Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-03-16
Our Washington Letter
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 4, 1877,

suit in nothing. All such are
now satisfied that the charges
of corruption in high places,
made by democrats, are true; SO
true that an indelible disgrace is
fixed upon the country. No
one among the members of the
cabinet, stood higher than Gen
eral Belknap. He was regard
ed as a model of integrity
Some who knew, that a few
weeks before he was called from
obscurity to accept the position
of Secretary of War, that he
was compelled to make a COM
position with his creditors,
wondered where the money was
obtained which enabled Mrs.
Belknap to be one of the best
dressed women in town, and to
give magnificent receptions
But no one had supposed that
in the very beginning of his
official career, Secretary Bel
KNAPP had compromised not only
his official position, but his wife
to obtain money. The revela-
ton of his guilt came like q
thunderbolt in a clear sky
The Committee have conducted
their examinations with such
secrecy that not until Wednes-
day night was the least hint OBJ
tanned Of the exposure, and then
only by tie correspondents of
some of the foreign papers,
The arrival of the Baltimore
Gazette on Thursday morning
was the first news the people of
Washington, or even the mem
bers of Congress, Outside of
the committee, had that a mem
Der OF the cabinet, IN the pres
ence of undoubted proof, had
confessed himself guilty of
high crimes and misdemeanors,
for which he was liable 10 i'm
parchment. Intense excitement
prevailed everywhere, and wild
rumors were afoat, that Bel
KNAPP had committed suicide.-
Finally the report Of the COM
mittee was made and a state
ment of Pelknap's conduct be-
fore that body was made public.
1t appears that the former
Mrs. Belknap made the arrange
menu with Marsh by which he
was to pay her ten thousand dol
lars in cash and six thousand
dollars for each year, which he
held the position Of post trader
at Fort Sill. Mrs. BelknaI
soon became an invalid and hel
sister Mrs. Bowers, came tC
live with her. AS soon as Mrs
Belknap died, the arrangement
was renewed with Mrs Bower:
and in due time the latter be.
came Mrs. Belknap. But itwa'
shown that all the checks except
the first sent to Mrs. BelknaI
were endorsed by her husband
and that in some instances The
money was paid dire city to him
Mrs. Belknap tried 10 shield
her husband, and he was coward
enough 20 endeavor to accept
the shelter until the proof was
shown of his knowledge. The
universal comment is that Bel
KNAPP has proven himself COW.
ard as well as villain, and it il
said publicly that the best thing
he could do would be to blow
out his brains.
The fall of Bclknap leaves
everything in doubt as to who
will follow. Strange facts are
being elected as to Post-Mastel
General Jewell, and his turn
may come next. 1t has beer
proven that contracts were PAID
in full where only half service
was performed, and that extra
and unauthorized pay was civ
en- to Hester as a special mai
agent, when he was sent to Ala.
bama to cooperate in the re-
turn of Spencer to the United
States Senate. Complete con-
sternation is felt in all the de-
partments. Even where the
heads know themselves to be Sc
cure, business has been transac.
ted so loosely that none of them
can tell but what some trusted
subordinate will be found gull.
ty of crime that will bring them
Into the vortex. Ex-senator
Stewart has telegraphed that he
desires to be examined in the
Emma Mine case, and Minister
Schenck leaves Liverpool to.
day on his return home to de.
fend himself from the charge:
made against him. Senator Nor.
ton cleared himself immediate.