The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1876-03-09
A TERRIBLE DISGRACE.

~ "A TERRIBLE 2DlS9xeACE. as7rFt
Scarcely ever have the people of
this country been so shocked as thew
we're by the news Of the fall Of Sec.
rotary Belknap. The prostitution Of
the position to purposes Of private
gain ; the violation of trust and con-
tidence; the bartering of personaland
official honor--coming in details unre-
ievcd BY one palliating circumstance,
were truly sickening. The disgrace
was felt to be not that of a single in
dividual or Of a single family, but
one that affected the whole nation and
that every man was sharer in. It
was all the more painful because tho
Secretary Of War had previously en-.
joyed almost universal confidence.
His ability was not great but his
honesty was unquestioned. No one
had thought Of looking at his door
or in his department for fraud.
The story is briefly as follows: In
the summer Of 1870, at the suggestion
Of Secretary Belknap's wite-the two
families being on intimate terms-a
MIR. Caleb P. Marsh, Of New York,
applied to the Secretary for the
post'tradership at Fort Sill. It was
suggested that it would be only fair
for him to purchase the buildings,
merchandise, etc., of John S. Evans,
who then held the leadership. He
saw Evans and the result was a con-
tract by which it was agreed that
Evans should retain the place. pay
ing Marsh bonus Of $4,000 a-year,
payable quarterly. Marsh testi6es
that when the first remittance came
he sent one-half Of it to Secretary
Belknap. Soon after this he went to
Washington to attend the funeral Of
Mrs. Belknap, and while in the house
this money matter was talked over
with Mrs. Bowers, the dead wife's
sister, who soon afterwards became
the Secretary's third wife. In the
course Of two years or less Marsh's
bonus was reduced to $4,000 per
year, and $4,000 Of this went to the
Secretary Of War, to whom Marsh
testi6es that in the aggregate he paid
$40, 000-a bride for the retention OF
Evans as post-trader with Marsh a
sharar in the enormous profits e.
torted from the soldiers at the post.
When it was learned, about the Goth
Of February, that the Congressional
Committee was on the track of this
corrupt agreement, efforts were made
by Mrs. Belknap to have Marsh make
such statements before the Committee
as would exonerate the Secretary.
Marsh thought it best that he should
leave the country. The Secretary
protested that the flight of Marsh
would be his (the Secretary's) ruin.
Marsh finally appeared before the
Committee February goth and made
a full disclosure.
The President was in entire ignor-
ance OF all this the Committee be-
ing sworn to secrecy-until Thurs
day morning, when Secretary Belknap
appeared at the White House and
handed him a brief letter rendering
his resignation as Secretary of War.
In an incoherent and excited manner
he stated to the President, in explain
alton, that there was scandal in cir
culation concerning his wife, that he
should assume the responsibility, and
that it was better for all concerned
that his resignation should be imme-
diately accepted. This was done.
The President is exceedingly lndig-
nant at the deception practiced upon
him, and contemplates writing the
Secretary a letter Withdrawing the
letter accepting his resignation.
Thursday afternoon the Committee
made its report to the House of Repre-
sentatives, and by a unanimous vote,
every Republican as we'll as Demo
crat voting in the affirmative, it was
resolved to impeach Secretary Bel
KNAPP, and a committee was appointed
to so notify the Senate. This Motif.
Cation was given the following day
As Gen. ::Belknap has resigned al
impeachment cannot remove him
from Office, but it can proven,
his ever again holding any Office Of
honor, profit or trust under the Unit,
ed States. The House Committee o,
Judiciary completed the articles o
impeachment Monday. They art
twenty in number.
Friday the President directed tn,
Attorney General to take immediate
steps toward beginning criminal pro
ceedings against ex.Secretary Belknal
for misdemeanor in Office; agains
Marsh fer bribery and against DR.
Tomlinson (Mrs. Belknap's brother,
as accessory after the fact. He has di
rected the immediate removal o
Evans, the trader at Fort Sill, an,
the selection of a successor by tn
military authorities of the post.
Secretary Belkuap will be the sixt
person, and the Grst Cabinet Office,
against whom articles ofimpeachmen
have been prepared since the adoption
Of the constit ution.
| Marsh has escaped to Canada an
has left with the committee no notf
} paper or other evidence showing com