Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-03-09

Startling News from Washing
ton-A Cabinet Officer Charg-
ed with High Crimes and
MisdemeanOrs.
The country was startled and
shocked, Friday, by the announce
ment from Washington, that the
House Committee ON Army Appro-
priations had made such discoveries
in the War Department as warranted
the impeachment of its Secretary
Gen. Belknap, of high crimes and
misdemeanors. The character of the
charge against the Secretary is clear
" stated in the following extract
ftss.. -.-----,-----.I-----ar- -4Le. Oh.
cinnati Times, dated March ID:
"a Mr.. Marsh told the Committee
on Expenditures of the War Depart
ment that he had paid Mrs. Belknap
$4,000 for a post leadership, and
agreed to pay her $4,000 annually,
which he has done. This startling
exposure was communicated to Sec
retary Belknap, and before he could
appear before the Committee his wife
waited upon the members and admit
ted the truth of the statement, and
said she alone was to blame, as the
Secretary knew nothing about it.
Yesterday, the Secretary appeared
and confessed that the story was
true, and said he desired to assume
all responsibility, and not have it put
on his wife. The Committee was
shocked at this admission, and de-
cided to report articles of impeach-
ment. This morning Secretary Belk-
nap went to the War Office, and re-
manned for few minutes only. He
then proceeded to the White House,
where he had long interview with
the President in The presence of other
members of the Cabinet who had
been summoned to consult. The re-
suit of this interview was that Sec
retary Belknap rendered his resigna-
tion, which was accepted"
The Cincinnati Gazette, in the fol
lowing extract, throws additional
light upon this appalling transac-
ton:
"In this case all manly feeling is
moved tc delicacy, because it appears
by the testimony of the confederate
that this dishonorable bargain origi-
mated with a wife now dead, and was
transmitted to the wife now living.
Either of these would close the Sec
retary's mouth.
The statement of this confederate,
G. P. Marsh, is that lie was an old
friend of the two sisters whom Sec
retary Belknap successfully married,
and that his family rendered peculiar
service to the first in her sickness;
that thereupon she asked him why
he did not apply for Post-trader-
ship, as they were probable; that af-
ter due inquiry he did apply to the
Secretary for the leadership at Fort
Sill; that he was promised this ap-
and then he arranged with
the former holder by which he was
to retain it by paying Marsh an an
nual bonus of $4,000. He does not
clearly state that Mrs. Belknap made
any demand on him, but he does
state that he paid her the half of this
bonus while she lived, and thatwhen
she died he arranged with Mrs. Bow
ers to pay it to her for the child, and
that he continued this payment of
one-half to her, the sum however to
be divided having been reduced to
$4,000.
He does not state that Secretary
Belknsp knew of this contract with
his wife, although he does state that
after the first wife died he sent pay.
ments for her sister to the Secretary.
1t is just to state that this sister had
aconsiderable sum of money of he
own. A most astounding statement
of this confederate is that when the
Secretary was first informed that the
committee had called him to testify,
and Mrs. Belknap was expressing
anxiety about it, the Secretary ex-
pressed entire unconcern, and in re-
gard to Marsh's indications of unea-
siness, advised him to go before the
committee and testify. Upon the
theory at that time that the Secretary
knew all, this is an astounding state
ment.
The Secretary's mouth Is closed.
He can accuse neither the dead nor
the living wife. The latter accuses
herself, and alleges that the Secretary
did not know of the transaction. III
we should accept this theory, then
we should conclude that the time
when it was revealed to him was on
that night when he had expressed
his unconcern at the committees call
of Marsh as witness, and when he
found his wife in great distress about
it.
But, however this may be, the af
fair crushes the Secretary all the
same as if he were the original con-
tractor of this sale of trading privi-
lege. That his dead wife originated
it, and that the living one succeeded
TO this fatal legacy, makes it only the
more crushing to him.
Even if they sold this privilege,
and kept him in ignorance of it till
exposure was foregone, and hood
winked him as to their receiving
money from Marsh, still he would
have no defense before the commit
tee or the Impeachment. Whether
he was originally a party, or was
dragged into it when he found his wife
involved, he must be responsible for
ALL
The Cincinnati Enquirer also re-
marks:
'sThe downfall Of Belknap is sud
i