The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-03-16
2lafional a6airs.
Gen. sherman ON BeIknap.


From Interview with Gen. sherman Re
ported in the st. Loais Glohe-D Democrat
Scan you think of a esuse for
Belknap's demoralization2
"Of course, / do not know the
cause, but having lived in Washing
ton during his tenure of Office, l
can form a pretty good idea of it.
In my opinion, his downfall is due
more to the vicious organization Of
Washington society than anything
else. refer to the ridiculous ex-
travagance of those who move in
the first circles at the capital. Very
few Cabinet officers are able to live
within their salaries. While I was
there the only member of the Cabi-
net who could stand it was Fish;
with his income of 100000 a year
he could afford topay mostany price
for social privileges; nevertheless, it
cost him $4,000 a year. Mr..
Chandler, who has gone into the
Cabinet since I came to ST. Louis,
is another one whose private for
tune is SO ample that his salary is
no object to him. Outside of these
two none of the public officials in
Washington can live within their
salaries. / left Washington chiefly
because my salary would not sup
port ME, and because I did not con
slider the society there the proper
place in which to rear family.
received $I3, 800 regular salary, be
sides $4,000 for rent and horses,
making S16,5OO in all. 1 outlived
this amount every year, by several
thousand dollars l had to keep
open house all the time. My fami-
" rarely had any rest from enter
tanning people, most of them utter
strangers, in whom we could feel
no interest. Besides, everybody
considers themselves privileged to
practice extortion upon any person
who holds a prominent place in
Washington. Gas companies, house
furnishers, marketers, etc, always
charged me exorbitant prices, SIM
ply because was a general of the
army. Now, Belknap got $4,000 a
year and had no outside resources
He had fashionable wife, mbi-
tious to lead in society. She must
have money, and there was no other
mode of getting it except by resort
ing to unlawful practices. In my
mind this Is the key TO the dis
graceful conduct of. the secretary OF
war"
"Do you know Mrs. Belknap?''
every well. She was regarded as
a most estimabIe woman, intelligent,
brilliant and pretty She came of
a good Kentucky family, and was
ambitious to lead in society. She
wore a profusion of jewelry, and
her dresses were imported. Her
receptions were among the most
agreeable and snowy entertainments
at the National capital. 1t was inn
possible that she could keep
her expenditures within her hus-
bands official income
"Do you think Belknap viii en-
deavor to shield himself behind
his wife?'
''To the contrary, think he is
likely to suffer much personal obi
um by keeping silent, in order to
shield his wife He is not a man
to protect himself at the expense Of
his wife. If Mrs. Belknap, for a
moneyed consideration from out
side parties, influenced her husband
to make appointments, the world
will never know it through Belknap.
/ On the other hand, Mrs. Belknap is
Just the woman to shield her hus-
band, and win doubtless assume as
much of the odium as possible. 1t
is a very sad affair all through, and
will reflect much diseredit upon onr
country and society at large"