The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-09

A-Never! The present Mrs. Belhnap,
years ago, may have consulted me p on
business matters, but there were nomon-
etary transactions whatever between us
other than heretofore stated,
Question by the Ohairman-When was
the baby Of the late Mrs. Belknap born,
and when did it die
A.-The baby of the late Mrs. Belknap
was born in the autumn of 1870, and died
during the summer Of 1871. "
Question bY Mr.. Robbins In the trans
action had with the present Mrs. BelS-
nap at the funeral of her sister, in De-
cember, 1870, or in any other converse
ton had with her or other person at any
time, was it an understanding that the
money YOU were to pay and were paying
was to be themoney of Mrs. Belknap, the
present wife of the Secretary OF War;
Att was not.
The foregoing deposition and statement,
made under oath, having been carefully
read over in full to Mr. Caleb 2. Marsh,
the witness, in the presence of the COM
mittee, and he, having made such alter
atoms and corrections therein as he
deemed Just, assents to it as correct re-
cord of his testimony, and attests the
same by his signature hereto attached.
TSigned.1 CALEB p. MARSH.
WAsHINaToN, Feb. 20, 1876,
At the close of the reading, and after
many members, who had taken up posi-
tions near the Clerks desk, the hetter to
hear the testimony and accompanying
statements, had returned to their seats,
Mr.. Clymer, who had also gone to his
seat, again rose, and said, with great
emotion
Mr.. Speaker would not if | could,
and | could not, in my present condition,
if | would, add anything to the facts inst
reported to the House. Another occas-
ion may be afforded me to do so. They
are so plain that every where throughout
this broad land, and throughout Christ
endom wherever the English language
is read or spoken, they will, for long
wears. constitute record of official cor
ruption and crimes such as there is no
parallel for in our own history, or in that
of any country that / know Of In this
hour, if one sentiment Of pity, one word
of sympathy could find utterance from us,
il would be because | feel that the late
Secretary of War is but the proper out"
growth, the true exponent OF corruption
and extravaganza and misgovernment
that have cursed this land for years past.
That being my own reflection, | will dis
charge my duty best to myself, and to
this House, by demanding the previous
question on the adoption Of the resolu-
ton.
Mr.. Kasson appealed to Mr.. Clymer to
give an opportunity for some suggestions
to be made before asking the previous
question on the matter of so grave inn
portance. :,
Mr.. Clymer regretted he could not
oblige his friend Several Democratic
members yes! yes y for the reason that
his colleagues on the committee desired
to be heard after the previous question
was seconded.
Mr.. Kasson-Allow me to say that there
will not be the slightest opposition to
their being all heard.
Mr.. Clymer-I decline to yield, and de-
mand the previous question.
Mr.. Kasson-Does the gentleman ex-
pect the House tonight, after five o'clock,
and without this report being printed, to
vote on these resolutions, when even the
impeachability of the officer at present is
a point to be considered by the House?
Mr.. Clymer-After the previous ques-
ton has been ordered | will yield hall
the hour to members Of the committee
who are on this side Of the House.
After some further discussion the pre-
vious question was seconded, and MIR.
Clymer yielded the floor to his colleague
on the committee, Mr. Robbins.
Mr.. Robbins pleaded his mental and
physical exhaustion from his continuous
service on the committee as a reason why
he should not address the House at any
length. He spoke of the report as pre-
senting a case of great shame and dis
grace to all American citizens.
As to the question Of the impeachabil-
ity of an officer who had resigned, he
was not prepared to speak worthly, ex-
cept to suggest that it could not be done;
that an officer who was being investigat-
ed, and who had been found, by evil
dence, to be a criminal, could flee from
Justice. He attended to what he called
the unseemly acceptance of Secretary
Belknaps resignation, and referred to
the English cases of Warren Hastings
and Lord Francis Bacon, both of whom
had been impeached after they had ceas-
ed to hold offices in which they commit
ted crimes and misdemeanors,
Mr.. Bass, another member of the COM
mittee, questioned the statement of the
Chairman, Mr.. Clymep, as to this case
having no parable, and said that he would
not have to leave his own borders in or
der to find, not only parallel for it, but
that he could find cases compared with
which this case was as white as the driven
snow. He admitted that the mere state
ment of this case presented by the testi-
mony was sufficient to justify every mem
Der to vote for the resolution presented.
Mr.. Lamar inquired from Mr. Bass his
opinion as TO the impeachability Of a re-
signed officer.
Mr.. Bass replied that English author
tiles seemed to maintain the jurisdiction
of impeachment in such cases, but that
in this country it was an unadjudlcated
question, and one that was not free from
doubt, but his own best judgment was in
favor of the right to impeach, and 10 let
the qustion be adjudicated by the Sem
ate. 9-'.'
Mr.. Hoar MASS. )-In reference to the
casual remark of some members as to
this being a political question, entirely
disclaimed and repudiated such an idea
on the point of impracticability of per-
son not in office, He referred to the case
of Whittemore, of South Carolina, in
which the House had determined that a
formal actual remuneration of an Office
terminated the Office, and that any Ameri-
can citizen could lay down an office held
by him without any acceptance of his
resignation. Judge Stoner haG laid down
the doctrine that it could not be done in
England, but there any citizen could be
impeached, and therefore, English cases
of Warren Hastings and Lord Bacon did
not apply in America No man could be
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