New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-12


the symbol of revolutionary patriotism,
and beneath it rests all that was mortal OF
William Washington and Jane Elliott his
wife.-L;ppinco't.
The BeIknap Scandal.
The Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Inter- Ocean says:
If the Democrats continue much longer
as they have been doing for the last few
DAYS they will loose what little political
capital they may have gained in the Belknap
scandal. Being almost helpless theweelves
in the matter of impeachment from miE-
management and carelessness in allowing
their witness to escape, they are now trying
to prevent the officers of the law, repre-
sented by the United States district attorney
and the Attorney General, from taking any
action in the prosecution OF Belknap. The
grand jury of this district being in session,
the district attorney very properly made q
presentment to them Of Belknap's crime
according to Law, ard summoned the Com
mittee on Expenditures in the War Depart
ment, DR.. Tomlinson, Mrs. Belknap's
brother, and several others to appear be-
fore them to testify concerning the matter.
Marsh not being within reach. the only
evidence against Belknap is held by the
with them the contracts, checks and other
documents in their possession. Now the
committee lets Marsh take his contracts
and checks to Canada with him, and they
now have no documentary evidence what
ever against Belknsp. Clymer, Robbins
and Blackburn. the Democratic members
of the committee, went before the court
this morning and declined to testify before
the grand jury. The Republican members
<hns~ A~sA Ia
mittee then came into the House, and Mr..
Clymer, getting the floor on question of
privilege. complained that his dignity,
his privileges as member of the House,
had been assailed. He said that he and his
fellow members OF the committee had been
summoned before q grand jury to testify,
an action Every prejudicial to the highest
interest Of the country. The committee
had been asked to reveal the secrets Of the
committee room, ETC., and an attempt was
being made to throttle investigation. Blaine
was at him in moment. He asked if the
committee had withheld any. evidence
against Belknap from their report. Clymer
said they had not, Of course. Then Blaine
said he could not see why Clymer had 60
much delicacy about a matter that had
been reported to the House, had been print
ed in report in the Congressional Record,
and in every newspaper in the country.
Clymer got very mad at Blaine's taunts,
and began to talk about the intimidation of
witnesses and driving witnesses to Canada.
Blaine came at him again with an inquiry
ae to who permitted Marsh to 60 to Canada.
Clymer was go mad that he could not reply,
and Robbins and Blackburn came to his
relief, charging it upon Cabinet meeting
which was held after Marsh left town, This
it very roughly. Lamar, Wicker, and the
whole Democratic side came to Clymer's
relief, and the scene was second only in ex-
element to the amnesty debate. Blaine
charged them with preferring to advertise
crime rather than to punish it, and made q
very torcible point in claiming that the
committee had all the evidence against
belknap and refused to give it to the courts
30 that he might be tried and convicted.
Lamar introduced some resolutions,
written by Randolph Tucker, which
were adopted by q strict vote, just;fying
the committee for not appearing before the
grand jury Belknsp's offense is q crime
N the eyes of the law. punishable with fine
md Imprisonment. His trial in court does
aot in any way affect his impeachment: his
does not in any way affect
1is trial; but the Democrats are jealous of
heir victim. and will not allow the Repub-
leans any prestige in Furnishing him. The
9nly witness against him was sent away bv
Slymer for some reason not known. and
8elknap can not be convicted unless the
committee will testify to Marsh's state.
nents and papers, which, under the resolu.
ion adopted to-day, they refused to do.
The debate was sharp and acrimonious on
ne democratic side. On the Republican
lde 1t was only aggravating.
The Democrats showed their weakness
'ery plainly, and could only fly under the
'over OF Lamar and Tucker, who urged the
Constitutional right of members of Con
'ress to refuse to testify. During the de-
'ate, the bill proposed to protect witnesses
rom prosecution came up. Blaine an
bounced that the Republicans would do
nythIng to cid the Democrats in bringing
iarsh back, even to make special leg:sla.
ion to protect him. Knott announced thai that
ne Committee on Judiciary had such bill
eady to report. He also announced that
hey we're waiting an opportunity to make
report on the impeachment matter.
When that report Isl presented, it will
70 confession of weakness or the part OF
ne democrats, and will merely be an
that the Belknap impeach-
gent mas come out Of the little end of the
orn, the evidence before the commit.
ee being insufficient to furnish facts for
he specifications of the articles of impeach-
aent. 10 use Barney Caulfeld's expres.
ION, they have not enough bones to frame
he skeleton of an Indictment. The COM
alttee WILL ask that the investigation be re-
pened, and that the Judiciary Committee.
ot the Committee on Expenditures in The
var Department, be given the authority to
ecure additional evidence. The latter com.
ahttee, however, have meeting tomorrow.
nd say they have important witnesses TO
FAMINE. 1t is also stated that other wit
esses are on their way here who have tales
untold that will make Belknap's csnd;-
on sui! more wretched. The Senate has
laced itself in the attitude of recentior
nd has conscienciously closed its seventy,
mouth 90 that it NAV ait mn
ommltted on the case. There is a rreat
cal of impotence for the impeachmen.
'ial to begin. the mad haste of MI. Clvmer,s
in reporting their eyidence
aving led the community to expect soma"
hing more than delay in the mattar
othlng was done to-day in the ReIknan
ase' except the hearing Of couple of mr.
nportant witnesses before the grand inrv
Mess the official report of the Committed
admitted as evidence, there will ha No
on which An Indictment can he
,und, and his trial before the court. l;ks
is impeachment, will fail, lust becsnsa of
lymer's care!essness in sending his Wit
ess away. The debate to-day had a ten.
ency to unite the Democrats. who ware
ecoming very much dissatisfied With the
engagement Of the matter; but Clymer II
ill very much blamed. Being chairman
the Democratic Congressional Commit
'e, ne has lost his reputation 20 q political
'auager, although his report on Belknap
bel1g extensively used "A n camna;rr