New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-03

cratic member Of the Committee and could an MAN.
age the Investigation as to prevent its inoury from
being Of too searching a character the Secretarys
behavior before the Committee at it's meeting YES
terday, and finally his preciptate resignation TODAY.
all eonspire to fix upon him the responsibility for
his acts as they appear and to make no other ex-
PLANTATION possible than that he has been guilty Of
open and unblushinR bribery.
The greatest excitement prevailed all day In the
House of Representatives. The morning hour was
occupied by the Committee on Public Lands, but
whether the bills it reported were important OF not
few persons knew The Belknap disclosures were
more interesting, and the members gathered in
knots about the seats of prominent Representatives
on both sldes OF the chamber, in the rear of the
seats and In the cloak rooms, seeking to hear and
TO tell some new thing in regard to this great sensa
ton Of the day. Members Of the Committee on Ex-
pendituTes in the War Department, when they ap-
peared in the House, were besieged by those
anxious to hear the latest news, and
now and then some mischievous fellow
would arouse a eOmmotion by circulating a report
that the ex-Secretary had committed suicide, or
been guilty of some other equally cOwardly act. To
say that the Republicans were shocked is to use
mild term They indignant, angry, mortified,
and among them all there was not to be found one
who had a word Of excuse for Gen. Belknap. Nor
alone, but even to the President himself although
no one thought of suspecting him of any knowledge
OF Gen. Belknap's crime. At the same tune these
who have more interest in the future of the
Republican party than in the political fortunes of
any one man, even If he be the President himself
could not help asking themselves If it would not be
necessary to make Jonah of Gen, Grant in order to
the party. His blunders and his obstinate sup
port of his friends his unwise appointments and his
disregard of public Opionon lie at the bottom of all
these scandals, and the question seriously arose
whether the only reform possible would not DO to
strike at the of all the trouble and disavow
any further responsibility for anything the PresI-
dent has done or may do. 1t must not be supposed
that this feeling was very widespread, but it
very pronounced in some Republican quarters.
Among the Democrats the feeling of
shame and exultation; shame at the disgrace
brought upon the nation in this its centennial year.
AMI exuation that the eyes Of the people would for
time at least be turned from them and their short
cOmings upon their political opponents. The
prophets of evil, who have always said that this
Administration rotten TO the core were plenti-
ful on the Democratic side of the House to-day, and
for once prophets were not without honor
Shortly before O'clock, while the House was en-
gagged in dis ussOn of the bill to carry into effect
the Hawaiian treaty of reciprocity, to which very
tew listened, Mr.. Clymer rose in his place and
moved that the Committee of the Whole rise. There
almost q dead silence in the House, and no APP
peals from the Speaker were necessary to induce
members and others to refrain from talking. Mr..
Clymer, in voice that trembed with excitement
or emotion, then asked unanimous consent of the
House to present to 1t at that time report which he
said when ii read he the
House would consider of sufficient importance
tn ECta 10 OF IN Oli xUoa
made Every one was eager and anxious to
hear just what the Committee had learned,
and when the Chairman Of it proposed TO
read the report himself, and stepped into the
Clerks desk for the purpOse-a place from which
members never speak except on rare and very
important occasions-the dropping Of pin could
almost be heard anywhere in the House. As the
reading Of Mr.. Marsh's testimony proceeded II was
impossible for those who listened to repress the signs
Of their astOnishment. Little nothing was sand,
but by significant glances and whisper now and
then, the opinion conveyed from to another,
and from end Of the House TO the other that the
case could not have been worse. When he had
| completed the reading, Mr.. Clymer at once gave
notice that he should call the previous question on
the resolution submitted Mr.. Kasson spoke for the
Iowa delegation, which was as much shocked and
surprised as any one in the House, and asked the
previous question was seconded. This Mr.. Clymer
refused to grant, and it required the utmost rmness
on his part to stand out against the appeals which
we're made TO him. not only from the Republican
side of the House, but by many of the most ntI-
entail members of his party. At first
1t seemed though his refusal TO give
Mr.. Kasson o hearing was a mistake, since
II appeared too much like desiring to take "snap
judgu ent" and 10 pass the resolutions while the
element i'll the House continued, and without that
dehDeratIon which 80 solemn and important sub
| ject demanded. When the members of the Commit
tee came to make their brief but pointed speeches
however, it was seen that Mr.. Clymer had pursued
! the wisest course. The Committee was unanimous
in reporting the resolutions and Messrs. Bass and
| Danfurd the Republicans the Committee were
AS nnwayeTing In their support of the report sub
United as were Messrs. Blackburn and Robbins who
| spoke for the majority. There absolutely no
division of opinion except Oh one single
point, whether the House has jurisdiction
| to mpeach officer of the Government after
| bis resignation, and that point, being
| one which only could be decided by the Senate
which as a High Court of Impeachment Is to pass
not only upon the guilt of innocence of him who
Is arragned, but also the law and practice under
which the proceeding take place, prolonged debate
would have thrown very little light upon the Ques-
ton, and would not probably have affected single
vote. 1t was therefore, thought best that what was
done be done quickly and that the vote be taken at
once At q o'clock the main question ordered,
and ON the passage Of the resolutions there was not
q single negative vote. As the result was
nounced, tine members, with one accord and almost
! without waiting for the form OF an adjournment,
| arose to their feet and left the chamber.
HOW THE FACTS CAME OUT.