New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-26

Gen. Belknap's defense, as disclosed In the
rejoinder published yesterday, Is even more
painful than his confession. Leaving ont OF
consideration for the moment the objection to
the jurisdiction OF the Senate, he argues that
the peculiar circumstances under which his
resignation was obtained ought in law and
honor to cstop the House from taking any fur
tbcr prore dings in the case. The statement
Of Marsh implicated one $50 nearly connected
:" with him (slid BelknaD) by domestic ties as
" to greatly aillict him (said Bclknap) and
"make him willing to secure the sup
"pressign of so much Of such state
"ment as affected such other person at
"any cost TO himself" When Mr.. Clymer
therefore threatened him with impeachment II
he did not resign, he consented TO resign for
the sake of avoiding " the al!ction insepa-
"rable from protracted trial IN form which
"wOud attract the greatest degree OF public
"attenti0n and the humiliation of awaiting
himself of dofense' which would cast
blame "on said other person" And he pro-
tests that although, for the sake of protecting
this other person, he was willing 10 acknowl-
edge the receipt of all the money which Marsh
testified to paying, it is not true that he did
receive it.
Friends of the ex-Secretary alleged at the
time of his disgrace that he never did re-
ceiye any money from Marsh, and that his so
called confession was only chyalrons at
tempt to save guilty wife whose transactions
he had never suspected. He was described as
resisting with stole lirmness the pcrsuasions OF
his counsel to tell the whole truth, and gal
lantly facing the pcnitentiary for the sake Of
the woman no loved. 1t was an impressive
picture, which toucIcd the sympathes of the
public even in the midst of the general anger
and Indignation at the scandal; and III spite
of reason, in spite of testimony which seemed
10 connect Belknap himself in the most direct
manner with the guilty transaction, there was
certain sympathy for the man who
would not try to exculpate himself by
following the example of the father OF
our race and throwing the blame upon
the woman. Reflection seems to have
blnnted the ex-Secrctary's sense of knightly
honor. lie has yielded to the advice of his
lawyers, and, we may fairly presume, to the
entrcates of his family and he replies to the
accusations of the Impeachment Managers,
cit was not |, but my wife, who took the
"bribe." Let us not judge his new resolution
too halShly. lie mas De'h hu'JcCo'o w " o"S
and severe strain 1t has doubtless been rep
resented to him that Mrs. Belknap's c0nnec-
ton with the case is well known; he cannot
shield her he can only add to her affection
by counting his own condemnation he will
not expose her TO any worse consequences
than have bcfallen her already if he inter
poses this defense. In any event he will have
"A load of discrcdit to bear for the rest of his
lite. If he escape, how bitter will be his re-
Elections when he thinks of the plea that
cleared him. And if it should be proved on
the trial that he did receive the money, that
Mrs. Belknap instead of deceiving him was
merely his agent, in short that he lied when
he answered, " 1t was not I, but the woman"
| what mark of infamy can be found that shall
| be black enough to set against his name