The Van Buren press., 1876-03-07

matter of the sale of the office of pos
trader at Fort Sill is the theme Of com
ment everywhere in this city. Genera
Belknap has resigned; he handed letter
to the president, rendering his resigna
ton and asking that it be accepted with
out delay. 1t is stated at the White
House that the resignation was prompt
ly accepted, but the exact language oi
the presidents reply has not yet been OBJ
taned.
IN THE HOUSE.
After some unimportant business, Mr.
Clymer presented resolutions of mpeaeh
ment against VIM W. Belknap, late Sec.
retary of War, for high crimes and mis-
demeanors in office. In the midst oi
great excitement and with unusual still
ness in the house, Mr.. Clymer rose and
said:
- ask permission Of the House to
make report from the committee on ex.
penditures in the w ar Department, of so
grave importance that am quite certain
that when it is heard this house will agree
that am justified in asking that permis
sion at this time"
Permission was given, and Mr.. ely
mer, taking his position at the clerk s
desk, read the following report:
"The ComG.ittee found, at the very
threshold of its investigation, such un-
questioned evidence of the malfeasance
OF Gen. VIM. W Belknap, then secrets
ry war. that they found it their duty to
lay it before the house They further re-
port that this day at IL o'clock, a letter
OF the president of the United States was
presented to the committee, accepting the
resignation of the secretary Of war, to
gether with copy of his letter Of resig,
nation, which the president informed the
committee, was accepted about 1920 this
morning. They therefore unanimously
report and demand that said VIM. w Bel
knap, late secretary of war, be dealt with
according to the law of the land, and to
that end submit herewith the testimony
in the case taken, together with the sew,
eral statements and exhibits thereto at.
tached and also report of the proceed
ings of the Committee had during the in
vestigation of this subject, and submit
the following resolutions:
Resolved, that VIM W Belknap, late
secretary OF war, be impcached of high
crimes and misdemeanors.
Resolved, That the testimony in the
case of Wm W BeIknap, late secretary
of war, be referred to the judiciary com.
mittee, with instructions to prepare and
report, witouth unnecessary delay, suita-
bic articles of impeachment Of said Wm,
w. Belknap, late secretary of war,
Resolved That a committee of five
members of the house be appointed and
instructed to proceed Immediately to the
bar Of the senate, and there impcach
VIM W. Belknap, late secretary of war,
in the name Of the people Of the United
States, of high crimes and misdcmcanors
when in office, and to inform that body
that formal articles of impeachment will
in due time be presented, and to request
the senate to take such order in the prem
ses as they may deem appropriate"
Mr.. Clymer then proceeded to read the
testimony of Caleb p. Marsh, which was
taken yesterday befor the committee,
showing that he had paid Secretary Bel
knap about $4,000 in consideration OF
n,S .S appointment as post trader at Fort
Sill, Indian Territory The reading was
listened to with intense interest by the
members Of the house and by the large
audience in the galleries. In the more
pathetic portions Of the narrative, Mr.
Clymer was frequently forced by his feel.
ings to pause until his voice recovered
from its tremulousness. and himself from
his agitation.
At the close Of the reading, and after
many members who had taken up a posi-,
ton near the clerks desk, better to beal
the testimony and accompanying state
ments, had returned to their proper seats
Mr. Clymer, who had also gone to his
seat, again rose and said, with great emo
ton:
Mr.. Speaker would not if could
and could not. in my present condition
if would, add anything to the facts just
reported to the house. Another occas
ion may be afforded me to do so. They
are so plain that everywhere throughout
this broad land and throughout chris
tendon, wherever the English language
is read or spoken, they will for long years
constitute a record of official corruption
and crimes such as there is no parallel
| for in our own history or in that of any
country that know of in this house Il
one sentiment of pity, one word of sym
pathy. could find utterance from me, il
would be because feel that the late sec
relary of war is but the proper outgrowth
and a tue exponent of the corruption
extravaganza and misgovernment that
have cursed this land for ears past. Tha
being my own reflection, will discharge
my duty best to myself and to this h, use
by demanding the previous question on
the adoption of the resolutions"
After some debate the house proceed
ed to vote on the resolutions, and they
were unanimously adopted.
The speaker appointed, as the com
mittee to notify the senate of the actor
of the house, Messrs Clymcr, Robbins
Blackburn, Bass and Danforth--thest
members comprising the committee or
expenditures in the war department, ant
making the report,
WASHINGTON, March 3
! Nothing was talked about Yesterday
and last night but tie impeachment o