, 1876-03-11
Secretary Belknap ImDeaebed.

! IN the house OF Representatives March II Mr.
| Ciymer presented resolution Of i,urea.bIpeut
! against Vim. W. Belknap late Secretary ~ Ma
Tor high crimes and misd. Ineaunrs IN - In ,Ie
midst OF great excitement, and with unusual srlll
ness IN the Hous-, ClyIner rtse and ssi5 ~ ~
PERMISSION TO make report from the committee on
! expenditures IN the War Department OF % gave
importance AIN certain when il s heard tIs Hnt,se
will agree that am justified in asking that pertuis-
| SION at this time"
Permission was given, and Clymer, taking his po-
sltlon at tie clerk desk lead the follow ln reort
lie committee found at the very threshold Of its in
Vestlga ION such unquestoned evidence of the nal
| iessance ui Gen W W. Belknap the Secretary of
War, that they found Il th N duty 10 Law The same
before the House The. further -efrt that this day
letter irom the President Of the United States was
Presented TO the committee aecr tt n., the nn
OF the secretary OF War; gether with copy of his
resignation Hnirh, the President informed the COM
nitte, was accep ed about 1870 this morning They
therefore unaniu ousiy report and demand that said
| W. w Btlknap. late Secretary of War te dealt
with aeoor ling 10 the law OF the and and to that end
| submit herewith the testimony IN the taken,
| together with the several statements thereto at
tiehed and also the report Of the proceedings had
during the Investigation Of this subject and submit
| the following res buttons:
RsSoipsd, That W. ". Belkuap late Secretary OF
War, be impeached of H. q, crimes and ,sdemeaIurs
Rcsoired, That the testimony the case # Belknap
he referred to the Judiciary oOmmittee with Irstruc
tons TO prepare and report without unnecessary de-
lay suitable articles OF Impeachment OF said Belknap
R,Soired, That o0Tnmitteee OF five members of the
House he appolntet and instructed tOpioceei imine-
dlatey TO the lar Of tie Senate and there inpeach
| W. W. Belknap, late SeeI etary OF War, of high
crimes art nus iene WHEN IN office, and T. iu-
form that boiy that formal articles impeachment
WILL IN due time, be presented and request the Sen
ate TO take such order IL the premises 1t may
deem appropriate.
Clymer tlen proceeded to read tie testimony of
! Caleb r haish, taken yesterday b toIe the com
HIttee. He testified he lad paid Secretary Belkuap
about $40 900 consideration OF his appointment rs
post trader at Font SILL Indian Territory. he read
ing listened 10 with Intense interest ly the
| House and hy large audience ia the galleries At
the close Of the reading, and after tie members WHO
had taken up Positions the clerk desk the bet
| ter 90 Lear the testimony and accompanying state
ments, and returned to their proper seats, Cymer,
who had also gone 20 his seat arose and said with
great emotions MIR Speaker, would not. II could,
and couli not, IN my present condition, II would,
say anything TO the a"ts Just reported the House.
! Another OCCASION may be aiF1Idei 20 do
! They are 80 PLAN that everywhere Throughout this
broad land, and TIN IOughUut ChTistendOIn wherever
| The English language Is read spoken, they will
for long years constitute record OF uftcal currup
ton and crimes, such there Is parallel for
| our own history that of any country that know
| of. In this hour If one sentiment of pity, word
of sympathy could find UtteruuCc from me, IL WOuld
be because feel that the late Secretary of War Is
but the proper OutgrOwth the true exponent OF the
| corruption, eXtrivagahee and the misSorerDment
that has cursed this hand for years past That being
my own reflection, will discharge my duty best to
sell and TO this House by demanding the previous
question the adoption Of the resolution.
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST SECRETARY BEIKNAP.
WAsHINGros, March ., 1876
4 report that Marsh, OF New York, testified yrs
terday briOre the committee expenditure IN the
| war department, that he had paId Mrs Beiknap
80 900 for post tradeTship and $500 yearly sncr
and that she did not deny the truth OF the charge, lie
| came generally known this for ICOp, causing much
excitement III uticill and other crcleI. Inquiries
were made III all quarters 10 ascertain the precise
facts III the pTenrsts, which resulted IN general be
lIet that t.e reported testimony entitled 10
dence and this bellef WAS further strengthened by
the fact that shout 10 O'Clock thi~ morning etary
! Belkuap had interview with the President IN
company with SecTeiartS Bristpw and Chandler and
| senators Morton and Morrill, Uf Vermont, the sub
jecJ discussed involving the resignation Of Secretary
| Belkuap The latter left the executive manson
with Secretary Chandler, and 10th went over tO the
department. 1t Is thought BE knap pnced his res
! IgndtlUn ut the pleasure uI The President
| WASHINGTON March > 1876
4 republican member Of The committee on eNQhn-
dIturus of department i authority ior stTt-
ing that Secretary Be.knap has not yet been before
that committee but Is tO l.. examined this ternOOn.
III authority States that the President has
cgptei BelkI.sp resignation. \ report On the srb-
| ieCt will be made 10 the House tO-lay If the com
lttee able furnish the testimony bsiorr The ui
| lvuruIueIIt the Senate.
| WssHINGruN March 2-The report of the testi-
| mCny lmplicatug Secretary Belkuap, III the matter
OF the sale Uf the oic Of post trader at Fort ST. Is
Ihe theme OF comment everywhere IN tins city 10
day zen. Beiknap has resigned. He LANDED 4 letter
% the President rendering l, TtslgnatUn, G1 ask
ing hat II be accepted without delay 1t Is tted
at the White House that the resignation was prompt
" accepted but tie exact language OF the PresI-
leut's reply has yet Teen obtained. Blknap has
remained at his private residence 10. having VISITED
the Mar department. He says there are many CON-
pcatIuns to lie eNplIInei 10 the committee and that
e has therefore requested 20 Ge allowed 70 make
statement before 1t.
! The discovery Of this Circumstance IN General
Belknap's administration of the War Department
occasions most intense surprise. The cab net officers
and officials of all grades dee their absolute aston
| ishment Ihrou.hOuJ the entire elty there isS been
talk regarding. the subject OF impeachment Of the
Secretary for the Oheusr OF corruption, and opinion
has beeu divided aisOny Cabinet officers and others as
10 petber trial bad after the Offending OH
cIal Is out of Office The punderance O OPINION, how
ever Is that II cCd be- 1he Attoin, vi, ne nj stid
in conversation upon the matter he was not prepared
10 u ,e an opinion, though It has not been o;healty
/ asked for uniesS after examination.
Several friends of Belkn4p call d upon him today
bu, h, had nothing TO say, except as has teen here
mentioned He asked to he allowed to make n state
| meut before the committee. Already rumoTs are
afs,at as 10 the appointment CT his successor: but
not ing mas been sal about It IN the White House.
II Is also rumCrei tins afternoon, that the President
il IncInel 10 withdraw the acceptance Of Bel knsp
rsis nation 10 await Investigation OF the charges
against Belknap.