National Republican., 1876-03-08

and to endure the storm which has followed.
But consciousness of upright intentions has
sustained me.
"a resolution of cersure has been passed.
requested my friends to vote for the censure,
because do not dpprore the act m itse!f, and
wished q proper precedent established and
principle vfndicated. Some have seemed care
less of my feelings. Some have appeared to
delight in my humiliation. Many have misun-
derstood me. A few have sought my total
ruin. l forgive them all. Those who have
defended me will never regret it; thank them.
NV own Judgment is that accidental circum-
stances have magnifed very triffng incident
into great misfortune to me. 1t was mere
inadyertence on my part, without the least i'm
proper intent or motive. Such is the nearly
unanimous opinion of all the Senators as they
have freely expressed il. Might they not have
embodied as much in a public act, and thus
have done justice to q brother Senator. What
may be the ultimate influence of this occur
renee on my destiny is unforeseen. leave
that to God.
"Iprotest that am guilty Of no bribery, no
corruption, no dishonesty. protest that am
incapable of such things, and utterly abhor
them. And now place here this my protest
and statement, and leave my cause to mems
common sense and love of justice. They will
exonerate from every blot my name and men,
cry. WM. NJ. ROBINS"
We make no charge against Mr.. Robbins
more than his own statement justiies. 1t
is remarkable composition. The obtuse-
ness of the Senator, who could see no
wrong in taking fee for his vote, is some
thing marvellous. He himself introduced
the resolutions that led to this discovery,
and as matter Of history, was the only
one caught. 1t flashed upon his memory"
that he had taken the fee. "By some
"means the rumor of this incident reached
"the ears of men," and then his conscience
began to work, and he told the Committee
on Bribery and Corruption, which his own
resolution had called into existence, all
about it. Perhaps it would be uncharitable
to suppose that he would have followed to
the death any Republican Senator who had
taken fee 'tas lawyer"
In his remarks upon the impeachment
resolutions in the House of Representa-
tives, March g. Mr.. Robbins speaks well
and in excellent taste. No doubt he had
in mind the occasion when his own soul
was wrung with agony. 1t is true there
is quite difference between $50 and $20,-
900, but the wrong principle that would
induce one to take the lesser sum is the
same that would impel him to receive the
larger. Mr.. Robbins thinks Belknap's act a
''great shame" and so it is. He also be-
lives this is no time to allow easy escapes
of men who are found guilty of these
high crimes. This case should
"be probed to the bottom, tried by the
highest court known to the country, and
"a just penalty meted out" His fervor in
the cause of justice is in itself commenda-
bic; but it is barely possible that Gen. Bel
knap is no more morally guilty than Rob
bins in his protest describes himself to be;
for, by the testimony of Caleb P. Marsh, it
seems that the farming out of the trading
post at Fort Sill for a consideration was at
first unknown TO the Secretary of War,
and it may well be believed that his
silence, when he did discover it, was to
screen the first Mrs. Belknap as well as
his present wife. Yet it was wrong to
take the money, even for another's use;
and so it was grossly improper for Sena-
tor to take SEQ fee as "lawyer," under
the circumstances detailed by Mr.. Robbins.
But he admitted this, and ''God helped him"
to say so. Nor do we call attention to
'this little transaction" for any other pur-
pose than 10 exhibit to a wondering world
the sinuosities of mans moral nature.