Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-04-05
WASHINGTON.
Presentation OF Articles Of
Impeachment against
Belknap.
Synopsis oi the Charges on
Which he is Arraigned.

Synopsis oi the Charges on
! Which he is Arraigned.
The Investigating Committee
Out Of Funds.
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST
GEN. BELKNNP.
| WASHINGTON, March 3O-The i'm
parchment articles are five, worded
in the usual legal phraseology.
The first article charges that w. w.
Belknap while in office as Secretary
of War, on the 18th of December. 1870.
had power and authority under the
laws of the United States as Secretary
of War, to appoint persons to MAIN
tain trading establishment at Fort
Sill, a military post of the United
States; that Belknap promised to APP
| point one Caleb p. Marsh to maintain
said trading establishment at this
military post, and therefore Caleb p.
Marsh and John S. Evans entered in
to an agreement in writing.
Here the articles of agreement are
set out in eXtenso.
That thereafter, on the 10th of Oc-
tober, 1870, said Belknap, as Secretary
| of War, did, at the instance and re-
quest of said Marsh, appoint said
John S. Evans to maintain said trad
| ing establishment at Fort Sill, and IN
consideration of the appointment Bel
KNAPP on orabout the 81 of November.
1870, unlawfully and corruptly re-.
ceived from said Marsh 81, 500, and at
divers times thereafter that is on or
about the 7th of January, 1871, and
about the end of each. three months
during one whole year, while he was
still in office as Secretary of War, that
he unlawfully received from said
| Marsh like sums in consideration of
the appointment Of Evans, and in
consideration of his permitting Evans
to continue to maintain said trading
establishment at Fort Sill, whereby
VIM. W. Belknap, who was then Sec
retary of War as aforesaid, was gull
ty of high crimes and misdemeanors
in office.
The second article recites that Bel
knap, while Secretary of War, on the
4th of November, 1873, wilfully, cor
| ruptly and unlawfully received from
Marsh $1,000 in consideration that he
would continue to permit Evans to
maintain q trading establishment at
Fort Sill, and that he improperly
permitted Evans to maintain q trad
ing establishment at said military
post, and Belknap was thereby guilty
while he was Secretary of War Of
high crimes and misdemeanors in of
fee.
/ th,,.1 al @hn& Del
knap, as Secretary of War. appointed
/ Evans to maintain trading estab-
lishment at Fort Sill, and Evans, by
virtue of such appointment, had since,
until the End day of March, 1876,
maintained that trading establish
ment, and had before he was so ap-
pointed, and in order to procure such
appointment and continue therein
agreed with Marsh that in considera-
ton of Belknap's appointing him
/ (Evans) to maintain the trading es-
tablishmcnt, at the instance and re-
quest of Marsh he Evans) would pay
to Marsh large sums of money quar-
terly in advance from the date of his
appointment, to-wit: $4,000 during
the year and other large sums quar-
terly during each year, in order
that Evans should be permitted by
Belknap to maintain such trading cs-
tablishment that Evans did pay
Marsh such sums of money quarterly
. during each year until Dec. 5th; that
! Marsh on receipt of each payment,
paid half thereof to Belknap, and
Belknap, while knowing these facts
and having power TO remove Evans
[ from the position at any time. crimi-
| nally disregarding his duty as Secre-
G tary of War, basely prostituting his
high Office to his lust for private gain
e did unlawfully and corruptly con-
e ruptly continue said Evans in posi-.
, ton and permit him to maintain his
@ establishment to the great injury and
a damage of officers and soldiers at the
!. post, to emigrants and other citizens
/ This was against public policy and a
, great disgrace and detriment of pub.
| lie service, whereby Bclknap was, as
: Secretary Of War. guilty of high
crimes and misdemeanors i'll office.
i Article 4 charges Belknap with
1 having received from Marsh large
5 sums of money in consideration OF
4 his having appointed Evans to main.
f tain a trading establishment at Fort
: Sill and in consideration of his con.
a tinuing him therein, whereby he, Bel
]. KNAPP, had been guilty of high crime,
4 and misdemeanors in office. This ar
5 ticle is accompanied by seventeen
specifications, setting out the time;
n and circumstances OF payment. ,
i Article 5, after reciting some gen
n eral facts, charges that Belknap was
t, induced to make the appointment oi
n Evans by the influence and reques
s of Marsh, and that Evans paid Marsh
}. in consideration of such influence
: and request, divers large sums o.
Q money AT various times amounting to
O about $4,000 q year from date of the
h appointment to the 18th of March, 70
II and amounting to about $4,000 a year
!. thereafter until the % of March, 1876
e all of which facts Belknap well knew
). vet corruptly received from said
J. Marsh. either for his own use or tt
L be paid to his wife, divers larg,
: sums of money at various times. set
;, ting out dates and amounts J all o.
g which acts and bad doings wer,
e while saii Belknap was Secretary o.
= War Of the United States, and wer,
III high misdemeanors in Office.
ri The document concludes: "And
II the House of Representatives by pro
o testation. saving To themselves thu
it liberty of exhibiting at any tim,
4 thereafter any further articles of ac
: cusation or impeachment against w
" w. Belknap. late Secretary of War o
the United States, and also OF reply
Y ing to his answers which he shall
l. H.. al III g.
II red against him, and offering proc
V to the same and every part thereof
4 and to all and every other article, ac
5 cusation or impeachment which shall
-e be exhibited by them as the case ma,
10 require TO demand. The said w. w
le Belknap may he put to answer To-
it the high crimes aud misdemeanors il
> office herein charged against him, ant
: that such proceedings, examinations
r trials and judgments may be there
n upon had and given as may be agree
= able to law and justice.
d The Committee also reports tn
following resolution:
,e Resolced. That seven managers b.
a appointed by ballot to conduct tn
" impeachment exhibited against Wn
n w. Belknap, late Secretary of War o
n the United States.
/, WASHINGTON, March 29.--Genera
,e Schenck re-appeared before the com
,e mittee on Foreign Affairs this morn
ii ing. Abiding to n writ served O.
d him just previous to his leaving Lon
ct don he produced note from the Law
D. firm stating they had served 1t unde
10 the impression he had resigned
is apologizing for the mistake and ask
10 ing him TO consider the proceeding
abandoned. In answer to the remar
rs that he had taken leave of the Queer
IN Schenck explained that he came hom
I'd ON leave of absence. The usual not
ID was sent to Lord Derby saying that h
X was leaving suddenly, and not abb
ne to pay his respects in person and tina
et he had left the legation i'm charge o
IL Enl Haumpu In waS usual that th