Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-03-09
BELKNAP.
THE GREATEST SCOUNDREL
OF TIE AGE.
A HIGH OFFICE COR.
RUPTED.
The SECRETARY OF WAR
SELLS A POSITION OF
POST TRADER.
The Consideration $4,000
in Cash and $4,000
a Year.
A Party in the Crime Tells
the Story.
FURTHER DEVELOP
MENTS.
Other Post-Traderships Sold.
A Party in the Crime Tells
the Story.
FURTHER DEVELOP
MENTS.
Other Post-Traderships Sold,
American Politics as Viewed
by the English Press.

WASHINGTON, March 2.-The most
intense excitement exists over the
revelations regarding Secretary
Belknap, which became known here
at an early hour, although the morn
ing papers had no allusion to the
matter. All kinds of rumors are
afloat, but the following is authentic /.
A Mr. Marsh told the Committee on
the Expenditures of the War Depart.
ment that he had paid Mrs. Belknap
Sl0,0 600 for post.tradership, and
agreed to pay her $4,000 annually,
which he has done. This startling
exposure was communicated to
Secretary Belknap, and before he
could appear before the committee,
his wife waited upon the members
and admitted the truth of the state
ment, and said she alone was to
blame, as the Secretary knew nothing
about it. Yesterday the Secretary
appeared and confessed that the
story was true, and said that he
desired to assume all the RESPONSE
bility, and not have it put on bis
wife. The committee were shocked
at this admission, and decided to
| report articles of impeachment
This morning, Secretary Belknap
went to the War Office, and remained
for few minutes only, aud then pro.
ceeded to the White House, where
he had long interview with the
President, in the presence of other
members OF the Cabinet, who had
been summoned to consult. The
result Of this interview was thai
Secretary Belknap rendered bis
resignation, which was accepted.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-The fol
lowing are the points of the unani.
nous report read by Mr.. Clymer in
behalf of the examining committee
Messrs. Clymor, Blackburn ant
Robbins
| Caleb p. Marsh, one of the wit,
nesses ordered to be subp@naed by
the committee, being present was
duly sworn according to law. HI
testified that he had resided in New
York eight years. ln reply to gen
| eral question he said. In the sum
mer of 1870, myself and wife spen
some weeks at Long Branch, and OF
our return to New York Mrs. Belknal
and Mrs. Bower, 3y our invitation
came for visit to our house. Mrs
Belknap was ill during this vis
some three or four weeks, and | sup
posed in consequence of our kindness
to her, she felt under some obliga
tons, for she asked me one day, il
the course of conversation, why
did not apply for post tradershiI
in the interior.
| | asked what they were, and wa
told that many of them were very
lucrative offices and were in the gift
of the Secretary of War If wanted
one, she would ask the Secretary fo
one. Upon my replying that
thought such offices belonged to dis
abled soldiers, and besides, that
was without political influence, sh,
announced that politicians got sucl
places, &c, &c. l do not remembe
saying that if had valuable pos
of that kind, that l would rem EN- bel
her.
But 1 do remember her sayin.
something like this: "If 1 can pre-
vail upon the Secretary of War to
award you q post, you must be care
full to say nothing to him about pres
ents, for q man once offered him ter
thousand dollars for leadership o
this kind, and he told him if be die
not leave the office he would kicb
him down stairs" believe the other
statement is also correct. Mrs
Belknap and Mrs. Bower retur ned tc
| Washington, and few weeks there
after Mrs. Belknap sent me word tc
come over. L did 80. She then told
me that the post leadership at Fort
| Sill was vacant; that it was valu'
able post as she understood it j; that
| she had either asked for ii for me or
. had prevailed upon the Secretary to
give it to me. called on the Score
tary OF War and applied for this
post. TIL, Secretary said he would
appoint me if | could bring proper
letters and recommendations, and
this | said | could do. Either Mrs.
Belknap or the Secretary told me
that the present trader at the post,
John Evans, was an applicant for re-
appointment, and had better see
him, as it would be unfair to turn
him out without notice as he would
lose largely on his buildings &c. He
said he thought it would be proper
for me to arrange with him for their
purchase. 1 found Evans alarmed at
the prospect of losing his place. |
remember that be said that firm of
Western post-traders, who claimed a
good deal of influence with the
Secretary Of War, promised to have
him appointed, but he found. on
coming to Washington, this firm to
be entirely without influence. Evans
first proposed partnership, which /