Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-03-09
And Upon Mr.. KNOTS Bill Providing
Protection Of Witnesses Who Give
Testimony eliminating Them.
selves.
An Evidently Concerted Purpose by
Blaine and KassOB to Prevent the
Impeachment and PersecU-
ton OF Their Friend.
The Resolution and Bill Passed by Vote
OF 2OG Yeas to 10 Nays-Clymer
and His Associates on Ques-
tlOn OF PrfViIege-Etc.

WASHINGTON, March S.-The house
committee on expenditures in the war
department examined Messrs. Grafton,
ID. c. Farney, General w. y. Clarke, ex-
congressman from Texas, and General
Cook to-day. The two first named ware
called to furnish information IN Tela-
ton TO the appointment of post-trsder-
ships which weFe gwen to them and
then transferred TO others. Gsneral
Clarke explained several appointments
he had secured. General Cook said he
obtained p0st-tradership through Gem
eral E. w. Rice, Of Iowa, frleud Of
General Belknap, ard that he vas TO
pay for the came seven Thousand five
hundred dollars per year. OTville Grant
asked the committee to excuse him from
testifying until tomorrow, and as he
wss leaving the room he was served
with several subp9nas to appear before
several other cOmmittees.
BELKNAP's FORMAL ARREST - BAIL
FIXED AT SIS. 600.
WASHINGTON, March Sat noon
to-day Major Richards, chief Of police,
made q formal arrest of BeIknap, ex.
secretary OF war, and brought him into
the police court. Belknap was accOm-
panied by his counsel, Ex Senator Car
penter, who said they waived an exam
inatiOn, and were prepared to sive bail
for BelknRp's appearance bef1re the
court. Judge Smell fixed the amount =
twenty-five thousand dollars, when the
parties retired to arrange bail. RslkDap
showed by his movements during the
short time he WIS in the courtroom that
he was much depressed in spirits, cover
ing his face with his hands and sighing
deeply.
STORMY PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, March S-Durfng the
session of the house to-day, Mfr, Knott,
chairman of the Judiciary committee,
made the folio wing report in the case OF
the impeachment CT the late secretary Of
war:
The committee on the judiciary would
respectfully report that, Ia pursuance Of
instructions of the hOuse, they have pre-
pared articles of impeachment against
VIM. w. Belknap, late secretary OF war,
for high crimes and misdemeanors il
office, but that since preparing the same
they have been informed, and believe
that Caleb Marsh, on whose testimony,
before the committee on expenditures in
the war department and referred to them
by the house said articles were framed.
has gone beyond the jurisdiction OF the
government of the United States, and
that probably his attendance as a wit
ness before the senS:e, sitting as court
OF impsacsmeht, cannot re procured to
c0c'TIct said VIM. w. Belknsp Of high
Grimes and misdemeanOrs in Office as
secretary of war, they therefore re-
commend the adoption Of the following
resolution.
Resolved, That the resolution instruct
ing the committee on judiciary TO
prepare articles ofimpeachment Of against
Vim. w. Belknap, late secretary Of war,
for high crimes and misdsmeanors in
office be recommltted by said commit
tee, with power to take further proofs, to
send for persons and papers, to cit during
the sessions of the house, and to report st
any time.
Your committee, impressed with the
importance of securing the fullest in-
demnity to euch witnesses ss may be
required TO testify in behalf Of the gov
eminent before either house OF congress,
or any committee OF either house, or be.
fore the senate, sitting as court Of i'm
peschment, would also recommend the
Immediate passage OF the accompany
ing bill, entitled q bill to protect wit
nesses who shall be required to testify
in certain cases. They would recon-
mend that the accompanying bill, en-
titled bill in relation to witnesses, be
Introduced, printed and referred to the
committee on judiciary, with leave to
report thereon at any time.
The following ls the bill presented by
Mr.. Knott:
A bill to protect witnesses who shall be re-
quired to testify in certain cases.
Be ii enacted, That when any person
shsll be required to testify against bis
protest before either house of cOngr sss,
or any committee thereof, or the senate
sitting as q court OF impeachment, and
shall so testify under protest, he shall
not thereafter be held TO answer cTimin-
ally in sny court OF justice, or be snbject
to any penalty or forfeiture on account
OF any act concerning which be shall be
30 required to testify; provided that
nothing hersin contained shall be so
cons rued as to relieve any person from
liability to impea :hment.
Be IL enacted, That any person who
shall Wilfully absent himself from his
place Of residence, or conceal himself,
or absent himself from the United
States, or being absent shall wilfuiiy re-
main absent, or shall flee or attempt to
do 30 for the purpose and with the in
tent TO escape the service of any lawful
writ or process requiring him to appear
sud testify or give evidence, or produce
books, Letters, documents or papers, or
fer the purpose or with the intent TO
avoid being required to testify or give
evidence, or to become witness, shall
be deemed guilty OF crime, snd punish
al BILE by q flne not exceeding ten thou
sand dollars, or by imprisonment not
exceeding three years, or by both o!
said punishmenLs. Nothing herein
shall be construed TO exempt any such
person from lawful punishment SIS for
Mr. Knott proceeded to address the
house on the subject. He said thst the
testimony Of March had disclosed such
infamous crimes and m,sdemeanors on
the part OF the late secretary of war as
had caused every honest American to
hang his head wlfa shame and igno-
miny. The com Heztee hsd proceeded
TO discharge its duty, but had no Boomer
il than the committee wss
with the fact that Marsh bad
fed beyond the jurisdiction Of the gov
ernment. he would not undertake t.
say Whist was the cause OF Msrsh's
prompt fight; but would say, however,
that, having testified before the commit
tee, and having given no indication Of
contempt OF the house, it was beyond
the power of the com mittee or of the
house 10 have ordered MIN into custody
or to have destrsinsd him in any msn-
per OF his liberty without bavlBg been
guilty OF almost as great Ell outrage as
that charged on the secretary Of war.
Marsh, however, might have been taken
in custody in pursuance Of law by an