Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-04-07
G!aforin Glarion,
ALEX. p. BEATTY,
Editoy ard Proprietor.
FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1876.
CALM AGAIN F.!

denly DurSC lOTtn q lew "eeho az
from Washington undoubtedly caused
an awful scare, which penetrated
every quiet town and hamlet in the
country. AS the first terrible dis
closure of a cabinet officers crime was
trumpetcd abroad and speedily fol-
lowed by everv days report of black
er official misdeeds yet to be brought
to light, the great popular heart was
filled with dismay. With such dam
ming revelations what could our cen.
tenH;al jubilee be but huge mock
cry, and the most conspicuous specta-
Gle for our foreign visitors would be
the nations shame. There were not
few even who whispered with pale
lips Of the downfall Of the Republic.
For the reader Of history need not be
tod that Republics have risen and
fallen before to-day anil that the
dark snlf Of the past entombs
tae ruins Of as proud and
promising popular governments
a. ours. But we are glad to have
assurance that it was at least much
exaggerated peril which caused our
fears. The storm has spent its rage.
S4rencr skies smile over us again and
men breathe freer. The public mind
once more calm. The Belknap and
Babcock scandals are sufficiently hui
initiating, it is true, but they are in
tie hands Of stern Justice Public
q uses have been revealed and the
revelations will have good effect in
l,adi1g to their correction. But he
thousand and one threatened disclo.
slres, which if true would have shut
ont all possibility Of finding an hon
est official as a solitary relic of good
government, and now understood to
have been but reckless inventions Of
uascrupulous correspondents. We
say this in 70 partisan spirit. 1t Is
right that the administration Of our
public affairs should be closely scru,
tented, from the highest to the low
est. But many Of the Investigations
which have been recently commenced
seemed 10 have been taken advantage
o. by persons whose highest motive
was to vent individual spite. So nu-
merous were this SOFT Of witnesses
that the House Committee Lave CIV
en- public notice to persons who false
ly represent themselves to be in pos
session Of inform alton so they may
visit Washington at the expense Of
The government that the committee
will not certify for fees and mileage
in their cases. Witnesses fee has
also been reduced from s. to So per
day. 1t is found that the expenses Of
SOME Of the investigations will amount
to far more than the abuses com
planned of. On Friday last the house
committee examined a Mr. G. s. Bell,
formerly detective, which testimony
created considerable sensation. IIo
testified to the effect that the Presi-
dent, wishing to satisfy himself OF the
guilt or innocence of General Babcock,
sent him to St. Louis to ascertain
what he could on the subject. Gen
cral Babcock and Mr. Luckey, know
ing that he was going to St. Louis on
that errand, wanted him to steal evi.
lence out of the District Attorney s
Office in St. Louis. This he did not
do, but related Babcock S and Luck
ey's proposition to Mr.. Dyer. The
story is, Of course, denied by
Babcock, and although it has an air
OF plausibility needs confirmation.
The impeachment Of Secretary
Belknap will now go forward. On
Friday last in the House, Mr.. Knott
presented the articles Of impeachment,
which we're ordered to be printed. j
On Saturday they were presented to
the Senate, and notice ordered to be
given to Belknap Of the charges
the day for commencing the trial
They embrace two articles and five
counts the latter having been reduced
ircm the twenty-five originally drawn.
The testimony Of Marsh before the
Judiciary committee is understood to
be even more direct and damaging
than that given by him before the
Clymer committee, and, if the Senate
decides that it has jurisdiction in toe
case Notwithstanding that Belknap is
no longer an officer Of the United