Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-03-15
VOL. 50--WHOLE NO. 2462.
Strikes Again
A Patriot, Statesman and Hero
Ripped to Flinders

y A Bel" Likely to take a K-nap
!, and will Ring no more in the Gov
ernment Corridors !
THE AFFAIR IN CONGRESS-
MIR. Clymer's Reading ofthe Terrible Ar
. raignment--Debate ON the In- ID
parchment Questions.
WAsHINdToN, March 2.--W Whom tn,
Committee of the Whole in the Hous,
of Representatives rosc to-day Mr.
Clymer, Of Pennsylvania, presentcC
resolutions Of impeachment agains
William W, Bclknap, late Secretary o
, War, for high crimes. and misdemean
ors in Office. In the midst of great
excitement, and with an unusual still
ness in the House, Mr.. Clymer ROSE
and said: II ask permission of the
House to make report from, the Com
mitteo on Expenditures of the Wan
, Department of so grave Importance
that ] am quite certain that when it is
heard this House will agree that / am
justified in asking that permission at
this time" Permission was given, and
Mr.. Clymer taking his position at the
Clerks desk, read the following report
The committee discovered at the
very threshold of its investigation such
unqucstioned evidence of the malfea-
sance of General William W. Belknap,
then Secretary Of War, that they found
II their duty to lay the same before the
House They further report that this
day Mt II o'clock \ letter Of the Pres-
dent of the United States was presented
to the committee accepting theresigna-
lion Of the Secretary Of War together
with n copy of bis letter of resignation,
which (the President informed the
committeo) was accepted about 10 20
this morning. They therefore unani-
mously report and demand that the
said William W. Belknap, late Secre-
tary of War, be dealt with according
to the law of the land, and to that end
submit herewith the testimony in the
case taken, together with the several
statements and exhibits thereto at
tached, and also n rcscript of the pro-
ceedings of the committee had during
the investigation of this subject, and
submit the following resolutions;
Rssoired That william W. Bclknap, late Sec.
| a War. ha tuueaahe1 gf hfwh tr,.
msdemcanors In Office.
Resoiped, That the testimony in the case Of
William W. Bclknap, late Secretary Of War, be
referred to tho Judiciary Committee, with lnstruc-
tions TO prepare and report without unnecessary
delay suitable articles Of Impeachment Of said
William W. Belknap, late Secretary Of War
Resoired. That o committee Of Eve members Of
the House be appointed and Instructed to proceed
Immediately TO the bar Of che Senate and thore
impeaoh William W. Belknap, late Secretary Of
War, IN the name Of the people Of the United
States OF high crimes and mfsdcmcanors when in
Office hnd to inform that body that formal articles
Of Impeachment will in due time be presented,
and to request the Senate to take such order in
the premises as they may deem appropriate,
Mr.. Clymer then proceeded TO read
the testimony of Caleb p. Marsh, taken
yesterday before the committee, show
ing that he had paid Secretary Bel
knap about $4,000 in consideration of
bis appointment as post trader at Fort
Sill, Indian Territory. The reading
was listened TO with intense interest by
the members of the House, and by
large audience in the galleries. In the
more pathetic portions of the narrative,
Mr.. Clymer was frequently forced by |
his feelings to pause until his voice rc-
covered from its trcmulousness and
himself from his agitation. AT the
close of the reading, and after the ma6y
members who had taken up positions
near the Clerks desk (the better to
hear the testimony and accompanying
had returned to their
proper seats, Mr.. Clymcr who had also
gone to his own seat, again rose and
said, with great emotion Mr.. Speak.
er, | would not if | could, and | could
not Gn my ypresentcondition) i'll would,
add anything to the facts just reported
TO the House, Another occasion may
be afforded me to do So They are so
plain that everywhere throughout this
broad land, and throughout Christcn-
dom, wherever the English language
is read or spoken, they will for long
years constitute a record of official cor
ruption and crimes such as there is no
parallel for in our own history, or in
that of any other country that ] know
Of II, in this hour, one sentiment of
pity, enc word of sympathy, could find
ltterancc from me, it would be because
feel that the late Secretary of War
9. but the proper outgrowth, the true
the corruption, the cxtrava-
gance, the misgovernment that have
cursed this land for years past. That
being my own reflection, | will dis
;hargc my duty best to myself and TO
'his House by demanding the previous
ldestiohion the adoption of the i'eso.
utionoAg IfCH TpAHaE
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SECONDED.
Mr.. Kasson, oflowa, appealed to Mr..
Jlymer tc give an opportunity for s
ome suggestions 20 be made before
skiing the previous question on mat
or Of so grave importance.
Mr.. Clymcr regretted that he could q
lot obligc his friend [sevcral Demo
ratio members, " Yes, yes" y, and for !
he reason that his colleagues on fhc f,
desired TO be heard after the /
question was seconded. /
Mr., Kasson. Allow me to say that t
here will not be the Slightest opposi. /
ion to their being all heard q
Mr.. Cymer. ] decline to yield, ADD 7
Iemand the previous question. = e''AA I
Mr.. Kasson. Does tbe gentleman cx- S
'ect the Housc tonight, after FIVE +
'cloclS, and without this report being /
'rinted, to vote on these resolutions, f
vhen even the impcachability of the p
fiicer at present is . pointsto be con. i
idercd BY the House g? f MN 4
Mr.. Clymer. Aftcr the previous n
uestion has been ordered, | will yield n
alf the hour to the members of the o
ommittcc who arc on the other side (;
I the House 81 r0H .fF h U d
LyMER YIELDS THE FLOOR TO RoBBiSs.
After some further discussion the
rcvious question was seconded, and J.,
lr Clymer yielded the floor to his col. !, !
'ague on tho committee, Mr.. Robbins, a
North Carolina. Nj. Robbins plead y y
his mental and physical exhaustion :, =
ON his continuous service on the com = :,
littcc, as the reason why he should y
ot'addross the House at any length. l,
lc spoke of the report as presenting II II
case of great shame and disgrace to ~ ~
j American citizens. As TO the qucs- ~ !.
on of the impeachability of an officer !"