Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-04-25
BELKNAP.
Rejoinder by the Ex-Secretary Of War
to the Replication of the House
OF Representatives.
He Alleges Insuficiency, Denies that he,
was Secretary of War and the Au.
thOrity Of the Committee.
He Acknowledges the Guilt of His
Wife, and Pleads His Own In
nOcenee-Win Her Petit.
coats Hide Him!

WASHINGTON, AUril 24.-This morn
ing the counsel for w. w. Belknsp filed
with Secretary Graham, General Bel
knsp's reiOinder to the replicatiOns Of the
mouse Of representatives In the matter
Of his impeachment. A general de-
murrsr is inteTposed to the first of the
two replecatiOns, alleging its insuffici-
ency. He next denies the statement
contained in the second replication that
he was secretary OF war until and in
Guiding the second day OF March, 1876.
He then denies the sF1ertiOns OF the
replication to the effect that he was
secretary Of war until committee hsv-
ing authority from the house had inves.
tigated his official conduct, and
asserts that up to the time Of his
resignation the house had not given
authority to any com mittee to investigate
any of the matters set forth in the charges
made against him in the articles Of im-
peachment. The last plea OF the re-
joinder contains important and fresh
matter, and is ss follows: "And said
Belknap, as to the said second replica
ton of the house of repre- sentatives,
second above pleaded, further ssid that
the said house Of representatives ought
not by anything in that repli-
cation alleged to have or main
tain said Impeachment against him,
the said Belknap, because, he says,
although true it is that he did resign
bis position as secretary Of wsr on
March 2, 1875, by resignation in writ
ing addressed to the President and the
President did then and there accept said
resignation in writing, nevertheless 1t
is not true, as alleged in that replication
that said Belknsp resigned his said po-
sition with any attempt TO evade the
proceedings Of said house OF representa-
tives to impeach him, but, on the con-
trary thereof, he AYERS the fact
to be that a standing committee
of said house, known SIS the
COMMITTEE on Expenditures of
the War Department." without
authority from or direction Oh said
house of representatives to examine, in
qUire or invC1tigste in regard to the
matters and things set forth in said arti-
cles Es the official misconduct OF said
Belknsp, had examined one Marsh, and
he made statement to said committee,
which said statement, if true, would not
support the articles of impeachment
against said Belknap, but which said
statement was OF such 8 character in
respect to other persons, some of whom
had been, and one Of whom was, so
nearly connected with said Belknap by
dome site ties GS to greatly affect him
and make him willing to secure the sup
preston 0! Sd much of said statement as
affected such other psrsOns st any cost
to himself. Therefore he proposed to
said committee that il they would sup
pres that part Of the statement which
related to said other persons, he, the
said Belknap, though contrary to truth,
would admit the receipt by him, the
said Belknsp, of al moneys stated
by the said Marsh to have been
received by him from one Evans, men,
toned in said statement, and paid over
by Marsh to any other person or persons,
but said committee declined to accsde to
said proposition, and Hon. Hester Cly-
mer, chairman of eaid committee, then
declared to Belknap that he (Clymerl
should move in the house of represents
tives, on the statement Of said Marsh,
for the impeachment Of him (Belknap)
unless said Belknap should resign his
position as secretary OF war before noon
of the next day, tO-wit, March I'd; and
said Belknap Tegs riding this statement
of said Clymer, chairman as aforesaid,
as an intimatiOu that he, the said Bel
KNAPP, could, by thus resigDing, avoid
the affiiction inse 08rable from q pro-
tracted trial in rm which would at
tract the greatest degree Of public atten-
ton, and the humiliation OF ayailing
himself of the defense disclosed in said
statement itself, which would cast the
blame on said other persons, he yielded
to tho suggestion of said Clymer, chair
same was made in good faith,
by said Clymer, the chairman as afore-
said, and that ne said Belknsp would,
by resigning his position as secretary of
war, secure the speedy dismissal Of said
statement from The pubic mind, which
said statement though 1t involved no
criminslity on his part was deeply pain
ful to his feelings, and did resign his
said position as secretary of war the
second day Of March 1876, and at eleven
O'Clock in the forenoon of that day
aforesaid, he (Belknapl caused
said committee to be satisfied Of
his said resignation and of the accept
ance thereof by the President OF the
United States; all Of which was in pur-
suance and the consequence Of the sUg-
gestion SO made by Clymer, and there
upon the said committee declared they
had no further duty to perform in the
premises; and he, Belknap, that while
said house Of representatives claims that
the Clymer committee was active in its
pretended examination Of Marsh, the
house ought, In honor and in law, to be
estopped to deny. Clymer was also act
ing on behalf of said house in suggest
ing the resignation of him, Belknap,
and ought not to be heard to complain
Of resignation thus induced; and said
Belknap is ready to verify whereof he
prays that the judgment OF said house
OF representatives ought not to have or
maintain impeachment against him.
w w REI.KNAP