The true northerner., 1876-03-10
BELkNAP. a

"Details of His Official MaiGeasance, as
Given To the Congressional Committee g
by Caleb Il. Marsh.
On Tuesday, Feb. 30, 1876. the committee
met at 1890 II. m. Present, Messrs. Clymer,
Blackburn and Robbins.
Caleb Z. Marsh, one of the witnesses or
dered to be subppnsed by the committee
being present, WAS duly sworn according to
law.
Question (by the Chairman Where do you
reside? Al reside at 80 West Fiftv-seventh
street, New York. Have resided in New York
about eight years.
q. (ty the Chairman)-Were you or not ap-
pointed or rendered an appointment as post
Grader at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, in the fall
of 1879. by the Secretary OF War! II so, under
what circumstances was said appointment Sc
cured 70 you? State also if you were commits
stoned 10y the Secretary as such post-trader,
or II Ios. who was 80 commissioned and. if
any other person than yourself was 40 commits
stoned. give his name, and the reasons why he
was commissioned. IL any agreement WAS
made between you and the appOintee. state it,
or produce it, if i'll writing, and was such agree
mont made with the knowledge of the Secre-
tary OF War, and state the circumstances con-
nected with the making Of that agreement and
all transactions in detail hereunder fully and
particularly as II you were specially interro-
gated in regard to the several transactions and
40 fully rs 10 save the necessity of repeated in
%errogatores.
THE REPLY
In reply to your question / would state that
IN the GUNNER Of 1870 myself and wife spent
three weeks at Long Branch, and OH our return
to Nc" York Mrs. Belknap and Mrs. Bowers by
our invitation, came for visit to our house
Alrs. Belhnap was i'll during the visit some
three CT four weeks, and l suppose. in conse-
4uenoe OF our kindness to her, she felt under
some obligation, for she asked me one day in
tho course of a conversation why did not ap-
ply for poHt-tradership the frontier. |
asked what they were, and was told that many
of them were very lucrative Offices or positions
an the eitt OF the Secretary of War, and that if
i wanted one she would ask the Secretary for
one. Upon my replying that thought such
offices belonged to disabled soldiers, and be-
sides chat l was without political Influence she
answered that politicians got such places etc.,
etc. do not remember saying that if had
valuable post Of that kind that would remem-
Der her. but l do remember her sayln some
thing like this IF | can prevail upon
the Secretary OF War to award you a
post, YOU must be careful to say nothing
to him about presents. for man once
offered him S1O, 900 for II leadership of this
kind and he told him that If lie did not leave
the office LIE would kick him down stairs." Re-
membering L do this story, l presume the
autecedent statement to be correct. Mrs. Bel
knap and Mis- Bowers returned to Washington,
aud few weeks thereafter Mrs. Belknap sent
me word to come over. did 30. She told me
vt was e valuable post as she understood, and
that che had either sskoi for it for me, or had
prevailed upon the Secretary of War to agree to
give IL 20 me. At all events | called upon the
Secretary OF War, and as near l can romem-
bcr made application for this position regu-
Gar printed form. Jhe Secretary said he would
appointme If / could bring the proper letters
AMI rec concentrations, and this said could do.
Either Mrs. Belknap or the Secretary told me
that the present trader at the post, John s.
Evans, an applicant Tor lesppointrent,
snd That had better see him be being in tue
city, Gs II would hot be fair to turn MIN out
OF office without some notice, as he would lose
largely on hIs buildings, merchandise. ttc., il
the office taken from him, aud that it would
be proper md n,t tor ne @ make some arrange
InUnt with Eim for their purchase il wlsheu to
run the st m,self. / saw Evans, and found
him alarmed ut the pro - eCt OF stag the place.
[ remember that he said thai III III of West
crn post traders Who claimed good
deal Cf influence with the Secretary of War
promised TO have hm appointed but he found,
cUmi,g 70 Wa,hii gtOr, Ihs firm TO be en-.
.uely w.tnOar ,nauence. Evans first proposed
, psr1eishp which | declined, and then n
aOnus oi r certain portion OF the profits II
wOuu allow lin u mold the position and con
.inve the blslnesA. We finally agreed upon
I'll, ,O0u IL. year. EvaLs and III, self went on to
New S,rA tOget ier, where the contract was made
aud executed, which ia herewith submitted.
Paper marked A. During our trip over, how
ever, Mr.. Evans saw something In the Army
aud Nary Journal which led him to think that
some of the troops were to be removed from
the fort and he had offered too lsrre sum-
and, before the contract was drawn, 1t was re-
duced by agreement TO S12. 900, the same being
payable quarterly In advance. When the hrst
: remittance came to me, say probably, IN No
vember, 1870, j cent one-balf thereof to Mr..
3elknap, either. / presume by Certificate OF
deposit or bank notes by express. Being in
Washington at funeral some weeks after
this had n conversation with Mrs. Bowers
TO the following purport, ss far as can now re-
member, but must say that justhere my memory
Is exceedingly indistinct, and Judge in part
perhaps from what followed as to details OF the
conversation i went up stairs to the nursery
Win Mrs. Bowers TO see the beby. I said TO