The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-03-22
A Problem.
is BELKNAP WORSE THAN GRANT?

BY a law Of Congress it was made
Mr. Belknap's duty to designate GER
tain persons to be post traders at a
large number of military stations
It was presumed that he was the au
thority most fit to fill such places;
that he would be less under local or
corrupt influences, and that he would
appoint strictly from view to the
good of the service; that in such
function he would be absolutely out
of the reach of personal influences.
But it is shown that in at least one
instance he appointed person who
made presents to his wife; who
gave that lady at one time $4,000
in hand, and transmitted to her at
regular periods various important
sums. Some people call this sale.
No we'll bred person, no person Of
delicacy or refinement, would apply
such a coarse and vulgar name to a
transaction in which there is clearly
a mere interchange fcourtesies and
kindnesses. Mr.. Belknap gave to
Mr.. Marsh a post leadership for
hundred good reasons, because Mr..
Belknap thought it lucrative place,
and wanted to do Marsh a favor
Can any act be more innocent than
this2 On the other hand, Marsh
gave Mrs. Belknap ten thousand dol
lars because it was her birthday, or
would be her birthday at some time
or another. This also is as innocent
as possible. There is only one fact
here that the censorious seize upon
the fact that he gave money. If
he had given diamond, it would
have looked better, but would it have
been different. In order to see that
this transaction was not a sale of
posts-not bribery, but a fair and
proper interchange of good Offices
let us suppose that Marsh had not
given money. Let us suppose that
he had kept his ten thousand dollars
and FIVE successive payments of six
thousand dollars each, and that with
the forty thousand dollars thus left
in his hands lie had purchased al
Long Branch cottage and grounds
. and given these to Mrs. Belknap, OF
, even Mr.. Belknap, then it would have
been evident that it WAS a mere offer
ing of friendship and not BRIDE
Some gentlemen gave Grant a cot
!, tage in that way, and though one o
J., them was Secretary of the Navy ant
another Collector of this port, nobod.
said that Grant had sold those off
ces, and he has not been impeache'
j, j, and is not likely to be. But if the.
had given him forty thousand dollar
- the price of the cottage, it nigh
have been otherwise. Or If MI
Marsh had bought for Belknap
house in Washington, as was don
for Grant; or house in Philadel
phia, as was also done for Grant; Q
= if he had kept his money till it be
! came as much in quantity as tn
: hundred thousand dollar purse tina
. was made up in this city for Grant
= in any one of these cases Belkna
y might have given him all the pos
y traderships in the army-except, {
, course, those that are claimed by th
Presidents brother-and it woul
have been all right. For all this ha
~ happened in Grants case, and it
" all right; and what is right for Grar
must be right for Belknap. But h
- gave money--filthy lucre, vile trasl
= And yet it is a pretty nice distin
' ton between Marsh's money and TIL
hundred thousand dollar purse give
- to Grant: though, Of couse, a pur!
I'd makes difference and gives a r
d, fined air, especially'if it is silke
en purse N. Y. Herald.
al
); A SAMPLE OF FINE WRIr1NG.-E
10 cry man is as his concept Of self.
he includes in it the body and it's q