Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-03-10
THE NATIONS SHAME.
Impeachment of Gen. Be|knap, Sec
rotary of War.


The astounding disclosures Of Gen.
Belknap's official corruption as Sec
rotary Of War broke upon tie coun-
try, Friday last, like terrible thun-
der clap when the summers sky is all
serene. The Beecher scandal, Bah
cocks trial, the Rev. Winslow's for
geries, all fell fiat and stale as men
read the sickning story Of Belknap's
crime, and sad to say his wife's guilty
participation. 1t is their ruin and
the country's shame. Belkraps cor
ruption was unexpectedly brought to
light by tho investigations Of the
Committee on Expenditures of the
War Department, who reported it to
tho House of representatives on
Thursday. 1t caused intense excite
ment. Even President Grant was
not aware of it, as he states, until the
morning of that day, so secretly had
the committee pursued their investi-
cations. About ten 0 clock Gen. Bel
KNAPP presented himself at the White
House, under great excitement, and
offered his resignation, which the
President immediately accepted
About four o'clock in the afternoon
the committe made their report to the
House. The scene when the terrible
arraignment was read by Mr.. Clymer
chairman OF the Investigating Com
mittee in the House of Representa-
tives, is described as most painful
Following the revelations resolutions
were adopted appointing committee
CT FIVE with instructions to proceed
Immediately to the bar Of the Senate
and there impeach William w. Bel
KNAPP, late Secretary Of War, in the
name of the people Of the United
States, of high crimes and misdemea.
nors when in office, and to inform that
body that formal articles of impeach-
ment will in due time be presented,
and to request the Senate to take such
action in the premises as they may
deem appropriate.
Mr.. Clymer then proceeded to read
the testimony of Mr.. Caleb B. Marsh
of the City Of New York, who had
given to the Committee the details of
the Secretary's corrupt transactions,
and showing that he had paid Secre-
tary BelAnap about $4,000 for his
appointment as post trader at Fort
Sill in the Indian Territory. Mr..
Clymer also stated that the commit
tee had given tie Secretary intorma-
ton Of the charges, and at his request
allowed him the privilege Of appear
ing before them and making a state
uent. He failed to appear, thus vir-
tually confessing the truth Of the
charges. 1t appears that in 1870 the
appointment of these post traders was
given to the Secretary Of War by act
of Congress, Gen. Belknap being then
Secretary. In the fall of 1870, Gen.
and Mrs. Belknap after spending the
summer at Long Branch, made visit
to Mr.. Marsh and his family in New
York. In return for kind attention
Mrs. Belknap proposed to their host
that he should apply for one of these
lucrative appointments, the Belknaps
to share the profits. Mr.. Marsh did
so, and Mr.. Evans, post trader at
Fort Sill, was about to be removed to
make place for Marsh. Evans, how
ever, kept his place by contracting to
pay Marsh $4,000 year. Under
this contract he has paid Marsh in
successive payments about $4,000.
One half this sum Marsh paid to Mr..
and Mrs. Belknap, the last payment
being in December, 1875. In 1871,
the Mrs. Belknap who made the bar
gain died. In 1878 the Secretary
married her sister and the payments
were continued. These facts first came
to the ears of the committee through
a young army officer whom Belknar
had dismissed, and who gave the name
Of Mr.. Marsh and others as witnesses
Marsh was accordingly summoned to
Washington to testify. In addition
to the main facts stated he testities te
the efforts made by Mrs. Belknap tt
get him to make false statements ex'
onerating them from guilt. At frs
he thought Of leaving the country te
avoid +.st;fy;np hut afterwards deter.