The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-03-10


THE great and absorbing event OF
the past week mas been the Sudden and
overwhelming disgrace OF General
William w. BeIknap, late Secretary OF
War Almost IN the twinkiing OF au
eve he has fallen, Gishonored and dis
graced, never more to rise. TIE story
of his ruin may be briefly told As
usual the principal agent in bringing
about the shameless disgrace was a
woman. Belknap is New York man
by biIth and a son OF Col. BeIknap,
who served with distinction in the
Mexican wal. lie himself served
throughout she late rebellion with
honor and credit At the time Of bis
appointment as Secretary Of War he
held the office OF Collector OF Internal
revenue. at KcokuLs, Iowa Tie has
been married three times, his second
and third wives being sisters from
Harrodsburg, Kentucky. His second
wife died in DccepIber, Isle, at Wash
ington, year or so after which he
married her sister, the present Mrs.
Belknap. One Caleb r. Marsh, of
New Ork, was an intimate personal
iiierd of these two Ia, s, and in the
Simmer OF 1879, as Marsh on last
tuesday week testified before the com
mittce on the expenditures OF the War
Department, of which Hon. Holster
Clymer, of this State, is chairman, the
second Mrs. Bclilnap while on visit
at his house in New York, suggested to
him that if he was willing to take il
she would get Gen. Belknap TO appoint
him post trader, or sutler, ut Fort Sill,
in the Indian TerritOry-a most vGlu-
able position. Marsh consented, but
afterwards, IN October, 1870, agreed in
writing with j. S Evans, who was then
the post trader ut Fort Sill, that he
(EVans) should be reappointed by
Bclknap, and that in consideration Of
Marsh permitting this arrangement to
be made. Evans was topay him (Marsh)
$l2, 200 annually, in quarterly install
ments. The half of the first instalment
81 ,500) was paid by Marsh to Mrs.
Belknap, who, dying soon afterwards,
the subsequent payments were made by
Marsh to Belknap himself Marsh
swears that all the payments made by
him to Mrs. Belknap and Gen. BelInap
amounted TO about $4,000, and al
though he never paid any money to
Belknap's present wife, she knew all
about the business. This is the sub
stance of Marsh's testimony, the truth
of which Belknap admitted when it
was read to him by the committee YES
teIdav week On that day he resigned
and on the same day Mr.. Clymer offer
cd z resolution to impcach him Of high
crimes and mis,lemcanors, which was
unanimously adopted. lie has also
been indicted by the Grand Jury OF
Washington city The fail Of Bclknap
is to be attributed mainly to the ex-
/ travagant mode of life adopted bv
himself and his wife, both Of whom
aspiTcd to be at tho head Of fashionable
society at our corrupt national capital
where his wife surpassed all other high
flyers of fashion in the elegance and
| eXpcnsiVeness of her costumes. TO dC
all this, money must he had, honestly
! if he could, but if not then in any other
manner and by that sin has he fallen
/ Sad and painful as is his fate, it is
/ simply the legitimate and natural out
growth of the fostering corruptIons ot
the present national administration
! and will he repeated until the cause is
/ removed by the peODlc.