when Mrs. Bowers explained that all the
! money sent was in trust for the baby. Marsh
explained, In answer to questions, his manner
Of sending the money by checks, drafts, Ger.
tificates of deposit, &C., and once he person
ally handed it to the Secretary Of War.
The impeachment trial will commence
without much delay, and the opinion Is that
it will last only few days. T1AoN.
XLvTH CONGRESS-First Session.
WAsHINaroN, March 2, 1876.
-. SENATE. 80
The bill appropristing 81 900 to convey the
remains of f. r. Wing, late minister to Ecu
ador, from Quito to Kentucky, was passed.
1t goes to the President.
The case Of Pinchback was resumed. Mr..
Fdmunds not being well, hoped the Senate
would allow the matter to 60 over.
Mr.. Morton said he understood that several
senators would be absent tomorrow; if so, he
would ask for the matter to 90 over till their
return. So ordered.
! The bill pensioning the widow Of General
Lorenzo Thomas was passed; also the bill
increasing the efficiency of the medical corps
OF the army. ...-......- ...... ~.
The Committee on Commerce reported ad.
versely on the bill making Chattanooga port
of delivery. ....... ..--......-
The bill allowing New Mexico to form a
! State constitution was made the special
| order for Wednesday next.
A number Of private bills were passed.
Adjourned, -..----.