Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-03
paIIto Sen Ban ap for NJ. ID, knape a. n

We her SECRETARY Belknap had not a. me
| interview a. hts tthe Sc 'retsry'S hon %
| otJecled 10 Mr.. Marsh going away wtihAa.
appearing before the committee and wheth -
ns hAd urged that he should appear \. 1
csrnot doubt that he did.
Mr.. Clymer then read 10 The House the pro-
c-'cii IS Of The committee. which wra
memOers. The proceedings of Marc 4 sh ~
thal the testimony OF Mr.. Marsh was rad
over 10 TIE Secretary OF War. when he as xeI
Tor time To employ counsel The com ,itro.
met again at 3 O'Clock, when Judge Rlsir an
pared as counsel, aud requested the co n
~ he Ho 40 ~ zoe making of the rep 'rt
ADJOURNED until evening, and unanimously
rejected the request.
The Secretary OF War was summonet 10
appear before them AT 10 O'Clock this morn
ing, and at IL O'Clock Hon. MONTGOMERY
Blair appeared aud handed them Mr. Il 5 re
slgnstion a. Secretary OF War. The com
mittee Immediately directed the Chairman
Ia send for copies OF the rec ignation aud &C
ceptance. and they also sSceTtal lei from the
President that the resignation of the Secre-
tsry WAS acce pied shortly after 10 o'clock.
The committee thereupon directed the chair
man o. prepare the report and accompany
ing resolutions aud 60 submit them % the
II use forthwith.
The exhibits accompanying the report were
The following:
Tue contract for the sale OF The post trader
ship at the terms given above, between G.
i Marsh ard ] =. Evans which stipulated
M 50 many WORDS That Marsh was % secure
The COZ tract from the Secretary Of War.
TIE litter prepared by TomliuSon. and
lch Marsh was Ia send To the COMMITTEES
which Was a. follows
Nav YORK. February p. IS76
r. Lhe honorable me Usl,rli Zee on Expenditures
u IN Var 4 elJdr:Bi'gu:
u az Sir: duly received your telegram OF
March p, summouing me To In appear
To- fore you, and answered that l would 90 so.
bur my wife has since become m as 10
MAKE IL almost impossible For me TO leave
her for any time, and l to-day sent you a
telegram 10 this effect. and will also give "A
statement of my connection with the post
leadership at Fort sill, which viii. I trust.
avoid the necessity Of my leaving home. 1
viii. however, come a. soon as / can, or will
be happy 10 see any one or all of the COM
mittee al my house I'm this city. At the time
applied for the position of post trader a
Fort sill i presumed that L could furnish
recommendations that would secure me the
appointment, which was afterwards prom
Used To me. After this / saw Mr.. Evans in
washington and 1 mPde an arrangement
with hlm, In consequence OF which with
drew I'm his favor and he received the ap-
pontment. This arrangement was made
without the advice or consent of the Sacre-
larry of War, neither did he have any knOwl-
edge Of such an arrangement from me or any
one else, so far as / know, nor WIS he inter
eSted I'm any such arrangement or in the
fruits OF any such arrangement between US
There never has been nor is now any con-
tract between the Secretary OF War AMI
myself i'm regard TO these matters.
am very respectfully, yo1r 3beaient ser
The letter Of resignation Of General B=lk-
zap, and its acceptance as follows:
THE LETTER OF RFsIGSATION.
WASHISGTON, ID. G., March ,. lss6.-Mr
P,csiferf: hereby tender nv reslgnatio1 as
Secretary OF War, aud request its immediate
acceptance. Thanking you for your constant
ana ana con, continued Kindness Sp 5espee,lGLly
THE RESIGNATION ACCEPTED.
!" EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington,
March . Gen. ". ". BeLis0p-Dear Sir. Your
tender OF res ignatiOn as Secretary OF War,
with the request 10 have IL accepted imme-
ciately, is received, and the same is hereby
accepted with great regret; r, Yours; SC,
A statement from DR.. Tomlinson, i'm which
he denies, under oath, The statements OF
Marsh as to Mr.. BLACKBURN.
The statement OF Mr.. blackburn, To the
effect that on February p DIR. TOmlinson
called upon him and ask ed him 10 go out aud
attend TO some business for him. They went
10 the residence ofthe Secretary OF War, and
Mrs. Belknap stated that the testimony OF
Mr. C. p. Marsh would only implicate her
but would not affect the Secretary OF War.
and she hoped she would not be made the
subject of Investigation. Mr.. Blackburn re-
| piled that the committee would not investi-
| gate private individuals, aud especially la
| dies. and If they found that officials were not
implicated, they would drop the matter.
He further said he was not related In any
degree 10 Mr.. Tomlinson or Mrs. Belknap.
And lastly, statements of Messrs. Ciymer
and Robbins, members of the committee,
| that Mr.. Blackburn detailed his Interview
with Mrs. Belknap as soon as he returned
| from IL; and they Endorsed what be sal 1, that
| private individuals, and especially la1Ies,
were not To be Investl gated.
| DEBATE On IHE REPORT AND EEsoLu-
After the reading OF the report az accom-
Ianying papers, Mr.: Clymer SAID he would
I NJ If ne could, and in his present condition
! could rot If he would, add anything add
tionsl 10 the facts that had just been re-
| ported 10 tae House. Another occasion
IA ght occur hereafter. when he might desire
| 40 say something. The facts were so clear
| and SO plain that they would nc understood
| throughout the broad land, thrOu ghOut
NhffG
| lish language is spoken. II was a record OF
| Official corruption and crime that had no
parallel in this country or in any other. II
at this hour one word or sympathy. one word
| OF pity, could find utterance fren him, II
would be because the crime of the late Sec
rotary OF War had been the outSrowth OF the
| dishonesty which had characterized the adj
miristration OF this gover-mea for few
lie then yielded to Mr. Robbins N. c. VINO
addressed the House in support OF the reso-
| buttons, claiming the House hat jIrisdic-
| ciction, and citing the case OF Warren III asst
ipgs as precedent, where the officer had re-
Mr.. Bass IN. " said there was 40 clear
! precedent in this country, but in England
| there were many. Under the circums tances
! of the case, If the offender was convicted In
the courts he could be partoned, but IL he
was convicted before the Senate, then Exec.
| utive parton would not be available. He
| favored sci Jtle tie case 10 the Senate, aad
let the questlCr C! urisdiction be settled by
| that body.
MrHoar Mass }, to whom Mr.. Bass yielded
| portion of his time, said This was not q
| party question. He disavOwel IL as such. As
| 10 the hasty acceptance OF the resignation OF
| Secretary Belknap by the President, he said
| ii was a mere formality. TIE House hal in
| the Forty-second Congress, in the case OF
| Whlttemore, decided that by the tender OF
resignation an officer ceased TO be such.
| Judge Story had laid down the doctrine that
! no man could be impeacnei unless he was a
| civil officer, and as Bel KNAPP had resigned he
was no longer a civil officer. For this offense
| the statutes provided fine and imprisonment
| and disqualification for office thereafter. Ia
| view OF these facts he protested against hot
! haste In passing upon the subject, without
| having the report printed aud on single
reading. II seemed 10 him unworthy OF the
| great occasion that this distinguis officer
| be impeached on the previous question with
out giving the House an opportunity 10 read
the testimony. II you can 90 back at all you
| can, said he, go back forever.
| Mr.. Blackburn (Ky.) said he was actuate1
| by no personal bitterness or party friend
| ship. The committee had given every OPP
| portunity TO shield all who were innocent IN
| connection with the offense. He would not
consent that this should be made a party
| Question. IL was question OF interest To