Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-04-12
TuE RELKNAp SITUATION.


we take the larger portion of an edi-
torial upon the outlook of Belknap's
case at present. That paper says,
II is not our purpose to prejudge
the case at This stage of the inquiry.
But The testimony, as far as it has
been given to the public, is, to say the
least. limping. The chief witness is
not above suspicion of sinister mo-
tiyes, a defective memory and par
tisan purpose, And there are many
collateral facts, which would ordiha-
rilv indicate conscious innocence on
the part of the accused. We will
conclude this article by mentioning a
few Of them.
First. Marsh, the prosecuting Wit
ness. swore that when he proposed to
the Secretary of War to fly from the
country to avoid testifying, .the Sec
retary implored him not to do SO, for
the reason that such an act would ru-
in him. and that when witness asked
him what he should do, he told him
TO 90 before the committee and tell
all he knew. This advice does not
indicate conscious guilt.
Second. When the detectives were
placed around the Secretary's house
i'm an ostentatious manner, impudent-
ly advising him not to attempt TO es-
cape, the Secretary knowing full
well that they had neither the physi-
cal power nor legal authority TO re-
strain him, he simply responded that
he had no disposition to leave, OF
which he perceived no necessity, and
quietly submitted to the indignity.
Third. When he was informed by
the Chief of Police on Sunday morn
| ing that an Indictment had been
found and a warrant issued for his
arrest, but that it would not be served
until Monday morning, thus almost
/ inviting him to fly for safety, he made
no effort to release himself from tht
continuation of the illegal restraint
which was merely nominal, but only
sent for an attorney to make prelimi
nary arrangements for his defense be-
| fore the court.
Fourth. The issuance and enforce
ment Of the general order, of Marci
25th, 1872, published IN the Chronici
Yesterday, making ii the imperative
duty of the Military Council at eacf
post to regulate the conduct OF post
traders, to limit their prices to reas
enable rates, so as to cut of all ex
tortions and unreasonable profits
would seem to negative tile supposi
ton that he was personal benefcla
ry in those gains.
s. Fifth. AS late as November 22nd
!. 1875, i'm his last annual report, Secre
tary Belknap advised Congress to re
J peal that provision of the act of Jul
4 i5. 1870, comforting on the Secretar
+ Of War the authority to appoint posi-
traders, and recommended that thl
duty should be again devolved 9
: heretofore on department command
: ers. This recommendation, 1t shoui
be observed, was made long befol
The could have had any intimatio
! that his own action i'm that .regar
would become the suhjecl OF Co'
/ gressional investigation.
ri II Is in these words:
s.By the act of July Is, 1870, the Sc
8 rctarv Of War was authorized u
: permit ono or more trading establish
: ments to be maintained at any miiit'
! ry post on the frontier, not in the Y
!. cinity of any city or town, when
believes such an establishment
1 needed for the accommodation I
4 emigrants, freighters, or other CIT
/, zens. The persons to maintain su.
establishments shall be appointed
J him, and shall be under protectit
= aud control rs camp-followers
:. This changes the previous custoi
i under which the department COZ
s. mander had charge of the appoii
u mcnt Of suffers for military pos
h suggest that a law be passed givil
= the appointment OF suffers. MS heret
= fore, 10 department commanders,
:. GLIDING in its provisions authority,
!. il now exists, TO the Council of A
fe ministration at each post to regula
it the price Of the goods TO be sold
IN the traders, and also authority to I
i proper military commander to III
. the amount to which Il soldier sh
y be trusted by the sutlcr, that amol
Of Ia be collected from his monthly p;
r. A provision Of this kind. would
:. think, be wise, as 1t would prev'
:, that excess of expenditure which ~
III occurs where there is no supervise
to exercised
II Ii must be admitted that this d
be not read like the language OF gree
70 official, engaged in coming MOI
:, ont of post-tradcrships: but lo'
~ more like that Of a careful ofilc
'ot studying the good Of the public
" vice, and willing to be relieved fl
iii, the exercise Of an irksome duty VIII
nd conld be as well or better perform
he by snbOrdinates, without SO mucl
his Official suDeryiSiOn.