The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-03-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, ID. G., March 6, 1876,
Special Correspondence,

Had thunderbolt been launched from
clear sky or an uniathomable abyss yawned
in the pathway Of Grant, his Cabinet, and
his party, no more CONSERVATION and dismay
could have been produced among them than
was occasioned by the revelations in regard
to the late Secretary of Wag, Belknap, which
came out on Wednesday last The COM
mittee had after a great deal of delay and
trouble, procured the attendance of Marsh,
whose testimony when given was so direct
and positive as to leave no room for any
doubt of the Secretary's guilt, When sent
for he entered the committee room smiling,
considering it perhaps as a mere matter OF
form. But no sooner was he confronted
with Marsh's statement than his counte-
nance fell, the color came and went upon
his cheek, his courage forsook him, and with
out further speech he made confession of his
guilt, and offered then and there to hand in
his resignation as soon rs he could reach the
President. His wife was then called and
though, like true woman, she sought by
every means in her power to shield her hus-
band, yet the facts were too patent and her
efforts were of no avail. This of course oc-
cured in q secret session of the committee,
yet it has been intimatcd that never in the
history of the country was there more SOL
emn and impressive scene. The members
of the committee sat stern silent and deter
mined, while the three actors in the great
I i. N,1 lasr
parts before them. 1t was truly a tragedy
and around it was thrown a deeper interest
from the bitter reality of its incidents.
rhc Republican papers of this city with
that entire want of courage and justice
which so uniformly marks their every utter
ance, have striven very hard to take advan-
tage of the confession Of Belsnap's wife
and filsten upon her the stigma which be-
longs to him, and him alone. One can
scarcely imagine anything more utterly con-
temptible and cowardly than this, and it
really gives a right thinking man posi-
tive contempt for human nature when he
sees partisanship resort to such shifts as
these to sustain itself in power.
There is one phase of the affair which
suggests much of danger aud difficulty for
the American people in the future. In the
first place, Gen. Grant accepted Belknap's
resignation without moments previous no.
tice, and with the evident intention of shield
ing him behind technicality from impeach-
ment by the House
The Secretary rushed into the White
House in an excited and hurried manner,
thrust Il paper in the Presidents hand and
withdrew without explanation. 1t was but
a few minutes before the acceptance was in
his possession. The indecent haste. of the
whole matter was in itself suspicious yet he
(Grant)has followed up this criminal indis-
cretion by another of far greater magnitude,
and which gives the most powerful spirit
of C@sarism yet exhibited by the present in
cumbent. He Immediately gave instruct
ions to Attorney General Pierrepont, which
so far from assisting the prosecution of
justice, will drive out OF the country every
witness who dares to know anything derog-
atory to the character of Officials under
his Administration. A more high handed
outrage upon the privileges of free people
was never attempted. and Grant will yet find
notwithstan ding his assumption of indiller-
ence, that he has taken step too far, and
that he people in this Centennial year are
not disposed to allow any man to assume
the air and manner of Cromwell.
Marsh has already fled to Canada and
many others will probably follow his exam
RE, since they must expect the utmost ven
geance of the Administration if they appear
in evidence against it.
In view OF the many and dangerous in
novations made by Mr.. Grant upon the
customs of his predecessors and the rights
of citizens, it behooves lis, at times, to rub
our eyes and wonder if this can indeed be
the free America" of which we have been
accust omed to boast.
Let me say, right here, that the success
which followed the investigations of the
CO mmittee was due to nothing more than
| to the absolute secrecy of its deliberations
Had they thrown open their doors, and the
testimony been published from day to
day, it is not reasonable to suppose that
Belkn ap conld very soon have foresee the
result and by a judcious use of some of tho
sutlership funds rendered all their effort,
nugatory and thus give further encourage
ment to other official robbers.
The wisdom of the Democrats in deciding
upon this method of procedure is every day
becoming more and more manifest, and it is
a matter of congratulation that they have
not allowed themselve to be affected by
newspaper clamor about "star chamber
proceedings. &C., but kept the "even teno
of their way"
The Democrats here are of course pleased
with the result inasmuch as it operates as
most powerful proof of their zeal in the
cause of reform, and a practical demonstra
ten of the truth of their charge of frauC
and peculation in high places, yet there are
no violent demonstrations of satisfaction
and many have been heard to express tn,
view that it may well be looked upon as
national calamity. The Republicans ar,
downcast and sorrowful, as well they may
be. The blow came so Unexpectedly tina
even their leaders, so accomplished il tn
art of assimilation, could not feign sur
prise, and such was theiroverwhelming con
fusion that they had no recourse but to la,
} the blame upon the extravaganza Of hi
wife and weep bitter tears of lamentatiol
as they thought of the approaching elec
tion in New Hampshire and Connecticut
Before, doubtful, in the former State, succes
: it now assured and it needs but a few NOR
such exposures to produce revolution i
4, favor of the democracy, to which that q
, 1873 was a small affair. The fall of Belkna
: is the first gun of the Centennial campaign
and sounds in the ears of the Radical part
like the knoll Of doom. 1t fixes the polio
of our party until convention makes it
platform and foreshadows the retirement Q