The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-03-11

corruption In SO many of the high places
in this country, comes the startling accu-
sation and admission Of guilt Of cabinet
officer, the Secretary of War, Gen, w. w.
Belknap, who, it would seem, during near
ly the whole term of his six yeass in Office,
has been continuously the taker of bribe
for the use Of his influence in the bestowal
of the privileges Of an army trading post.
The evidences Of guilt have proved TO be
so overwhelming as to have left the secre-
tary no refuge but precipitate resignation,
the community nothing but shame and
modification, and the Congress no duty
but impeachment. 1t is not remembered
that articles of impeachment were ever be-
fore framed in the history of the govern
ment against a cabinet officer, and 10 this
case the national modification will be SO
much the greater from the general conf
dence, irrespective of party, repOsed in
Gen. Belknap, and will do more than any
other Of the long list Of scandals to sap
public confidence in official virtue In
this view the downfall of the Secretary of
War affords striking and painful reali-
zation Of the widespread demoralization Of
the late civil strife, which like cancer
seems to have spread its fatal roots every
where, tainting what seemed faircst and
what ought to be the best in the land, aud
which we seem fated to endure almost un-
til new generation, trained in different
school Of morals, rises to take the place of
the present.
Gen. Belknap who succeeded Gen, Raw
lings as Secretary Of War, in 1869, shortly
after the death Of that brilliant young Off
ecr, was of a military family. His father
was Gen. VIM. G. Belknap, and he was
named after Gen. Worth. He was born
at Newburg, N. Y, September, 1929, and
is consequently about forty seven years of
age. He graduated at Princeton in 1s48,
and was contemporary Of Heister Cymer,
Of Pennsylvania, who presented articles of
impeachment, and George NJ. Robson,
Secretary Of the Navy. He studied law
with H. Caperton, at Georgetown, D. c.,
and with Hon. Ralph P. Lowe practiced
at Keokuk, Iowa, where he located in 1851.
He entered the army as major of the fif-
teenth Iowa infantry, serving during the
war with the army OF the Tennessee, par
ticipating in the battle Of Shiloh, the siege
of Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta, and after
Atlanta, marched with Sherman to the
sea. He was brevetted major general be-
fore the final muster out in 1865, when he
was regarded by Gen. Sherman and others
as one Of the most accomplished and prom
ising young officers in the service. He
was married three times. His first wife
was the sister Of Mrs. Hugh 7. Reid the
second was the accomplished Miss Tom
linson, of Keokuk, Iowa, and the third
her sister, Mrs. Bower, whom he married
some two years ago in Kentucky. Gen.
Belknap is in the prime Of life, of COM
manding figure and presence, and filed a
most enviable place in the regard of his
countrymen. OF all the cabinet officers
who held over the Presidents second term
he was regarded paramountly without re-
proach. His downfall caused expressions of
the deepest regret from one of his youthful
contemporaries, Mr.. Clymer, in the discharge
of his duties in Congress, and the senti-
ments will find mournful response in
every American heart.--Balto. Sun.
GRANT AND BgLKNAP.-Capt G. T.
Robinson, now Of Baltimore, and for
merly of the Tenth United States CAV
airy, was stationed at Fort Sill for four
years, and while there ascertained clearly
the facts upon which VIM. W. Belknap
has been driven from the War Department.
More than year ago he went to Wash
ington personally to lay these facts before
the Military Committee of the House of
Representatives, but they would not hear
him. He also took care that the same
facts should be made known to President
Grant. These charges, moreover, were
made by him net upon his own authority
only, but were fortified by an affidavit from
Evans, the real post trader at Fort Sill,
to whom Marsh, the briber of Belknap,
had sold the privilege for which he paid
So, 900 year.
Capt. Robinson states that he first CON-
municated these facts to President Grant
early in 1873; that he renewed the COM
munication in 1874 and finally sent them
to him for the last time in 1875, submit
ting all the evidence and giving the names
Of witnesses by whom the whole case could
be proven.
When Belknap rendered his resignation
on Thursday, for the plain purpose Of en-
deavoring to escape impeachment and
punishment for his crime, President Grant
accepted it Immediately "with great re-
gret." Could there be any clearer case of
an officer Of the Government deliberately
aiding criminal to escape the justice of
the law? And taking this circumstance
together with the fact that for three years
Gen. Grant has known of Belknaps Of
fence, and yet has kept him in office and
in power, what must be the opinion Of any
sensible mind respecting Grants real rela-
tion to this terrible case ?-N Y Sun,
(Lnd.)
DIscoURAGINa WITNEssEs.-There
has been quite enough blundering in the
Department of Justice with respect to the
treatment Of witnesses in Government
prosecutions. 1t is now announced that,
by order of the President, the Attorney
General will Immediately take measures
for the indictment not only of Gen. Bel
knap but also of Marsh and Evans. Ifit
were intended to defeat the prosecution
of the Secretary of War, this is precisely
the step that ought to be taken. 1t Is
doubtful if he can be convicted except
upon the testimony Of Marsh and Evans;
at any rate if there is other evidence
against him the Committee has not made
it known, and as soon as these men are
included in the Indictment their mouths
are closed. In the case Of Marsh the
prosecution would be little less than an
outrage, because he resisted the strongest
persuasions TO conceal the truth, and chose
to obey the summons Of tho Committee
when he might have evaded it.
Probably the President does not really
mean to embarrass the Government iu the
action against Belknap; but what does he
4 -