The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-14
RELKNAP's FIRST VISIT TO GRANT.
How the Ex-scCrctaay Refused the ODice
or Collector " Customs Of
=. Now DrlenOA.

Especial dispatch to the Baltimore Gazettel
WASHINGTON, March 3.--Mr. Belknap
came TO Washington in February, 1869,
from Keokuk, Iowa, to beg OF General
Grant that as favor to an ex-army Off
Ger he should not be removed from the
position Of collector Of internal revenue.
He took 1odgingsat u ,second-elass no
tel, rode In a street car to Grants head
quarters on Seventeenth street. He
found the attendance so great that he
concluded not to press for an interview.
He left his card, with compliments to
Con. Rawlins, and walked to his hotel,
Before he reached there an orderly had
been dispatched requesting Belknap to
come TO headquarters at once.
On receiving the note Belknap prompt
ly responded, and to his great surprise
was asked by Grant If he would not
take the Office OF collector of customs
at New Orleans. He said that man
Perry Fuller has been doing some
strange things there, and want IN hon
est man to take charge OF the post. y
Belknap was astounded ut the offer, and
when told that he must be ready to
leave early in March, as soon us the
President was inaugurated, he declined,
and said General, all ! ask Ia that
you will not remove me from my present
position, even though ! was appointed
by President Johnson" He gave
reasons for not wanting to leave Kco-
kuk, and not until tho following fall,
when Rawlins died, did BelkDap hear
from the President, when he received u
telegram from Grant asking il he would
accept the appointment Of Secretary OF
War. ..t. .E,...+ ....ta
The prospect Of receiving q salary OF
$4,000, and the opportunity Of returning
to the District OF Columbia, whore he
was educated and studied law, overcame
his love OF the quiet life he had been
leading, and which he had declined to
leave six months before for the lucra-
tive Office Of collector at New Orleans,
His first adventure at Washington was
renting the Seward mansion and giving
q magnificent party, which cost him
more for injured furniture, stained car
pets and sole lace curtains than 1t did
@ol the caterer and his supplies.
With the exception Of Boutwell,, who
tainmcnt Of any kind while Secretary,
he was the poorest member Of the Cabi-
net. He was, in fact, In 1869 dependent
upon his salary, and that was his all,
while the Groton grocer did have q farm
which Yielded him something The case
of BelEnap Is the case OF no one knows
how many others In Washington. He
was put in position where by con
trast with Fish, Robson, Delano,
Hoar and Cresswell his poverty became
painfully conspicuous, and urged by
the desire to keep up appearances he
made his office not only pay his society
expenses, but he invested in real estate
in the District pool and was u bosom
companion OF Boss" Shepherd and
his crowd, the same that Grant loves so
wall ()nlu a fayu fla q n "a rnnf Inn N r,
remarked to Fred Grant, "Why don't
your father get rid Of Belknap; he is
heavy load and will bring disgrace upon
the Administration il he does not re-
sign Fred replied, = Father thinks
Belknap the incest Cabinet officer he
has ever had, and don't believe one
word against him" The sins OF Bel
KNAPP are not confined to the Fort Sill
post leadership. 5'tt