Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-03-16

in many other things than those named in
the resolutions, and are to 60 to Columbia
next Monday"
THE FALL OF BELKNAP.
All accounts from Washington agree that
no event since the assassination of President
Lincoln has produced an effect 80 profound
as was made by the revelations of the corrup'
tions of Secretary Belknap. 1t is the first
instance in the history of the Government
that member of the Presidents cabinet has
been impeached by the House of Representa-
tives. Coming unannounced- -unaccompa-
MED by previous accusations, denials and per-
sonal statements, such as. usually precede the
labors of white.washing committee in SINH
lar cases-the developments fell upon the
public ear like clap of thunder from cloud
less sky.
The origin of the disgraceful transactions
is briefly told as follows:
By the act reorganizing the army, passed by
Congress in 1865, the Office Of sutler in the army
and at military posts was abolished, and the fol-
lowing year the commanding general was author
lied to permit trading establishment to be main
tary post on the frontier not in the vicinity Of any
city or town, and situated at any point between
the Tooth meridian west from Greenwich and the
eastern boundary ofCalifornia, when In his judg-
ment such an establishment was needed for the
protection Of emigrants, traders and other citi-
zens; provided that after the commissary depart
naent Maa proa9red. to supply steres ta sa1diers.
as required by law, any trader permitted TO re-.
main at such post should not sell any goods Kept
by the commissary department to any enlisted
man. By an act passed July Is, 1870, and now
embodied in Section lib Of the Revised Statutes
of the United States, the law regulating the ap-
pointment of post-traders was amended 30 as to
give to the Secretary Of War, instead OF the COM
manding general ofthe army, the authority to per-
nit one or more trading establishments to be
maintained at any military post on the frontier:
"The persons to maintain such establishments y
the law says "shall be appointed by him (the Sec
retary Of War; and shall be under the same pro-
lection and control as camp followers. Soon after
the passage of this act the Secretary of War went
to Long Branch to spends portion of the summer.
The privilege Of maintaining trading establish
ment at these frontier posts was very valuable
one and no doubt numerous applications were at
once made to Secretary Belknap by traders and
spectators to be allowed to avail themselves OF
the opportunities thus presented for profitable
trading. While at Long Branch the Secretary
and his family became acquainted with Mr.. G. 2.
Marsh, of New York, and before their return to
Washington, in the fall, made visit at Marsh's
house, where Mrs. Belknap was taken seriously
ill. During her stay there she informed her host
of the valuable franchises in the gift OF her hus-
band and proposed that he should apply for one
of them. This must have been within two or three
months after the passage of the act giving the ap
pointment of these traders to the Secretary OF
War. Whether an understanding was arrived at
that Mrs. Beknap should have share OF the
profits should Mr.. Marsh receive such an appoint
ment, not does not clearly appear In the testl-
mony. But 1t does appear that q Few weeks later
Mrs. Beknap's influence, Of post-trader at Fort
Sill, and sold the privilege thus obtaine to ira
der already on the ground with stock of goods,
for $l2, 900 a year. When the first quarterly pay
ment under this contract was made to Mr.. Marsh
he Immediately forwarded one-half Of the money
to Mrs. Belknap, but before the second payment
was due the latter died. Mrs. Bowers, the first
Mrs. Belknap's sister, and the lady whom the
Secretary subsequently married., seems to have
arranged with Mr.. Marsh on the day OF mrs.
Belknap's funeral that the payments should be
continued, and they were continued from that DAY
until the end of the last quarter In December,
1875. The money, with the exception OF the nrst
payment (made in November or December, 1871
and the last (msde in December, 1879 was always
sent directly to the Secretary of War, sometimes
in the form Of checks or certificates Of deposit,
sometimes in bank notes forwarded by express,
and on numerous occasions it was paid to him in
New York city.
Many of the officers of the frontier, while
cognizant of Secretary Belknap's corruption,
dared not protest against his acts, for fear of
the persecution which they we'll knew would
have at once been instituted. In proof Of
this, it is asserted that Capt. Robinson, of
the Tenth United States Cavalry, for having
the temerity to report the facts to President
Grant, was soon after court.martialed for
preferring ungrounded charges against su'
perior officer, and by commission instituted
and organized by Belknap himself, was dis
missed from the service. Having been thus
deprived of his commission, and being no
longer under the fear of the wrathful ven
geance of the Secretary and his powerful in
Auence, Capt. Robinson determined to pursue
his object of exposure to final termination.
Accordingly, early in the present session of
Congress, he preferred the charges of corrup-
tion before the military committee against
Secretary Belknap which have led to the re-
cent startling developments. The post-trader,
Marsh, was subpenaed by the committee in
accordance with suggestions made by Robin
son, who has probably been more familiar
with Gen. Relknap's corrupt practices than
any one else. This knowledge Robinson
claims to have derived under the following
circumstances:
In 1868 he was ordered, with his regiment to
the Indian Territory. AS engineer of the military
district he selected the site of Fort Sill and super
intended the erection of the fort BY his contin-
ued residence at this post for six years he became
familiar with the details of military service on the
frontier. Az member of the post council of ad-
and for time its president, 1t de-
volved upon Capt. Robinson to inquire into the
prices charged for merchandise by the post ira
ders. At this time, 1858 and 1859, the post-tra-
dership at Fort Sill was controlled by j. 8. Evans
q Co. Complaint having been made to the hrm
that exorbitant prices were charged, they replied
that the difficulty could not be remedied, as Tor
the privilege of trading at the post fifteen thous-
and dollars per year had to be paid to VIM. w.
Belknap, secretary of war. This, as was shown,
was the contract price. The post council, through
Capt, Robinson. then demanded that the state
ment of Evans 6 Co. should be put In the form
of an affidavit. This was promptly done, and
the affidavit was sworn to in the presence OF sew
eral officers of the Tenth Cavalry. 1t is now on