The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-10
BELKNAP'S DISGRACE.
The Secretary of War Leaves the Cabinet
Under IA Cloud-Articies of Impeachment
Prese nted Against Him in the House.

Since the impeachment of President
Johnson, ne event has created half the
excitement that was produced III all the
official and private life OF the National
Capitol by the announcement OF the i'm
parchment of Gen. w. w. Belknap,
Secretary of War, for high crimes and
misdemeanors. The House Committee
on the Expenditures of the War Depart
ment, of which Hon. Hester Clymer, of
Pennsylvania, is Chairman, has been for
some time investigating the doings of the
War Minister. There have now and then
been rumors of the discovery of crook
edness in the department, but no one
dreamed of the thunderbolt that was
about to descend. 1t appears that Gen.
Belknap had gained some knowledge of
the nature of the disclosures before the
Clymer Committee, and had rendered his
resignation early in the morning of the
I'd inst, the President accepting it at
once. Notwithstanding this the House
proceeded to impeach him for high
crimes and misdemeanors. According
ly near the close of the days proceedings
Mr.. Clymer rose in mis- seat and present
ed a resolution of impeachment against
William w. Belknap. late Secretary of
War, for high crimes and misdemeanors
in office. In the midst of great excite
mont, and with unusual stiffness III the
House, Mr.. Clymer rose and said: 81
ask permission of the House to make
report from the Committee on Expendi-
lures in the War department, of SO grave
importance that l am quite certain that
when it is heard this House will agree
that am justified i'll asking that per-
mission at this time"
Permission was given, and Mr.. Clymer,
taking his position at the Clerks desk,
read the following report
The Committee found at the very
threshold of its investigation such un
questioned evidence of malfeasance of
William W. Belknap, then Secretary of
War, that they found it their duty to lay
the slme before the House. They fur
Their report that this day, at IL o'clock,
a letter of the President of the United
States was presented to the Committee
accepting the resignation of the Secre-
tary of War, together with copy Of his
letter of resignation, which the 1resi-
dent informed the COMMITTEE was accept
ed about 1920 this morning. They
therefore unanimously report and de-
mand that said William w. Belknap, late
Secretary of War, be dealt with accord
ing to the law of the land, and to that
end submit herewith the testimony in
the case taken, together with several
statements and exhibits thereto attached,
and also a report of the proceedings of
the committee had during the investiga-
ton of this subject, and submit the fol-
lowing resolutions:
ReSOlUed, That VIM. w Belknap, late Secre-
tary OF War, be impeached of high crimes and
misdemeanors.
ResOlued, That the testimony in the case Of
VIM. W. Belknap, late Secretary of War. be re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee, with in
structions TO prepare ana report, without UNI
necessary delay, suitable articles Of impeach-
ment Of said Vim. w. Belknap late Secretary
of War.
RESOLVED, That committee of five members
OF the House be appointed and Instructed to
proceed Immediately to the bar of the Senate,
and there impeach William w. Bellnap, late
Secretary Of War, i'll the name of the people Of
the United States, of high crimes and INSIDE
meanors when in Office, and to inform that
body that formal articles of impeachment will
in due time be presented, and to request the
Senate to take such action i'll the premises as
they deem appropriate.
Mr.. Clymer then proceeded to read
the testimony of Caleb i. Marsh, taken
before the committee, showing that he
had paid Secretary Belknap about
$40, 900 in consideration of his appoint
ment as Post Trader at Fort Sill, Indian
Territory. The reading was listened to
with intense interest by members of the
House and by large audi, nee in the
galleries. In the more pathetic portions
of the narrative Clymer was frequently
forced by his feelings to pause until his
voice recovered from its RIGHTEOUSNESS
and himself from his agitation.
At the close of the reading, and after
many members who had taken up posi-
tons near the Clerks desk-the better to
hear the testimony and accompanying
statements-had returned to their proper
seats, Mr.. Clymer, who had also gone to
his seat, again rose and said with great
emotion {:
Mr.. Speaker would not il l could. and
could not, in my present condition, If l would,
add anything to the facts just reported to this
House. Another occasion may be affordrd me
to do so. They are 80 PLAIN. that everywhere
throughout this broad land, and throughout
Christendom, wherever the English language
il read or spoken they will for long years con-
such az there il no parallel for in our own
history, or in that Of any country that 1 know
Of. In this hour if one sentiment Of pity,
one word Of sympathy could find utterance
from me, it would be because feel that the late
Secretary of War is but the proper outgrowth,
the true exponent of the corruption, extrava-
gance and misgovernment that have cursed
this land for years past. That being my own
reflection will discharge my duty best to my
self and TO this House by demanding the pre-
vious question on the adoption of the resolu-
ton.
After some debate the House pro-
ceeded to vote ON the resolutions, and
they were unanimously adopted.
The Speaker appointed as the commit
tee to notify the Senate of the action of
the House, Messrs. Clymer, Robbins,
Bass and Danforth-the members COM
posing the Committee on Expenditures
of the War Department making the re-
port.
The effect of these disclosures in
Washington official and social life can be
better imagined than described. 1t
seems that Secretary Belknap's wife,
formerly Miss Tomlinson, of HarTods-
burg, KY, went before the Clymer COM
mittee and acknowledged the truth of
the charges of blackmail made against
her husband by Caleb p. Marsh, and