The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-09
WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY BELONGS.

WHERE The hE5PUNSlblLlrr bELoNte'
IfWilliam w. Delknap, late secretary of
war, escapes all punishment for his crime,
as now seems possible, where will the re-
sponsibiliiy therefor belong2 OF his guilt,
there is no question. for he has confessed
It, but in a manner which renders 1t doubt
ful whether his confession can be used
against him. Tho witness, by whose testi-
moDy the crime was brought home to him,
was one Caleb L. Marsh-but he is now in
Canada beyond the reach of the process of
the courts His testimony Is needed before
the senate in the impeachment trial, if the
senate concludes to have such trial, before
the grand jury to procure an indictment,
and, also, ia the criminal court to secure
his conviction. II was the duty of the
chairman of the house committee On ex-
penditures in the war department, Hester
Clymer, to see that Marsh was where he
could be found when wanted, Clymer,
however, paid Marsh his tees, discharged
him and told him that he was no more
wanted and Clymer Is Il democrat, .
college classmatc aud intimate friend of
Belknap.
That the responsibility is CYmer'S is
made evident by the proceedings before his
committee. The morning Of the day that
Marsh took up his march for Canada, il
was proposed, in the committee, that he be
discharged, "as no longer necessary to thu
ease" To this Mr.. Bass, a republican
member Of the committee, objected, saying
that be should not be discharged iuntil tht
case was ended No further acton wal
taken IN or by the Committee, but, at thu
close of the meeting, Clymer informed
Marsh that he was no longer wanted signet
his discharge, AMI Marsh got his per diem
and mileage and started for Canada. Ant
Hester Clymer is democrat and coleg
classmatc of Belknap's.
The statute requires that. in cases O
this kind the testimony should be commu
nicaied to the proper law officers of the Dis
lrict Of C0iunbia,so that the guilty partie
may be brought 10 Justice. This the CON
mittce, ClymCr chairman, not only nee
lected to do, but, upon the request of tn
attorney general and district attorney, RI
fused 10 do. Moreover, when Mr.. Page
republican of California, endeevorcd to il
troiuce a resolution Of ineuiry in th
house, seeking TO bring out the facts an
ascertain by what means Marsh escape
and who was responsible for possib
miscarriage of justice, the whole body {
the democrats refused to listen to him, an
Speaker Kerr and S. S. Cox temporarily
the chair, refused 10 listen to him.
As a last resort, in order to procure a
Indictment against Belknap, the distri
attorney aubpmnaed tie members of Il
committee before the grand jury as wi
nesses. Clymer, Blackburn and Robbii
appeared before the court, in responl
thereto, denied the right of the court to Il
terrogate them, and stated that their duti
as members of the committee "would NAL
"it announcement for them to be present
These gentlemen are all democrats.
The Impeachment was forced throug
the house, under democratic demand fl
the previous question, although it is mo
than doubtful il the senate has any leg
} power or right TO try Belknap on the arr
J Giles of peichment. What is the fair i
fatepca frog this action, end the 9th
no desire or Intention Of having Belkns
prosecuted to conviction ? They pre-
the matter TO certain point, and then tai
care that justice shall be baulked. Seen
ing to prosecute, they desire to haye it al
pear that Belknap's escape, if escape it i
is due to a republican senate and to repuI
lican officials. Bat place the responsiblit
Where it beiongs--on Hester Clymer an
his fellow democrats.