Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-03-17
THE BELkNAP SCANDAL,
A Game of Politics.


of special interest in the Belknap
case. The impeachment is at least
temporarily brought to stand, and
the criminal prosecution like wise, for
in the midst of the excitement the
man Marsh has hied away over the
border into Canada, and with him has
gone the evideace which was necessa-
ry to secure conviction. But it has
opened up very pretty game OF pol
itics. Fer it must be remembered
the great Presidential election takes
place next fall, not to speak of all
sorts of smaller elections. And there
is thought to tie millions of political
capital in this great bribery develop
ment. Before we 60 to press we may
find it has settled the hash of the
Republicans in New Hampshire. The
democrats are jubilent, feeling that
they have big thing to work up,
while the republicans are no little
staggered and fully conscious Of the
serious disadvantage Of going into the
contest with such an ugly black eye
as Belknap has given the administra-
ton.
Marsh, the most important witness,
has absconded to Canada and the
tongue-lashing has been lively in
Washington as to who or which party
is responsible for his disappearance.
The democrats assert that he was
frightened off by the Presidents order
directing the Attorney General to
bring to trial all persons in any way
connected with the Belknap bribery,
and that the order was issued for that
very purpose. 1t is as vehement'y
asserted on the other hand that the
democratic Clymer committee are to
blame for prematurely discharging
Marsh whom they held as witness.
On Friday last, Mr.. Bass, republi-
can member of the committee, made
a statement to the House in which he
declared that he and his republican
colleague We're kept in ignorance Of
the meetings Of the committee that
when be heard Of BeIhnap's reslsna.
ton he insisted upon the immediate
prosecution Of the impeachment; that
he urged the detention Of Marsh as
an essential witness that Marsh was
not only allowed to leave, but was
aided by the Democratic members Of
the committee to get away from Wash
ington, and that the written contract
between him and Evans, which is es-
sential evidence in the arrangement Of
Belknap, was returned or promised to
be returned to Marsh. Mr.. Bass
statement was denied in toto BY Messrs
Clymer and Blackburn, the Democrat
ic members of the committee, but Mr.
Bass reiterated his charges, leaving q
very serious question of veracity to
settle.
On THURSDAY Mr.. Proctor Knott,
Of Kentucky, democrat, chairman Of
the Judiciary Committee. presented
the articles Of impeachment to the
House. together with the report of the
committee recommending the taking
Of further evidence. Also bill to
protect witnesses who shall be re-
quired to testify in certain cases. An
exciting debate followed in which the
speakers warmly ventilated their
opinions as to who was to blame tor
the disappearance of Marsh, but the
report Of the committee was adopted,
The bill for the protection Of witness
es was also carried. The impeachment
is therefore brought to stand for the
present. In the Senate no further
action can be taken until the house is
ready with witnesses. The deposition
of Marsh it is said cannot be taken.
He must testify in person. The i'm
parchment trial may not co ne on for
some time.
Washington was in frenzy of
excitement last week. The air was
full Of Aying accusations against Of
Gcials from the highest to the lowest.
There have, however, been no disclo-
Sures affecting any one in official sta
ton except Secretary Belknap. 1t
was reported that a member of the
House Naval Committee had said, "if
we can make Wolfe testify their will
be another Cabinet officer impeached
before the week is out"-meaning