Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-04-06
ARTICLES or IMPEACHMENT.


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ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
Mr.. Knott, chairman of the JUDICIARY
Committee, presented on Thursday the
articles in the support Of the impeach-
ment Of w lliam w. Belknap for high
crimes aud misdem-anors.
Article lst charges that William w.
Belkpap, while he was in Office as
Secretary Of War Of the United States
Ito wit: on the Sth day Of October,
l870-had the power and authority
under the laws Of the United States as
Secretary Of War, as aforesaid, to APP
point person to maintain trading
establishment at Fort Sill, q military
post Of the United States; that said
Belknap, as Secretary of War, promis-
ed to appoint one Caleb P. MARSH to
maintain said trading establishment at
said military post; that said Caleb P.
Marsh and one llohn S. Evans entered
into an agreement in writing sUustan-
TALLY a. fellows-to wit
Here follows the articles Of agree
ment between Marsh and Evans, here
tofore published
That thereafter-viz, on October
10th 1870-said Belknap did, at the
instance and request Of said Marsh, at
the eity Of Washington, appoint said
John S. Evans to maintain said trading
establishment at Fort Sill, and in con
sideration of said appointment of said
Evans the said Belknap did, o., or
about November 2, 1870, unlawfuNy
and corruptly receive from said March
the sum Of 81 800, and that at divers
times thereatter-viz, on OF about
January II, 1871, and at or about the
end of each three months during the
term Of one whole year-the said Bel
KNAPP, while still Secretary of War, did
unlawiully receive from said Marsl like
SANS Of 81 500, in consideration Of the
appointment Of said Evans, and in
consideration of his permitting aald
Evana to continue to maintain the said
trading establishment at said post
whereby the. said Bslknap, who was
then Secretary Of War, was guilty of
high crimes and misdelneapors in office
Article 2 charges that said Belknap
while Secretary Of War did on Novem-
Der 4, 1874, wilfaAy. corruptly. and
unlawfully take and receive from Caleb
p. Marsh l,s00 IL consideration that
he would continue to permit one John
8. Evans to maintain trading post
at Fort Sill. and that said Belknap, for
such consideration, did corrupt!y permit
the said Evans to maintain said tradius,
post, and tho said Belknap was thereby
guilty of high misdemeanor in Office.
Article recitcs substantially what is
contained in tn. lst article, and adds
that Evans, by virtue of his appoint
rnent, continued in Office from October,
1871, until March 2, 1876; that in con
sidera,ion of his appointment John S.
Evans agreed With Caleb P. Marsh
that in consideration that said Relknap
would appoint Evaas as trader at Fort
Sill at the instance of said Marsh that
he (Evans) would pay said Marsh a
large sum of money quarterly in
duNduGS lEOm Vic uAto vi MIS- SdNA p
pointment-to wit $4,000 during the
year Immediately following the 10th
day of October, 1870, and other large
Sums of money quarterly during each
year that he (the said EvansD should
be permitted by said Belknap to main
tain said trading establishment that
Evans did pay Marsh said money until
December. 1875, when tho last of said
payments was made that Marsh, upon
the receipt Of said payments, paid one
half thereof to Belknap; yet tho said
Relknap, well knowing these facts, aud
having the power TO- remove said Evans
at any tune and to appoint some other
person, oriminelly iisrsgsrded his duty
as Secretary Of War, and bassly pzosti
tuted bis high Office to his lust for
private gain, and unls wfnlly aud cor.
ruptly continued aid Evans in his
position to the great injury and damage
of the officers and soldiers stationed at
said post, as we'll - en- grants, freiehte .
~ other citizens OF the Units d States,
and to the great disgrace and:: detrimen,
Of the public service, whereby sid Bel
knap was guilty of high crimes and
misdemeaners in office,
Ar;icls. 4 charges said Belkpap with
high crines and misdemsanors in Office,
10 that be while Secretary Of War, res
ceived corruptly large sums of money
FROM Marsh in consideration Of permit
ting John S. Evans to remain as posts
trader at Fort Sill.
Appended to this article are seventeen
specifications reciting to the time when
Belknap received money, Wig: Noyem
Der Q, 1870; January II, 1871; April Is.
1871; and continuing down each quar-
ter until January Is. 1876.
Article S charges that Relknap cor
ruptly permitted Evans to retain his
post until March 2, 1875; that he was
induced to make the appointment by the
influence of Marsh who was paid large
sums of money therefor, which he shar
ed with said Belknap; that he continued
the appointment in order that said sums
of money might BE- received either to
his, the said Belknaps, own use, or to
be paid over to his wife, all of which
acts and doipgs we're high nisdemean-
or in Office.
The report closes as follows,
sand the House Of Representatives
BY protestation, saving to themselves
the liberty Of exhibiting at any time
hereafter any farther articles OF accusa-
sion or impeachment againat the said
w. w. Bslknap, late Sectary Of War
Of the United States, and alse of reply
ing to bis answers which he shall make
unto the articles herein pr referred against
him. and of Offering proof to the same