River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-03-09
A TERRIBLE FALL.
Secretary OF War BeIKnap Impeached
OF High Grimes.

OF High Grimes.
The entire country has been shocked
by the unexpected discovery that Secre-
tary Of War Belknap was guilty Of the
crime OF selling post traderships. The
wife of the Secretary had made the bar.
gain, and he receipted for tina money.
The following is an account OF the an
nouncement Of the crime in the House OF
Representatives;
washington Special Mar p Chicago Times
The galaries had been well filed, and
the Senate was present in full force when
Hester Clymer, chairman OF the commit
tee, entered the hall by the door TO the
left of the Speaker. As his grizzled
front was noticed,
ALL EYES WERE TURNED
in that direction, and impatient gestures
were made to Mr.. Wood to cease. That
patriot, unaware of the sudden excite.
ment. continued on monOtonously for 10
minutes, until message from the Presi-
dent of the United States stopped him,
and gave Mr.. Springer OF Illinois, an OPP.
poriunity to whisper in his ear that Mr.
Clyn.er was waiting to make the fateiul
charge. There was rustling, noisy
movement in the galleries and on the
floor among the throngs seated in behind
the members seats. A great crowd en-
compassed the Speakers desk. The
sitters
IN THE GALLERIES
leaned forward eagerly, and a confusion
so unmanageable ensued that il was fully
| fifteen minutes before the Speaker could
recognize the gentleman from Pennsylva-
| MA. Clymer, in a voice which was trem-
ulous from excitement, stated in sub.
stance that what he had to say was not
pleasant, but lat his duty compelled
| him to ask the attention Of the House to
a thing so extraordinary that he found
no precedent in American or English leg
\ islation. He informed the House sub
stantally of the fact that the Secretary
Of War had been found guilty of high
crimes and misdemeanors, and that the
case was SO important that not line of
il had been entrusted to clerk, and that
such record being in his own handwrit-
ing. he shosld be compelled to ask the
indulgence of the House to read it him
self. Permission was granted, and he as
ceHded from his seat to the clerks desk,
Immediately in front of the Speaker. OF
the six hundred souls upon the floor, not
one moved, and hardly breathed. For a
few moments after Clymer reached the
desk, the stiffness was so profound that
the leaves of the report, as he handled
them, sounded almost
| AS SHARP AS PISTOL
shot throughout the chamber. His hands
trembled perceptibly, and through his
spoctacles it could be seel that his eyes
were suffused with a dilnaess that could
only be tears. The bare details of com
mittee report were never listened TO in
such a spirit; no arraignment with such
feeling in a legislative hall before. the
speakers voice grew tremulous as he told
the astounding tale Of
woMAN's WILLIS AND MANS WEAKNESS.
His tones were by no means loud, but
there was not syllable which di1 not
sink clearly and distinctly upon every
listener to the utmost limit of the cham.
Der. Mr.. Clymer is en- elderly gentleman
| Of perhaps so, and gave evidence of no
desire for theatrical effect. On the con-
trary the keenest sympathy forced itself
forth in every accent. He read with very
evident reluctance the humilis ting details
Of official turpitude and dishoDor. There
were moments when his voice almost fell
into a sob, as when he read of Mrs. Bel
KNAPP pointing to a sleeping babe and max
ing that innocent sharer in
HER OWN AND HER HUSBANDS INFAMY.
A more conSummate presentation of a
hideous story could not have been de-
vised. There was nothing partisan,
nothing malevolent, nothing extra Judi
cial. The report itself is compact, clear
ly stated, and to the point. There was
no attempt at rhetoric, though arranged
with exquisite ingenuity in every detail
The effect upon the House was simply
paralyzing. Mr.. Blaine, sitting by the
speakers desk, rose as the last accent of
Clymer's voice died away, threw his
hands up-a favorite gesture Of his--and
said
''MY COD THIS Is DREADFUL"
During the debate which followed he
sat in his seat with blanched face, and
eyes which were fairly staring, and re-
manned speeehless, taking no part in the
short debate which followed. Having
finished the report and the accompany
ing documents, Clymer returned to his
seat, and in a voice deeply broken with
emotion declared himself guiltless of any
political purpose in the work in the hands
If the committee, and asked Congress to
vindicste itself from the stain put upon
it by the action of the President and pro.
coed at once to uphold American laws
and the American people. Upon his res
olution he demanded the previous ques.
tion.