American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-03-11

accepting Beiknap's resignation ex-
cites the utmost condemnation of
all parties. 1t is asserted by a
II lend of the President, that he said
to Belknap: "Mr. Secretary, if you
are innocent, L won't accept it; il
you are guilty, L can't" But he
did, after the Secretary had talked
half an hour with him. 1t is be
iieved that Secretary Chandler and
Senator Morton urged its accept
anco by the President, as they we're
both present when Belknap came
down stairs with Grant, from the
Executive office. SO soon as Bel
KNAPP had gone, the President took
IL long walk with his son Fred, and
came back about noon. He is said
to have declared that he has lost all
confidence in human nature-a re.
mark which he made when Porter's
famous letter was published-and
that he
DON'T KNOW WHOM TO TRUST,
now. lie asserts that of all men in
public life, Belknap seemed to him
to be the most ght-forward and
sound. Public comment is varied.
All declare it a national disgrace,
but at the same time say they had
no doubt of the existence of such a
state of affairs in the War Departs
ment, as well as in others, even to-
day, and that they are glad it has
come to the surface. About the
departments there were many long
faces, and little groups of chief
clerks were to be seen carrying OH
low and solemn conversations at ali
times, and members of the Cabinet
and heads of departments we're call
ing on each other. During the day
the President refused to see any
one except his most intimate friends.
To>night, all the hotel corridors are
crowded. The Democrats, by uni
versal assent, postponed the caucus
set for to night to discuss the cur
rency question. The question now,
they say, is not what kind of cur
rency we are to have, but if we are
TO have a government at all. Pc
iItlcaily, they are of opinion that
are to follow. settles the election in
New Hampshire, and the Presiden>
tial campaign as well. The Demo
cratic national executive committee
Will send $4,000 copies of to-day's
proceedings i'll the House into New
Hampshire, and as many to Cons
necticut.
The dry report of the committee
does but feeble justice to the sub
ject. There was a
PASSIONATE SCENE,
when 1he wretched Mrs. Belknap,
to the hope of her girlish
friendship for Mrs. Black burn, Wis
tied her, and throwing herself upon
her knees, refused to move until Sc
curity for her husband was prom
lsed. Mrs; Belknap is a woman of
6ne presence. She dressed in some
thing like grandeur. Her costumes
were noted for being extremely
iecoHette and the staid element of
society held her little
N reproof for this foreign taste,
when they remarked of her that
hey preferred to have other mems
wives display their charms SO lib
orally; rather than their own. Mrs
as Miss Tomlinson, was a
BOSOM friend of the wife of Con-
sressman Blackburn. To her, last
hight, she betook herself, when her
husband, coming home from the
declared that all was
ost. To work more effectively upon
Yrs. Blackburn, the wretched wife
her baby to plead for her.
t was one of the few cold, stormy
lights experienced in w; shington.
The ground was covered with an
nch of slush, the snow melting as
t fell. AS she appeared at Mrs.
5iackburn's, it was almost impossi-
lie to recognize her. A plain cloak
vas thrown over her, and her babe
vas pressed in her arms. She had
rarely reached the inside door when
he fell in a faint. Recovering, she
ell upon Mrs. BIackburn's neck;
he raved piteousIy to save her
husband and child; she would bear
Ill the blame; she alone was gull |
5; they might hang or iInprison
Ter, but spare her babe and her
Iusband During tho scene Mr..
Black burn came in, and the two |
Tomen chung to him, his wife al
nost as much moved as the wretch
i wife and mother. Blackburn
ays he was
NEVER SO MOVED IN HIS LIFE
y in appeal, but be was powerless,
{ he had been willing, to shield
selknap. lie told the unfortunate
gently, but firmly, that he
Tas powerless, and that justice
aust be done This was not the
rst time Mrs. Brlknap had asked
,lackburn's good offices. She told
i'm some points of the story a few
;eeks ago, but did not say how her
usbaud was implicated, Black
urn did not understand, and jol2-
lgly promised to apprise her of
ny plots against her husband.
y lady friend of Mrs. Belknap
avs of her: Mrs. Bowers came
ere ostensihly to take charge of
ne Secretary's house and of her
istel's child. She had spent two
,inters in the Secretaly's house
uling her husbands life, and dur
ig that time she was q most inti>
late friend of Mrs. Marsh. They
pent Il summer in Europe, travel
, O. vii hont an escort and MAKING