The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-13
WHO Is RESPONSIBLE 7


be confessed, there was, and still Ia, room
enough for them. The difficulty, how
ever, with them has been, that instead of
getting out of the mud, certain parties have
only sunk deeper in the mire. Many of
these personal explanations were INDUCED
In Friday, which, in the light of Marsh's
testimony, are deeply interesting and in
structive, and seem to throw light on the
discharge of Marsh and TO place the re-
sponsibiity for Beknaps escape from the
consequences of his crime where it prop
erly belongs.
Marsh testified that he told Belknap that
he, Marsh, had ''hetter leave and get out
Z" of the country" and that Belknap re-
piled that such course would ruin him."
Beknap; that just before leaving for New
York-some over week before he appear
ed before the committee Belknap came to
him and said, al want to make a last ap-
peal to you TO stay longer and that If ],
Marsh, event, he, Belknap, would he ruin
.' cd !" that DIR. Tomlinson. the secrctarys
broiher.in-law, followed him TO New York
and came to his house and said, "he had
seen I've Blackburn-he Is cousin of
something like the one which he Tom
F." lnsonl wonld Suggest, that there would
I" be no further investigation !" that lie
wrote such letter, that Tomlinson took
the letter and said he would show it to
Blackburn and that he, subsequently, was
| subp9naed, and went to Washington,
where he was again called upon by Tom
| linson who sald "he had seen Blackburn,
sand that lie still thought this matter
d" could be fixed up without any trouble
Bearing in mind this sworn testimony Of
of Lyman X. Bass, member of the COM
mittee on expenditures IN the war depart
ment which reported the resolution Tor the
impeachment of Beknap, made in the
house Friday. 1t appears that the rcpub-
lican members of the committee were not
present at or notified of the meetings of
the committee, although the meetings were
special, not regular ones, until after
Marsh's testimony was taken and signed.
| Thus the members of the committee pres
ent we're Clymer Of Pennsy lvania, COL
lege classmate and intimate friend of Bel.
KNAPP; Blackburn of Kentucky, an old
friends OF Mfs. Belknap, the two famlie,
living on terms Of the greatest intimacy
and Robbns Of North Carolina, who had
been investigated himself, and escaped as
if by fire; all being good democrats.
| This was the committee that made the
Investigation, and it would appear that
they would not, even have recommended
an impeachment, but for the demand OF
the republican members after they were
graciously permitted to be present. But
let that pass, and see how Marsh was dis
charged After the eleven o'clock in the
morning Clymer had proposed that Marsh
he discharged. hut Bsss objected for the
reason that he WAS the sole witness in the
case, and that "the safety OF the commit
tee, regarding its own reputation, would
mot allow the discharge of the witness
"pending these proceedings" The dis
cussion relative to his discharge occupied
several minutes. A. further question was
put to Marsh by Belknap's counsel, when,
at about 11.30 o'clock, without being
further questioned by any member of the
committee, he was, at his own request,
| discharged by Ciymer without consultation
| with the other members of the committee.
| Marsh thea stated that he desired to leave
for New York at one o'clock, and Clymei
offered to go with him and get his fees,
| adding that " if he had not time to get them
" before the train left, he, Clymer, would
- send them to him by mail" aud that he,
Clymer, would send him the contract with
Evans "by mail in few days
| When the testimony and the resolution
for Beknaps impeachment were reported
to the house, Marsh had been three hours
on his way to New York and Canada. Mr.
Knott, democrat and chairman of the ju.
dietary committee, reported to the house
/
sence, it would be idle to adopt, or ever
report, articles of impeachment against
Belknap, because he could not be convict
ed and, Friday, Attorney General Pier
repent, in cabinet meeting, gave it as hii
opinion that 'no articles of Impeachment
" could be sustained, or criminal indict.
"ment found against Belknap without the
=" testimony of the witness Marsh" Ant
the common sense and common intelligence
Of The country know that these opinions
are sound.
We do not say that Clymer and Black
burn intended that Belknap should escape
conviction, but we know what Marsh ties
titled to, what Tomlinson said after seeing
Blackburn, and what Clymer did. The
one dovetails in with the other, and makes
perfect whole. Others can draw the in
ference as well as we can. In view of thu
the facts, however, it was exceedingly un
fortunate for Belknap that an election wal
pending in New Hampshire and to occur
some ten days distant--otherwise he might
still have remained in the cab
met. 1t was fortunate, however, for tn,
country, for its disgrace consisted of tn,
fact that he, member of the cabinet, wa
guilty os Singh crimes and msdemeanors,
not that he was exposed. That he viii
escape all punishment seems evident, ant
for his escape Clymer and Blackburn ar,
alone responsible.
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