The New York herald., 1876-07-26
IMPEACHMENT.


wAsnISGroS, July 25, 1876
The Senate the consideration OF the articles
OF impeachment against W. w. Beknap, late Secretary
| Of War.
Mr Carpenter, pf counsel for the accused by unan-
imous consent was permitted stand at the desk
| occupied by him when he Senator that he might
be better heard by the Senate while delivering
| his argument In behalf OF the defence He
said the Importance OF this case, not only to
| the respondent, but to every man who had
filled or may nil a federal Office, would to him
patient hearing. He knew how to impossible 1t
was for Senators to give their attention TO SUBJ
ject Tor any great length of time on account OF the
many public duties pressing upon them, but they
holding in their hands the reputation and character OF
the man ut the bar and solemn duty could be
imposed upon them. Mr. Carpenter then referred to
tho duty OF lawyers to their clients said lawyers
were not evil in the administration of public JUS
tico; they Indispensable to 1t as the judges
The very first decision which Chief Justice Marshall
versed in the Supreme Court he did upon the
ground that the had not boen argued by counsel
He read from various English precedents show the
fidelity with which lawyers should defend the interests
OF their clients, and next addressed himself to tho
question of jurisdiction, stating that he would
tain that the order of the Senate holding the articles
OF impeachment were sufficient In law erroneous
and he would show IL to the satisfaction OF every
lawyer in the chamber.
He argued that all over the world for
reverse their decisions, and read from the
thirty second chapter oi Exodus to show that tho
Almighty after the prayer OF Moses, reversed His
judgment and ioreave tho people OF Israel Coutinu
ing his argument Mr.. Carpenter said fortunate
Tor tho reputation OF Moses that newspapers
in that day for some OF his suggestions would have
been construed dsrospectfu 10 the Almighty. Ho
then referred TO tho services Of General Be KNAPP the
field and said it was It Shiloh when face to face with
| Beauregards army, that General Grant first
! saw him. II WAS tho action Of General Bcknap
on that day which made him Secretary OF War. II
| t.atn fam A
peachment proceedings suspended and the Senate
passed bl TO remove tho political disabilities of
Bcauregard II then resumed the trial to If II could
not mile. political disabilities upon Belknap He COM
mentcd at length on the good character OF Beknap,
and said person who had suspicion against
him u welcome before the committee of
the House Of Representatives, But what the result
arms inves gaton. Tho Secretary OF War could have
made 81, 600 900 on the sao OF arms to the French
An Investigation held and every on the COM
nitec, without regard to party, acquitted him.
SPEAKER KERR's GOOD CHARACTER.
There had been striking instance Of the weight of
good character in this CITY lately aud hat was in tho
Of Mr. Kerr, Speaker OF the House OF Representa-
tivcs. He (Mr Carpsnter) believed Mr.. Kerr
honest any man in this Senate chamber. but the
testimony against him twice strong as that
against Belknap The man who made the charge
against Mr. Kerr did not away the next day for
fear he would be arrested; cross.examinaton did not
break. him down. But MIR. Kerr was. known as a
"rgha man ana The result was
Quilted him against the positive testimony Of
the rascal who came here to convict him.
There circumstance IN favor OF Mr. Kerr. He
WAS democrat But he (Mr. Carpenter) honestly bes
lievcd 1t he had been republican he would have ueen
expelled. The republican party had been organized
and thus far had survived upon principle which
would break up any family in the land AS soon as
any democrat said anything against republican the
whole republican party was up IN arms and dive
know 1t true, and we are glad OF the opportunity to
crush him." On the other hand, II u democrat was
accused tho democratic party demanded patient
hearing That party had some sense, and knew that
It was tho principle to kill Off tho leaders
They called nat and the republicans joined with
the democrats IN cxcupating tho party charged.
He glad of it, because If the republican party
could do justice to its members. let II do JUS
ticc democrats Taking all these things into con-
sidcration, thought the duty OF any republican
entering upon a high oifcc TO offer up the prayer,
Lord save me from my friends" During the seven
years OF General Beknaps administration secretary
OF War millions of dollars passed through his hands
without the loss of shilling, and it should require
very strong OF to satisfy Senators that Beknap
thief when he appointed Marsh
GUILTY OF BRIBERY
Mr. Carpenter then commented AT length on the law
In regard TO bribery and argued that Bexnap had not
taken money from Marsh Tor the purpose OF nnuenc
ing his Official action therefore, he could not be guilty
o The crime OF bribery II the argument OF the man.
ayers correct any man who came here and made
Senator present OF box OF cigars for the purpose
OF inducing him 10 attend to some land claim before
tho department guilty OF the crime OF bribery II
well known that railroad companies gave passes TO
public officials. Was that bribery He then read from
report OF telegraph company recently published,
10 the effect that franks issued from government o-
clals ued about onethird Of the complimentary
but that the udicous OF franks hat been
the means OF saving the company much money.
Continuing his argument hc contenued that IL tho
intention which constituted the crime II the party
making the present did SO for the purpose OF nhuenc
ing official action he guilty of bribery, and II the
official accepting 1t allowed his Official action TO DC n
iuenced thereby he was guilty OF crime. He then
quoted length from the evidence and argued that
the charge bribery IN tins case had not been proven
At TWO o'clock tho took a for fifteen
minutes. Upon reassembng Mr.. Carpenter continued
his review OF the evidence and in regard to Marsh,
said he mover knew HIM until he the stand,
although newspaper had .aid that Mr.. and Mrs.
Marsh had called ut his Office before Marsh testified,
xkh hch Nusu not Mara IN AS belu
honest but crazy man. He (Mr. Carpentcr insisted
that Bcknap should not be convicted unless the proof
such satisfy every reasonable mind beyond
doubt that when he received that money he did with
the intention to have his Official mind Influenced and
perverted thereby Was Beknap TO be denied common
justice before tho highest tribunal In the land
because tho necessities OF political campaign
demanded it? He elt this Senate would not send
forth any such decision. He then alluded the family
OF Beknap and said tho defence had offered no testi
mony to SHIFT the responsibility from Beiknap to any
body else. lie was a man; ms shoulders wcro broad
and he was able to bear It. Marsh had testified that
he at hrst sent the money to Mrs Beiknap as pres
ent which he had perfect right to do and IL was in
violation OF no law. He commented ut great length
tho testimony OF Marsh, and said before he went
before the committee he spoke OF going away, but
Bclknap got his knees to INN not TO
do 50, to stay and tell the truth. Was
il reasonable to believe when Belknap made this
ontreaty of him. he knew what he was gong to tcs-
tIfy toy II so the Senate must believe Belknap an
IDIOT, and therefore not Liable impeachment Tho
truth was that Bclkuap believed that the money
sent account OF business transactions OF his wife,
while Marsh supposed that Bcknap knew lust why II
was scn snnppnsiug Mrs BcIknap had told him there
was moral lesson IN this trla, which he would re-
peat tor the benefit OF the ladies' in the galleries, aud
that was swcethearts and wives never Keep secret
from your loves or husbands (.aushter)
EyipEScE M'DOwELI-
He next referred to the argument ot manager Jenks
and said that gentleman had accused Belknap OF lying
TO Mcdowell mcater abuse than THIS was never
perpeirated by one gentleman upon another AMI the
evidence did sustain any such assertion Mr.. Car
pcntcr thcn quoted from the testimony OF General Nc
Do,scl! aud argued that II showed tho secretary re-
questcd him draw order 10 remove the abuses
complained Of at Fort siL The conduct OF General
Hclsnap throughout that OF an innocent officer
and tho order correct tho abuses at Fort Sill would
have done had II boon carried out by the officers ut
that post
ADJOURNMENT.
Before Mr. Carpenter concluded his argument tho
Senate at quarter pas, four sitting court Of I'M
peachment, adjourned until tomorrow.
T..