The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-03-10
BEgK NAP.
evssrs uar Secretary Diss,uccd


Many Ct our readers have, no doubt,
reader heard Of the f,llof Grants secle
target War, VIM. W. Belknap. The
paptr4 for the rss, week have made
full statement Of the Sccretarys sin
aud fraud. It appears from all re-
ports. that Gcn1 Bclknap, Scc'y Ct
War. aud. of course. a member "
President Grants Cabinet, who had
the right to select Post Trnders at the
different points in the West, sold for a
large sum. and for his own benefit. the
right to trade at Fort Sill, in the In.
dian Territory, to some company Of
traders. The price agreed to be paid
by these traders to the Secretary, or
his wife, was at first $4,000 per year,
hut finally reduced to $4,000 per year.
A Committee Ut Congress was called
upon to investigate the charges. and
M soon rs Secretary Belknap learned
that fact, he sent in his resignation OF
the office which he held, to the Presi.
dent. The same was Immediately nc-
copied, and Belknap thus. probably,
escaped an impeachment. The Dem.
ocratic Congress has uneartlied in this
case stupendous fiaud aud much
rascali,y, There can be no doubt that
the PRECEDENT actc'. hastily in accept.
ing the resignation Of his War Score.
tary. Hrd tc, the President, defcrr-
cd the acceptance for few days. in
all probability there would have been
ample lime given 10 file articles Of i'm.
parchment against lis criminal Secre.
ssry. The question yet remains an.
open ore, Us To whether Mr.. Belknar
can lie inrcachsd, although his resig
nation has been accepted by the Presi
dent. However this may be. ther,
can he no doubt that criminal pro
ccedings can I've instituted against him,
on account Of his conduct, ~ a Gov
erpmcnt official. This is one Of the
most shameful cases ever brought be.
fire the attention Of Congress. Mr..
Bclknap was ono Of the Presidents
Privy Counscllors, and one who held
the high and distinguished position Of
Secretary Of War. He was trusted
Cabinet ofiicer-yet he has fallen, and
Nation laments his fall. So much
corruption has been shown within the
past few years, that people begin to
cnquire-"Who is honest?' lie. us
hope that during the coming Admin
istraiion there will be found men who
are honest and capable. The love Of
money is said to be the root of all
evil. There can be no doubt Of the
truth of the maxim. Mrs. Be.knap
is woman Of fashion, and one who
loves the society Of those who make n
display with diamonds and fine enter.
tainmcnts. II was this love that caus.
ed the fall Of herself and once honorcd
husband. She paid dear for these
ephemeral joys. Her cries and tear
viii avail her n'ahing. That she and
her husband, the Secretary. who once
stood SO high, will evermore remain
under the han Of National reproach.
caunot he doubted. All that the PEG.
pic can do by way Of giving consola-
ton. is TO say that they repent their
indiscret;on.w which brought them down
90 low. The Committee whn investI-
gated the case. had among its mem.
hers some Of the personal friends Of
Mr.. Belknap. They did not desire to
accuse him wrorgfully, and made
their report only after full proof Of
his guilt. Articles of impeachment
have been preferred against the late
Secretary, 2l in number, and the Sen
ate will be called upon To act in the
csse. Distinguished counsel has been
employed in his defense. and the fair
est trial vii! be accorded the accused,
~hen the crimical charges thall have
been made.