Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-03-08
Which Cause Him to Resign
The Testimony Of the Witnes,
ON which the Charges
are Based.
The House Presents Articles o1
Impeachment Against
Him.
1t Adopts the Resolutions Ot
Impeachment by an Unan-
ilnOus Vote.
Almost Unparalleled Excite.
sNent In all Circles at
WashinstOn.

Washington.
| WASHINGTON. March o-The repor,
that Marsh. of New York, testified
Yesterday before the Committee on
Expenditures in the War Department
that he paid Mrs Bclknap $4,000 tol
IA. post-tradership and $4,000 annually
since, and that the Secretary has not
denied the truth of the charge. be-
came generally known this morning.
and caused mnch'surprise and excite
mcnt in official and other circles. In.
qnirv being made in all quarters. re-
suited in the general belief that the
reported testimony was entitled TO
credcnce, and this belief was strength.
cncd by the fact that about 10 O'Clock
Secretary Belknap had and interview
with The President. in company with
Secretary Chandler. Morton. and 9th.
ers. The subject is discussed inyoIv-
! ing the resignation of Secretary Bel
KNAPP. The latter left the Executive
Mansion with Secretary Chandler.
and both went over 10 the War De.
partment. 1t is thought that Bclknap
has placed his resignation at the
( pleasure of the President.
A member of the committee on Ex-
/ pcnditures of the War Department is
authority for stating that Secretary
Balknap has not yet been before that
/ committee. bnt is to be examined this
afternoon. There is some authority
for the statement that the Prcsiden,
has accepted Belknap's resignation.
4 report on the subject will he made
( TO the House to-day, il the committee
will be able to finish taking testimony
before adjournment.
Belknap has remained at his pri-
! vate residence to-day, not having Wis
tied the War Department. lie says
that there arc many complications to
( be explained to the Committee. and
that he has therefore requested to be
I allowed 10 make a statement before
! II. The discovery Of this circum-
stance in Gen. Bclknap's administra-
tion of the War Department occasions
the most intense surprise, and Cabi-
net officers and officials OF all grades
declare their absolute astonishmcnt.
To-day there has been rumor re
garding tho impeachment of the cx.
I Secretary fer the offcnse of corrup-
tion, and opinions have been divided
even among Cabinet officers and
others, whether a trial can be had
after an official is out OF Office. The
preponderance Of opinion. however
is that it could he done. The Attor.
ney General said. in conversation up.
on the matter. that he was not pre-.
pared to give an opinion. though i,
has not been officially called for. nn.
less after an examination.
Several friends Of Bclknap's called
upon him to-day. but he had nothing
to say except that he desired TO make
a statement before the Committee
There are already rtmors as to the
appointment Of his successor. bu
nothing is said about il at the Whit,
House. Ii is also rumorcd this after
noon that the President is inclined t,
Withdraw his acceptance Of the rc.ig
nation, and to await an investigation
of the charges against Belknap.
j WASHINGTON. March 2-The report
of testimony duplicating Secretary
Belknap in the matter of sale of the
Office of post-trader at Fort Sill is the
theme OF comment every where in thi,
city to-day. General Belknap has re
signed. lie handed the letter TO til,
President rendering his resignation
and asking that it be accepted withou
delay. II is stated at the White HOUSE
that the resignation was prompt,
accepted. but the exact language OF
the Presidents reply has not We
been obtained.
WAsuISGToN, March 2.-Thc fol
lowing arc the points Of the unanim
ous rcportread by Mr.. Clymcr in be
half Of the examining committee
Clymer. Blackburn, and Robbins:
Caleb r. Marsh, one Of the witness
cs ordered to be subponad by tn
committee, being present. was dnl,
sworn according to law. lie testified
:: he had resided in New York abou
eight years. In reply to genera
| question. he said in the summer o
/ 1870 myself and wife spent a few
. weeks at Long Branch and on our re
turn 10 New York Mrs. Belknap, b,
: our invitation. came for visit 10 on
, house. Mrs. Dclknap was i'll durin!
+ this visit some three or four weeks
and l suppose in consequence Of ou
, kindness to her she felt under som
. obligations for she asked me one da,
/ in the course Of a conversation why
: did not apply for 4 post-tradcrshil
on the frontier. asked what the,
5 were, and was told that many of then
were very lucrative offices. and wcr
: in the gift OF the Secretary Of War
| if wanted one she would ask th
Secretary for one. Upon my reply
. ing that thought such Offices be
: longcd to disabled soldiers, and be
sides, that l was without political in
|, ilucncc, she answered that politician
!. got such places, etc. etc. do moi rt
! member saving that if had valu
/ able post of that kind, that woul
: remember her. But | do remcmbc
= her saying something like this: if
!. can prevail upon the Secretary {
q War TO award you 4 post, YOU mu,
be careful to say nothing to him abo,
i the presents, for a man offered hin
: $4,000 for a leadership of this kin,
\ and he told him that ii he did nC
down stairs. believe the oihc
!. statement is also correct. Mrs. Be
, knap returned to Washington, and
few weeks thereafter sent me word |
!; come over. did so. She thcu ,ol
me that the post-tradership at Fol
u Sill was vacant that ii was vaiuab
e post as she understood, and that 81
had either asked for il for me. or liza
o prevailed upon the Secretary to ii,
Il il to me. called on the Secretary ,
y War and applied for this position .
a regular printed form. The Seer,
il tary said he would appoint me il
: could bring tho proper letters AN
= recommendations. and this said
: could do. Either Mrs. Belknap {
a the Secretary told me that the pre.el
q trader at the post, John $. Evans, W;
g an applicant for reappointment, an
v that had better see him, as it woul
d be unfair to turn him ont witho'
n notice, as he would lose largely q
n his buildings, etc. Ii would be prop,
r for me To arrange with him for ia
n purchase. found Eyans alarmed
Is the prospect Of losing his place.
% remember he said that firm !,
l. Western post-tra,iers, who claimed
+. good deal of influence with the Sc
!. retary OF War, promised to have hi
IS sappointcd, but he found OH comm
a TO Washington, this firm to be entir
" ly without influence. Evans fir
a proposed partnership. which | d
a clincd, and then bonus OF a certai
: portion of the profits il would a
y low him to hold the position and co
/: tinue the business. We finally agre,
70 upon $4,000 per year. Evans al
l. myself went to New York togeths
D. where the contract was executed al
N is herewith submitted. This W
a subsequently reduced to $4,000, pa
b. able quarterly in advance. When Il
,e first remittance came to me, say pro
10 ably in November, 1870, sent hs
" thereof TO Mrs. Belknap, either pr
10 sumo by certificate OF deposit
H. bank notes by express. Being
,c Washington at the funeral son
40 weeks after this, had a conversati'
m with Mrs. Rover, to the followil
50 - na rnI ar,lh II