The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-08-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON. ID. G, Aug. lst, 1876.
Maj. Blulord Wilson, late Solicitor OF the
Treasury, was all day on Friday before the
House Committee investigating the st Louis
Whisky frauds. His testimony is very vol
luminous and points significantly to the fact
that the President certainly did all he could |
to shield Babcock aud others, strongly OBJ |
jecting to allowing any to turn states evil |
dence, though convinced that there was no
OF her possible way to get at the facts than |
by taking the testimony of some OF the ring |
to convict Others. The case looks bad for |
Grant AS it now stands and unless he can in |
some manner explain it will be overwhelm-
ing. There is no probability that Congress
will adjourn this week. The dead lock" is
as tight as it was this time last week the
Senate standing much in the position of the
man who hung the jury; when asked about
| it he said i couldn't help it there were eev-
| en-obstinate fellows against me-.
No news from the Indian war. Recruits in
small numbers are being sent to the West to
| fill up the regiments and put them upon Il
war footing, as eight or ten are sent to one
company, fifteen or twenty to another, and
so on. The judgment of the Senate as a
Court of Impeachment will, it is thought
be rendered to-day. 1t is high time it were
ended as the public are becoming as tired OF
this as they were disgusted with the Beecher
affair. The Baltimore Gdzette in alluding to
the trial now about to close, says: His coun-
| Il IL that ha
from Marsh, they boldly admit that and try
to Justify it on the ground that in accepting
money Belknap only followed the example
of those who were associated with him in
the administration of the Government from
the President down. 1t was the President
who set these precedents upon which Mr..
Belknap's counsel now fall back. His first
cabinet was selected entirely from the men
who had given him money and houses and
libraries, besides other presents, or who had
advanced his fortunes in the army or in civil
life. Mr.. Stewart his first Secretary of the
Treasury had been generous subscriber to
the hundred thousand dollar fund which was
given him at the close of the war. Mr.. G. b.
Washburne had been his firm friend from
the day that he entered the army the Sec
ond time, his defender in Congress and his
advocate with Mr.. Lincoln for promotion
after promotion. His first Secretary, Mr..
Bore had. drawn good sized check to buy a
! mansion for Grant in Philadelphia before he
was rewarded by seat in the Cabinet. One
!" of his Attorney Generals, Mr.. Hoar, gave
20 him library, the most unwelcOme gilt he
~ ever received, and Pierepont the presen
10 Minister to England subscribed twenty thou
=" sand dollars to a campaign fund before ht
v was asked for his advice in the counsels o
y the nation. How could Belknap be expect
~ ed to do any better? What is the difference
~ morally between the President and Belknap
If there was no agreement between Mars
1 aud Belknap as to the payments to be madt
=" the ex'Secretary is entitled to an acquitta
W The only difference between the unimpeacll
Y. ed President and the ex. Secretary of Wa
;" is, that the one took presents before the SCI
~ vices were rendered and the other ailerward
~ This is nice shade of legal and moral r,
Wv sponsibility, but there is no body 10 I'll
country so able TO decide it as those VIII
now have it under consideration. The h
publican members have had all the exper
ence necessary to enable them to do 50.
''"' RENO