Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-04-01
OUR WAsHINaFON LETTER. !
Washington D. C. March "A, 1876

tested to stand by Belknap and defend
him, making Marsh the scapegoat.-
So long as Marsh was safe in Canada,
they protested to be very angry with
the Committee for letting him go, thus
losing the only witness who could con-
vict the ex Secretary and argued that
the prosecution must therefore stop.
In other words, Belknap could neither
be impeached nor convicted. But the
Judiciary Committee of the House de-
manded that the President should
procure the return of Marsh by grant
ing his immunity from prosecution.
and Grant was forced to comply, or
stand convicted before the country of
desiring to shield Belknap from Grim
inal prosecution, as he has already at
tempted to shield him from impeach-
ment
BIS soon as it was learned that Marsh
was really coming back, the tune was
suddenly changed, and the National
Republican, the White House organ,
asserted that Belknap's counsel was
very anxious for Marsh to be secured.
as they could, by his testimony, prove
Belknaps innocence. They will prob
ably next accuse j. Proctor Knott of
procuring the return of Marsh for the
purpose of securing the aequittal of
Belknap; just as they have accused
Hester Clymer of sending him away
for the same purpose. just now, they
are abusing Marsh very soundly, and
speaking of Belknap as a victim, who
has been made by a combination of
circumstances and the perfidy of false
friends, (ike Marsh), to appear to be
guilty of crime of which he is really
innocent. Forgetting that Belknap
went before the Committee and con-
fessed his guilt, they assert that he
was condemned without a hearing.
This sounds natural, and gives evi-
dence of returning confidence. The
fact is, the administration party were
so demoralized by the unaccountable
weakness of BelkDap in acknowledge
ing his crime, and the startling fact
that one of the gang had refused to
perjure himself, that they were thrown
off their guard. They are all right
now though, and prepared TO swear
that Marsh is a william, and Belknap
his innocent victim. Besides,
GRANT AND BELKNAP.
are really in the same boat for it was
wrong for Belknap to let his wife
know what appointments she might
sell, it was equally wrong for Grant to
give his brother, Awful Grant, similar
information for the same purpose
We have no evidence that Grant got
any of the money his brother received;
but we do know that he used his high
position to obtain information which
he sent privately to his brother, as to
what places were to be made vacant, In
order that his brother might sell the
positions, and that the persons from
whom his brother obtained money
were afterwards appointed. 1t may be
that more direct evidence would be
required in court of law; but it's
pretty strong case morally as it stands,
and men have been convicted on cir
cumstantial evidence less conclusive.
THE PRESS
is going to exert mighty and unpre-
cedented influence in the approaching
campaign-a fact that the nominating
conventions, and politicians generally,
will do we'll to make a note of. The
number Of newspapers entirely I'M
trammeled by party ties has been rap
idly increasing from year to year; as
has also been the number of papers
still popularity known as republican
or democratic papers, but which do
MOI hesitate, on what they conceive to
be proper occasions, to pitch into the
leaders and repudiate the measures of
their respective parties, as freely as
into those of their opponents. These
Independent and semi-independent pa
pers, of which there are some two
thousand, daily and weekly, in the
United States, will certainly throw
their influence 10 favor of the best man.
Of course, few may be bought up
but by far the larger number will act
on their respective convictions. An
other important fact to be considered
by politicians is that these papers are
supported by a constituency without
whose aid they could not live, and
whose views, therefore, it is reasona-
bic to suppose they reflect, to very
great extent. Here in Washington
are to be seen, every day, men from
all parts of the Union, who express
substantially, the opinion that their
respective districts will give majority
for the best man, irrespective of party.
Men from the North, South, East and
West, who have been democrats all
their lives, affirm that they would
rather vote for Abraham Lincoln, if
he were alive now, because of his un-
questioned personal integrity, than for
a lifelong democrat of conceded abil-
ity of the highest order, but of doubt
full or even unascertained honesty
Nor will vacillating trimming politi-
clan, who needs watching, suit the
democracy in its present temper. Ga
the other hand, you hear republicans
who prayed, in 1868, for Andrew
Johnson's conviction, and, occasion
ally, even one who, as a Congressman
at that time, voted for his impeach-
ment, affirm that if johnson were alive
now, and nominated by the democratic
convention, they would rather vote
for him, because of his deserved repu-
tation, through life, of being an honest
MN, than for any thief, or thief's
pal, as yet spoken of for the repub-
lican nomination. BristoW is under
stood to be out of the question. Nos
cifyr a sOciis. A great many demo- |