National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-07-29
FACTS WORTH CONSIDERING

FACTS WORTH CONSIDERING.
There is much discussion whether the
Senate, now that the arguments aud evil
dence in the Belknap case are in, will reach
its decision simply on the basis of evidence,
or of Difference to popular clamor. The
ruling of the Senate was largely against
Gen. Belknap, in some instances severely
so. For example, the record of Marsh's
statements before Clymer's committee was
admitted as evidence, in the face of the
fact that Marsh was present to testify, and
of the further fact that what he said to the
House committee was totally &c parts, no
cross-examination being permitted. This
does not look like liberality toward Gen.
Belknap.
1t is conceded by every impartial la wyer
we have seen that the evidence is not sutfi
Gent for conviction. 1t indicates that no
thought OF, or arrangement for, compensa-
ton led to the appointment of Marsh or
Evans. Also, that no money was paid by
Evans to Marsh on the theory of division
with Belknap, and that what Marsh did
was not as bride either for favors past or
to come. 1t was simply an expression of
goodwill. which in no way bound the re-
cipient, and the reception of which was
merely matter of taste, but not Of bribery
or corruption. This, we submit, is a state
ment of the scope and meaning of the evil
dence as strong as can be claimed.
1t is intimated that, as it is conceded
the evidence is not sufficient to convict, an
unfavorable decision is to be reached on
political grounds. If this is so-and we
cannot think it is-it can only be by the
Republican Senators wishing to make Gen.
Belknap scspe- goat for the sins of the
party, and on the Democratic side by the
development ola hope that his punishment
will becloud the Republican party. This
much is certain, that if conviction is reached
on political grounds at all, it will be for
some Interior purpose and totally aside
from the evidence. Did it ever occur to
the Senators of either party that the at
tempt to strengthen a political party by
pandering to transient clamor always re-
acted and injured more than it helpedI
Whatever may be the surface indications,
the American people are profoundly later
ested that justice shall not be exceeded,
and IN a case of trial that the evidence shall
rule. No political party can safely permit
its good name to be involved in a decision
in this case that rests on anything else than
the evidence adduced, unless it be that of
jurisdiction and evidence combined.
Our files present ample evidence that the
current of popular feeling, as represented
by the press, his already begun to change.
1t is now admitted by all the leading jour
nails of the country that the statements of
Belknap's extravagance were simply and
outrageously false. Even the New York
Tribune openly and authoritatively admits
this. 1t is seen that the wholesale corrup-
tons that were to be found by examining
the books of the War Department do not
exist The place reserved in the articles
Of impeachment for fresh items has never
been filled. Marsh's statements 10 Cymer
were not sustained on the trial In fact, a
vast amount of SANDER was put in circula-
ton against General Belknap, and the press
is finding this out and is changing ground.
If popular feeling is to be considered, this
phase of it should be taken into account.
We also commend to the attention of SEN
ators that Manager Lord, in summing up,
stated as fact in evidence that the law
changing the appointment of posttraders
from the control of the General of the
Army to the Secretary of War was first
suggested by Secretary Belknap. He says,
1.-THE law was changed by a bill which
originated in the Senate on the motion
"of a Senator, who then and there stated
"tbat he acted at the request of the Secre-
"tary of War" This is not true. The
bill originated in the House, entirely with
out the knowledge of Secretary Belknap,
and was passed in the army appropriation
bill. When it came to the Senate, Senator
Thayer said: "This section was prepared
ito carry out the views of the Secretary
"of War and Of officers Of tbs army, and
it was submitted to them whether it was
"proper to be placed in the BILL" More
over, this bill, relative to post-traderships,
was merely the restoration of an old law,
temporarily repealed during Johnson's
term. Vice President Wilson strongly in
dorsed it. (See page 54O4 Congregational
Globe, Forty first Congress, second session,
part g.
The strong fact as to the whole case is
this: The country expects verdict on the
evidence, and not on any political ground
whatever. To convict a man OF a high
crime on the score of political expediency
would be stupendous crime in itself.
Bribery is an Improbable offense. What
constitutes bribery is easily determined.
To sell an Office for money or to retain
person in Office for money would be bribery.
General Belknap, under the evidence, did
neither. Neither Evans nor Marsh testi-
fed that money had anything to do with
their appointment or retention. On the
contrary, they testified that it did not.
Ard that is all there Is of it.