Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-03-09

The Presidents indecent haste in &C.
epting Belknaps resignation excites the
Utmost condemnation Of all parties. 1t
vas asserted by = friend Of the President
hat he had said to Belknap: "Mr. Sec.
'etary If you arc innocent I won't accept
t if you are guilty can't = But he
lid after tie Secretary had talked half
lour with him. It is believed that
Chandler and Morton urged its accept
lnce by the President, rs they were both
present when Belknap came down stairs
With Grant from the executive Office. So
soon IS Belknap had gone the President
took walk with his son Fred, and came
back to the treasury department about
noon. He is said to have declared that
he has lost all confidence in human na.
ture-a remark which he made when Por-
ter's famous letter was published--and
that he
DON r KNOW WHOM TO TRUST
now. He asserts that of all men in pub.
lie life Belknap seemed to him the most
and sound. Public COM
ment is varied. Every one declares it =
national disgrace, but some At the same
time declare that they had no doubt of
the existence of such state of affairs in
this department as we'll as in others, even
to-day, and that they are glad it has come
to the surface. About the departments
there were many long faces, and little
groups of chief clerks were to be seen
carrying on . low and solemn converse.
ton ut all times, and members of the cab
met and heads Of departments were call
ing on each other. During the day the
President refused to SEQ any one save hic
most intimate friends.
THE DRY REPORT
of the committee does but feeble justice
to the passionate scene when the wretshed
Mrs. Belknap. clinging to the hope Of
girlish friendship for Mrs. Blackburn,
visited her, and, throwing herself upon
her knees, refused to move until security
for her husband was promised. She is
woman of fine presence. She dressed in
something like grandeur. Her costumes
were noted for extreme decollette. The
staid element of Washington society held
her little in reproof for this foreign
taste, when they remarked of her that
they preferred to have other mems wives
display their charms so literally rather
than their own. Mrs. Belknap, As Miss
Tomlinson, was bosom friend of Con.
gressn,an Blackburn's wife. To her, last
night, she bctook herself, when her hus-
band, coming home from the onmittee,
declared that all was lost. To work more
effectively upon Mrs. Blackburn,
THE wRETCHED WIFE
brought aer baby to plead for her. It was
one Of the few cold, stormy nights expe-
rienced in Washington. The ground was
covered with an inch of slush, the snow
melting as it fell. AS she appeared at
Mrs. Blackburn's s it was almost impossible
to recognize her. A plain cloak vas
thrown over her, and her babe was press.
ed in her arms. She had barely reached
the inside door when she fell in = faint.
Recovering she fell upon Mrs. Blackburn s
neck. She raved piteously to save her
husband and child. She would bear all
the blame. She alone was guilty. They
might hang or imprison her, but spare
her babe and her husband. During the
scene Mr.. Blackburn came in and the two
women clung to him. his wife almost As
much moved as the wretched wife and
mother. Blackburn says he was
NEVER 50 MOVED IN HIS LIFE
bv any appeal, but he was powerlcss,
he had been willing to shield Belknsp. HI
told the unfortunate women, gently bu
. firmly, that justice must be done, an
that he was powerlcss. This was not tn
first time Mrs. Belknap had asked Black
burns good offices. She told him som
points Of the story few weeks ago, bu
. did not say how her husband was impli
=. Gated. Blackburn did not understand
t and jokingly promised to apprise her
4 any
= PLOTS AGAINST HER HUSBAND.
: A lady friend of Mrs. Belknap says +
). her appearance here. Mrs. Bowers cam
4 here ostensibly to take charge of the SCI
4 retary's house, and of her sisters chil{
/. She spent two winters in the Sc,
=. retary's house during her sister
life, and during this time she was a mos
intimate friend of Mrs. Marsh. The
% spent a summer in Europe, travelling Wit
# no escort, but making themselves col
=. sricuous by their freedom of manne
Mrs. Bowers was married to Belknap
T. Harrodsburg, KY, in 1873, with gre'
- eclat, as readers of newspapers will r
:, ~ member. Geo. II. Pcndleton gave tt
~ bride away. It was said at the time tha
. ~ through the careful management Of
- =, small Inheritance by 'Gentlema
=. George" Mrs. Bowers brought to Il
- Secretary
VERY SNUG FORTUNE.
:. Since this marriage there has been an e
!. arrangement between Mrs: Bowers an
, Mrs. Marsh. It is known that they ha1
- not spoken to each other only when til
:. little matters of etiquette made reco
n;tion If ca ach other necessary.