The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-13
The Great Scandal
The Secretary Of War
Impeached.
Found Guilty Of Corruption.
And Conacsscs EgEs Grimes,
F ound Guilty Of Corruption.
And Conacsscs EgEs Grimes


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day the Hon. Hester CIymcr. Chair.
ulan Of the Committee on Expcudi.
lures OF the War Department. appeared
in the House of Representatives, and
presented a report. signed by the Re.
publican as we'll as the Democratic
members Of bis committee, charging
W. W. Belkuap. Secretary of War,
with high crimes aud misdemcauOrs
and corruption, while occupying his
high office. The report was no: only
based upon abundant testimony, but
its truth was cOrroborated By the con
fession Of the Secretary of War him p.
self.
The sensation caused by this report
can be better imagined than related
As the evidence was read, showing
that General Bclknap had been en-.
gagged for years iu selling out the Offices
at bis disposal for money, and corrupt
ing every branch Of the government
under his control. the Indignation and
disgust Of Republicans as we'll as Dem.
ocrats was aroused and wher Mr.
Clymer submitted, on behalf Of bis
Committee, resolutions imreaching
General Bclknap OF high crimes and
mislemeaucrs. the vote was unanimous
10 favor oil impeachment.
But now comes the browning out
rage in this Infamous chapter Of Amer.
lean history. Discovering that OK.
pUsurC was inevitable, Belkuap pro.
cceded TO the Executive Mansion, aud
after relating to the Prcsidcn; the
position in which bis crimes had placed
him, he rendered his resignation, to
take effect Immediately, which Prcsi.
der, Grant accepted This action. b.
it known. according 10 high authority,
cuts Of the right Of the House Of Rep
rescntativcs to impcach Mr.. Bslkuap ;
for un impeachment can only be 10
stitutcd against public officer; and
as Mr.. Belknup's resignation was 40,
ccp,cd before the House adopted the
impeachment resolutions. it may be
that the criminal may escape the pun
ishmcut which tho House otherwise
would have Inflicted. 1t is Ihe imprss.
sion throughout the entire country,
and tue opinion is justified by tue
facts, that President Grant accepted
Belknup's resignation in order to
screen him from justice, and i, is also
proper to say, that tho respectable
journals Of the country, regardless Of
party, unite in dcaounciug tho out.
rage.
Bu! this trick on the part of the
President will not save Mr.. Bclknap ;
for with q unahimity never before
known in the history Of this govern.
msnt, the House impeacled Bclknap
before the bar Of the Senate; appointed
managers to prosecute him; and will
at once proceed upon his trial. Prccc-
dcuts will be laid aside; and justice in
this instance will not be fettcrcd by the
nus,y rulings of centuries ago. Both
parties 10 Congress are in earnest, and
will push tue prosecution to Il rapid
conclusion.
In addition 10 this, criminal pro.
ccsdings in the Federal Court lave
already been instituted against the cz-
Secretary; and it now appears that he
will have leisure to brood over his folly
aud dishonesty in the striS seclusiOn Of
a P,nitentiary.
The system upon which the Secrc-
tary appeared to have mainly operated.
was, by the aid of his wife. (who is
said to be the most beautiful and ac-
cOmplishsd woman in Wushington) to
intimate to soma person whom they
thought could be trusted, that for a
certain portion Of the profits. the Sec
rotary would appoint So.and.so 10 the
office Of posttradcr ut one Of the forts
Or Indian reservations on the fsouticr.
These positions are very lucrative; for
the post.IrHder has tue sole right to sell
goods. whiSkey. &c, to tho soldiers
and Indians and from some Of these
stations, tic Secretary was receiving
bonus of from $4,000 to $4,000 per
unnum. 1t is uiso charged, aud cvi.
dcnce ia coming in thick and fast to
sustain the charge. that not only in re-
lation to these matters has the SCcrc-
tary betrayed hi. trust for gain, but
even in the regular army--a branch Of
tue public service heretofore considered
ubo,e reProach. lie has uciel luia.
mOusly.
And later. and worse, comes the
startling information that no. only the
cx.Srcrctary, but the President him
self, and other members of the CaLi.
net, have been equally us guilty
equally as much engaged in fraud aud
corruption, us Mr. Bclknap, and all
through the country the people are
staggered at the fearful and fast.Com.
ing evidence Of the rottcnncss Of the
administration. "Will i, never end 2"
is The cry; mud the question is an
swcred BY the evidence it will never
end until Grant and his associates are
hurled from the positions they occupy,
and rnuSiUnr1 in rh, ritz 10 thu oh |