The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-03-16
Belknap's First Visit to Grant.

Washington Dispatch to the Baltimore Gazette.l
Mr.. Belknap came to Washington in
February, 1869, from Keokuk, Iowa, to
beg of Gen. Grant, that, as favor to an
ex-army officer, he should not be re-
moved from the position of Collector of
Internal Revenue. He took lodgings at
a second class hotel, rode in a street car
to Grants headquarters on Seventh
street. He found the attendance so great
that he concluded not to press for an
interview. He left his card with compli-
ments to Gen. Rawlins, and walked to
his hotel. Before he had reached there
an orderly had been dispatched request
ing Belknap to come to headquarters at
once. On receiving the note, Belknap
promptly responded, and to his great
surprise, was asked by Grant if he would
not take the Office of Collector of Gus
toms at New Orleans. He said, "That
man Perry Fuller has been doing some
strange things there and want an honest
man to take charge of the post" Bel
KNAPP was astounded at the offer, and when
told that he must be ready to leave early
in March, as soon as the President was
inaugurated, he declined, and said,
General, all / ask is that you will not
remove me from. my present position,
even though was appointed by Presi-
dent johnson" He gave reasons for not
wishing to leave Keokuk, and not until
the following fall when Rawlins died,
did Belknap hear from the President,
when he received a telegram from Grant
asking if he would accept the appoint
ment of Secretary of War. The pros
pect of receiving salary of $S 900, and
the opportunity of returning to the Dis
trict Of Columbia, where he was edu-
Gated and studied Law, overcame his love
of the quiet life he had been leading, and
which he had declined toleave six months
before for the lucrative position of Col
lector at New Orleans. His first adven-
ture in Washington was renting the
Seward mansion and giving magnificent
party, which cost him more for injured
furniture, stained carpets and soiled lace
curtains than it did for the caterer and
his supplies. With the exception of
Boutwell,, who rented rooms and never
gave an entertainment of any kind,
while Secretary, he was the poorest
member of the Cabinet. He was, in
fact, in 1869, dependent upon his salary,
and that was his all, while the Groton
grocer did have a farm which yielded
him something. The aseof Belknap is
the case of no one knows how many
others in Washington. He was put in
position where, by contrast with Fish,
Robeson, Delano, Hoar and Cresswell,
his poverty became painfully conspicu-
GUS, and urged by. the desire to keep up
appearances he made his Office not only
pay his society expenses, but he invested
in real estate in the District pool, and
was bosom companion of Boss" Shep-
herd and his crowd, the same that Grant
loves SO well. Only few days ago a
gentleman remarked. to Fred Grant {:
"Why don't your father get rid of Bel
KNAPP; he is a heavy load and will bring
disgrace upon the administration if he
does not resign" Fred. replied: "Father
thinks Belknap the incest Cabinet officer
he has ever had, and don't believe one
word against him." Tie sins of Belknap
are not confined to the Fort Sill post
traderships.