The New York herald., 1876-03-09
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN ARMIES.
His Statement Of His False Accusation and
Dismissal from the Army.
FACTS ABOUT ORvlLLE GRANT
Dealings in Government Contracts
and Traderships.
LOWELL, Mass, March s, 1874

rushed member OF Congress from the Essex district
is inclined his entire confidence in the
integrity OF ex Secretary Of War Belknap until the re-
suit Of official Investigation has declared him TO be
corrupt The General stated, in an interview with
your correspondent to-day that he was scarcely pre-
pared judge the case, for like many others at this
distance from Washington, he unfortunate in
being compelled to rely upon the newspaper reports
for his information He also intimated that his pro-
fessonal engagements consumed much OF his time
that he could hardly bcstow that attention political
Affairs which he did formerly.
REcoILEcTIoNs Ex.sEcRETARY.
al am free 10 state, however," he added with much
warmth, 'that my experience with MIR. Belknap
such to give the impression that he OF
the most honorable and trusted members In the whole
Cabinet had considerable intercourse with him
while in tho army-moro than since then
and | always found him a OF strict integrity
aud 1t will be alike of disappoin tment and
gret to II these charges against fully
ained" Then, alter moments pause, the General
continued, "There many features in the case
Judging from the evidence before the committee and
not from the newspaper accounts which go to show
that Belknap is being
UNJUsrLr
by tho community You will remember that the tes
tmony goes TO show that when money first begun
10 be paid to Mrs Belknap by Marsh nothing
indicating that it was paid for corrupt ilegtimate
purposes--nothing whatever There is, though,
,dded the General, ''evidence showing that money
vas paid directly TO Belknap himself but his manner
IN receiving 1t was not such would be assumed by
dishonest man. He gave his personal receipt
for it, something that shrewd, corrupt would
never think OF doing"
"You moan by that, Gcnera,"I interrupted, "that
he may be more OF a fool than knavey"
mo knave about It, but all fool If he would receive
md Mt for ID fnr "A
criminal purposes. Oh no; don't possible that
q man like Beknap would do that The fact that he
signed the receipts would to indicate, my mind
In the absence OF contrary proof that he believed
money was leeitmately due his wife,"
"But, General" now asked, show do you reconcile
his possible and ignorance with his confcs-
sion and gref-strickcn appearance in the committee
room the other morning?"
'Ahl that's It again. You see in the newspaper
that he confessed and all that thing;
but fail TO find anything OF the kind in the evidence
that confirms such stories. II it is true as alleged
that he burst into tears, aud implored them save
his wife (who may be guilty. and sacrifice him instead
Il shows that there is something ennobne IN
the fellows character II he has done that 1t is not
surprising me; but yet prepared to believe
he confessed TO all the crimes that popularity
charged to him. And another thng,n continued the
General 'syou should bear mind how BeIknap acted
investigation.
Marsh to leave the country the start and
wouldn't he II II had for Beknap
himselff And didn't Belknap tell him 60 before tho
committee and tell all that asked of hmY Does
look II the exSecretary felt that he had been
guilty of or even connived at corruption2 Referring
again to the matter OF mis- mani Testing grief the pros
snce of the committee, General Butler d'I have
had good deal of experience one time and another
with criminals, and have always OBJ
served that hardened and guilty man stands
up boldly and uuhinchingly against charges
This is natural for conscious of an offence or
crime knows that be liable any moment to be ac-
cused of 1t, and he himself mp appear inno-
and indifferent when the crisis arrives Not SO,
however, with innocent man, for have always OBJ
served that guiltless charged with crime gen.
orally breaks down under false accusation -
WHAT WILL BE THE EXPECT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY2
then asked the General what In his opinion would
be the effect Of this exposure on the success
Of the republican party in the coming Presidential. cam
paign. The answer, without alludng particularly to
this candidate that, 10 tho effect that Il
"ought' to have little or no effect what
ever. II Mr.. Belknap. he argued, has been
guilty OF high crimes misdemeanors In his oflco
does follow that the republican party is neces-
sarily corrupt undeservng the confidence OF the
people, and he made the comparison of asking II the
whole Christian Church should be denounced for tho
acts of a single sinner who had belonged to IL The
General might have had Brooklyn people in his
mind at the time, but II he did he charably re-
trained from mentioning names Assuming Il TO be a
possibility that Belknap Is object Of persecution
political purposes the party interviewed said that n
such was proved be fact IL would inevitably prove
beneficial to the republicans during the campaign As
before intimated, the General failed to express any
Dpinion concerning Presidential candidates
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN ARMIES.
AZ AUroB1ooRA PH1cAL sKETcH-HIsToEY OF
HIS COURT MARTIAL-THE TRUMPED UP
CHARGES AND THEIR REFUTATIoN-ATTER
BEIKNAP-wHAT ARMIES WROTE LAST DE-
GENDER
To TIE EDrroR OF THE HERALD:-
Not being politician nor seeking notoriety ne ther
wishing that false malicious charges be heralded
through the country but that the truth may prevail
feel Il incumbent upon present the public tho
following statement Of facts which can be substan-
iiatcd by facts which connected with the recent
iownfall OF an individual who has only enjoyed
he confidence Of the country but has been OF the
principal advisers OF our Chief Magistrate Far from
ppcarng to exut in public over this baneful rcvcr
son, after having materially assisted IN bringing TO
The notice oi the people OF tho country the transac-
tions OF the late Secretary OF War, which so clearly
prove him 10 have been unit for the public trust re-
posed in him, In truth say that I was in.
nuenced in my by wish for newsrapcr noto-
riety, by my especial request my name has ap-
pcarcd In pr.nt this connection with as little fire..
quency as consistent with right
Lalterly my name became publicly connected with |
this matter In the manner following g:-The Hon b. b.
Lewis Of Alabama was referred to me IN December.
1875 as being dcsirous Of renting residence in this
city, While with him examining tho various houses |
under my charge real estate agent I communi-
Gated to him that had suffered from the enmity OF
the present Secretary OF War tBelknap and that his