The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-03-09
A SAD AND TERRIBLE STORY.
His Wife Pleading to Save Her
Husband.

His Wife Pleading to Save Her
+. Husband.
HE is IMPEAcHED AND INDICTED.
Grant Accepts His Resignation
to Save Him from I'm
parchment.
It was found that the Secretary of War,
trusting to the power of Office and the
facility of bribery, paid no attention TO
the summons of the committee, and let
the examination 60 on unheeded. The
committee, feeling daily more sure of
their ground, because more thoroughly
convinced Of the truth of it, the charges
and every step in the prosecution were
rigidly concealed, and the newspaper men
excluded from information. Belknap S
breakdown before the committee, which
was only made known long after midnight
on yesterday, finally broke the spell.
Though the committee kept itself
UNDER LOCK AND KEY
until the very moment of its report to the
House, early in the morning, the hotels
were agog with the news in only the
most fragmentary form. By noon
crowds were surging around all news.
centres discussing not only the downfall
of Belknap but the rumors Of his suicide.
which flied the air. 1t was hardly 8
o'clock when Belknap walked hurriedly
down K street toward The department..
1t was noticed by the Orderlies at the
door that the Secretary did not move
with his old jaunty swagger. His ruddy
face had lost much Of its color; his eyes
were heavy and bloodshot; he looked like
| the victim Of
A PROLONGED SPREE;
he spoke abstractedly to the officials Of
the Office; retired to his private cabinet
and closed the door. While the outside
group were in wonder over this unusual
conduct, the door opened suddenly and
the Secretary appeared, Quilted the Office
without further remark, and walked rap
idly over to the White House. He met
the President just IS that official was en-
tering the Executive Office, where Bah.
cock sat arranging the Presidents mail.
Greetings we're passed, the Secretary
avoiding the Presidents eye. As General
Grant seated himself, Belknap handed
him An envelope, which the President
opened mechanically, presuming it to be
an ordinary official communication. He
read it without compromising the fact
that it was the resignation of the Office Of
Secretary Of War. Belknap
BURSTING INTO TEARS,
tried to explain, but could not. The
President in great agitation rose and left
the room with the disgraced official. At
the foot of the stairs Chandler appeared.
and the subject was discussed privately
between the three. Presently thereafter
Belk nap and Chandler reappcared and
went out for ride together. An hour after
this Belknap appeared before the commit
tee with his counsel, Judge Blair, bat
presenting no evidence. The case Of the
committee was read to him and he de-
manded until this afternoon At three
o clock to respond. The committee gave
him until half past three, when, as
HE FAILED TO APPEAR,
it vas UNANIMOUSLY resolved to present
the case to the House and demand IN
impeachment.
The Presidents indecent haste in &C.
cepting Belknaps resignation excites the
utmost condemns ton Of all parties. It
was asserted by friend Of the President
that ne had said to Belknap: ''Mr. Sec.
rotary If you are innocent won't accept
it if you are guilty I can't" But he
did after tie Secretary had talked half
hour with him. II is believed that
Chandler and Morton urged its accept
ance by the President, IS they were both
present when Belknap came down stairs
with Grant from the executive Office. So
soon as BeIknap 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
be has lost al confidence in human ma
re-a remark which he made when Por-
er's famous letter was pubiis hed--and
that he
Don KNOW wHoN TO TRUST
now. He asserts that Of all men in pub
lie lie Belknap seemed to him tie most
straightforward 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 IS we'll IS in others, even
to-day. and that they are glad it has come
TO the surface. About the departments
there we're many long faces. and little
groups Of chief clerks we're TO be seen
carrying on low and solemn conversa-
ton a. ali times, and members Of the cab
met AMI heads Of departments were cali
Ing On each other. During the day the
President refused 20 see any one save his
most intimate friends.
TIE DgY REPORT
OF the COMMITTEES does bat feeble Justice
to the passionate scene when the wre.ched
Mrs Belknap. clsnging 10 the hope of
glriish friendship for Mrs Blackburn,