The New York herald., 1876-03-20
AMERICAN SCANDALS.
BRITISH OPINION OF THE MARsH-DELKNAP AND
EMMA NINE TRANsAcTIoNs-THE OFFICIAL

BRITISH OPINION OF THE MARsH-DELKNAP AND
EMMA NINE TnANsAcTIoNs-THE OFFICIAL
REPUTATION OF THE MODEL REPUBLIC
From the London Times March Al
great scandal is reported from Washington. The
Committee the Expenditures of tho War Depart
ment in the course OF investigation, summoned
Caleb p. Marsh, OF New York. Mr. Marsh ap-
pearcd on Wednesday and stated that he had paid Mrs.
Belknap wife OF General Bclknap, the Secretary OF
War, tho Of $4,000 in consideration OF ap-
ponment post trader Fort sill and several other
frontier military posts and that he had also agreed to
pay her SO 600 annually. The details of this transac
ton. related by the witness, given in the de-
spatch which We publish this morning 1t APP
pears that Marsh's nrst dealings with the
BeIknap family occurred six years ago. and
that the arrangements with respect 10 his
appointment wero made with the late Mrs. BelKnap,
sister of the Generals present wife. II the witness
statement be true the post not only sold for sum
down, but the Belknnps received annuity from the
purchaser In tho second days testimony Marsh pos
tvely accused the War Secretary OF having been prvy
to the transaction and OF having personally received
the money. This the Secretary has substantially ad-
mitcd Mrs Bclknap first went to the committee and
said she alone was to blame and that the Secretary
knew nothing about the matter. General Bcknap,
learning this, stated that the charge true and that
respondent says that the has caused throughout
the country the profound sensation that has been
known since the assassination OF President Lincoln
IL Is universally felt to be national disgrace. Tho
President described greatly distressed by the event
When General Bclknap communicated the circumstances
TO General Grant he conveyed the impression that Mrs
Bcknap alone guilty, and that he himself had only
just discovered what had occurred. Unfortunately,
this position seems no longer tenablc. But General
Grant, acting upon the idea that the General in
noccnt, accepted his resignation, the oner Of which,
however, has not saved the War Secretary from i'm
peaohment Ia congress- AZ one O'Clock Yesterday
committee OF the House OF Representatives appeared
ut the bar OF the senate and mpeachcd General Bel
KNAPP OF high crimes and misdemeanors. There seems
little doubt that the prosecution will be bona fde, for
the offence Is garng the scandal Is universal the OPP
positc party 1.-THE democrats) strong, and the
Presidential election approaches no weapon which can
wound the enemy will be disregarded II rumor Is to be
trusted The affair with Mr. Marsh is only one OF
Evidence TO other irregularities Will be forth
coming, and possibly the War Secretary may bc
the only person involved.
THIS event is the moro grave because II is conGrma-
tory OF suspicious which have long prevailed among the
American public. he reputation OF The Official world
has of late years boon high is desirable in
model Republic Even We Europeans cannot but be
struck with the altered tone IN which Americans speak
II o; their Institutions AZ least OF the who
have the present direction OF them. Party spirit may
have share in pan,ihs suspcioD, and the disap
pointment OF an oiico-seeker may be the source Of
numberlcss malicious nannations. But there has
been persistcncy in the disnaragcment OF Official
people, contemptuous tone in reference 10 them
which is very significant We had long been
toned hear oi municipal corruption and even OF the
the certain Oi the state Legislatures.
But 1t has been intimated that in higher re-
gions the Irregularities have been serious President
Grant has been surrounded by men of suspected rep
utaiion, who might at any lime bring dsgrace upon
him and upon the country His own popularity has
suffered in consequence When he was elected IN 1865,
he had the fnrcst opportunities lie successful
gencra-a character enjoys especial favor with the
people OF the United States lie had brought to end
The greatest war Ia which the country had been en-.
gaged He the chief OF the republican party, which
then had an overwhelming majority IN both houses OF
Congress lie had definite work TO do-tho pacica-
"a rt,sttA nl thn md hn
the support OF the American people until it
accomplished. Tho Presidents political career
has been unsuccessful, for he has carried out his
policy and he has been elected second term. But
IL cannot be said that his position at the present tmc
when his official II coming TO close, corre
spends with the advantages he possessed nj the
mcnocmcnt. The suspicious with which certain circles
regarded have had much to do with the present
disposition OF the public People nave lately
become impatient az the stories which are
whispered about, and anxious to make clearance OF
Objectionable set, who II not themselves official
approached and In too close connection
with the holders OF Office The recent trial OF General
Babcock Tor his alleged connection with the Whiskey
Ring followed with intense interest by the public,
and although General nbcock has been acquitted tho
rcyoa,on how things arc managed in tins centennial
year the Republic Is lar from reassurng In the
present Minister OF the highest rank who
ID accused, and, moreover, one whose profession and
particular Office should most dssociae him from Illicit
gain. This incident and its possible consequences
may have important effect on the politics of the
Union. We 10 discern that the searching out OF
official deinQuencies Will not be allowed 10 rest and that
a larger scope may DO given 10 inquiries which have
already produced so great a commoton.
In the excitement or the Beknap affair the Emma
mine may have been for the moment forgotten
Washington but hero also there have boon revelations
which stimulate rather than satisfy the public curios-
Hy. We should be sorry TO take Tor fact everything
that has been stated by the Witnesses IN America Mr..
( James r. Lyon tells very sensational story, and
Mr. Hiram a. johnson, of New York, makes II still
piquant; but the persons whose charactcrs
affected by the testimony OF these candid hnanciers
may ask tho world TO suspend It's Judgment. Among
these General Schcnck, who is his way 10
New York to meet the charges made against him be-
! fore the House Foreign Committee at Washington. Wo
publish In another column a letter containing some
dispatches from the correspondence between General
Schcnck and the State Department dated far back
as November 1871, which show what then
| General Scnenck's explanation, and also what
| was the opinion which Mr.. Fish, the Secretary of
| State formed OF his conduct General. Schenck de-
clarcd that he had pecuniary interest In the mno
except shares which he had paid Tor, and, admit
! ting that he might have made mistake IN becoming
! director nc offered withdraw from the Board Tho
/ despatch Of Mr. Fish in marked by extreme
goOd sense General Schcnck hascnod to obey the
advice contained IN it by rcsgnIng his dictatorship
The government at Washington appears to have been
quite satisfied and lately, when, IN consequence ofegal
proceedings having been commenced against him. Gou
cral Schcnck telcgraphcd expressing his willingness TO
resign his post the reply that the government did
not wish such step 10 be taken. When the matter
ADVANCED iurther General Schcnck made second oner
resignatNDD and received reply Of tho same tenor
as hc lormer. He leaves TO meet the investisa-
ton which is proceeding.