Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-11

TO be the all absorbing theme of conver-
sation. At the Capitol, which was
thrOnged all day, in the hotels, on the
streets, a. the breakfast and dinner ta-
blss everybody is still asking everybody
else's opinion, and commenting on the
event, its causes and the probable results.
To-day the Republicans realize more fully
than they did yesterday the fun extent
ef the mischief which has been done
their party. Some are disposed 10 make
merry over il, and with desperate, it.
can't-be-helped air, say they are now
ready FOR anything. The leaders look
anxious. and spend their leisure moments
in earnes consultations. The ladies gen
erally are expressing a good deal OF sym
pathy for Mrs. BelEnap, but very few,
either men or women, express much sym
pathy for him.
There was a long and interesting ses-
sion of the Cabinet to-day over yester-
dav's DEVELOPMENTS The President for
the first time seemed to realize the posi-
ton he had placed himself in by the
prompt acceptance of eN-Secretary Bclll-
sTrrrf
time he was wholly unaware that Bclk-
nap had been under investigation by
committee of Congress. or that the faces
were as bad rs they have turned out. lie
announced that he was in favor, however.
of the prompt prosecution in the courts
of Belknap, Marsh, Tomlinson and any
one else connected with this most as
founding case OF bribery, and proposed
that the Attorney General commence ut
once TO secure their Indictment and trial.
To this the Cabinet readily assented, and
tomorrow Judge PierrepOnt will enter
upon the work of laying the proper evil
dence before tie Grand Jury Of this Dis
trict. The punishment is provided for In
chapter of crimes OF crimes of the Re-
vised Statutes, sections 1901 and 5,502,
and is imprisonment in the pcnitentiary
for three years, and the imposition OF a
fine three times the amount of the bride
received. Under the statute the person
who offers the bribe is as guilty rs the Of
Gcial who receives it, and the witness
Marsh viii be prosecuted on the same
footing Tith Belknap. It remains TO be
seen whether Mrs. Belknap will be in
ciuded IN tlte list OF those 90 be- indict-
ed and arrested, but the impression Il
that as principal IN the entire transac-
tion IL Will be difficult 70 leave her out of
the list. The trial of Belknap in the
Criminal Court here rrill not interfere,
Of course, with the Impeachment trial by
the Senate and will not be prevented by it.
After leaving che Senate the House
Committee returned to the House, aud
Mr.. Clymer made the following report:
Mr.. Speaker, in obedience TO the order
of the House your committee proceeded
TO the bar of the Senate and then and
resentatives and of all the people OF the
United States of America, impeached, as
directed, William W. Belknap, late Sec
retary of War, of high crimes and mis-
demeanors while in Office, and demanded
that the Senate take order to bring the
said VIM. w. Belknap TO trial; and an
nounced that the House would in good
time make good the charges-to which
answer was made that the Senate would
take such order.
Very little sensation was created in the
House, although the galleries were
thrOnged most of the day. Throughout
the proceedings Mr.. Clymer was less ag-
itated than he was while reading the eVi-
dence yesterday, but as he stood before
the Senate bar his hand trembled like an
aspen, shaking the paper so violently that
he read with difficulty. His feeling in
the matter is greatly increased by the
fact that he and Belknap were classmates
together at Princeton, their rooms ad-
Joined each other and they messed TO
gether for four years. Secretary Robe
son, singular 10 say, was Of the same
class.
The House Judiciary Committee spent
almost the entire day discussing the Belk-
nap impeachment case and the question
Of the right Of the House 10 impeach,
even though the President had accepted
Belknap's resignation. A vote showed
opinion that the House had such right.
Even Congressman Hoar holds this opin-
ion strongly, and told the committee that
his only objection to the action of the
House was that he thought so great haste
was unseemly of the Senate Special Com
mfttee, whose opinion will doubtless have
great weight on this point. Senator Ed
munds, Thurman and Stephenson are
thought TO believe that Congress has the
right 10 impeach in such a case, and Ere
linghuysen and COnkling are doubtful.
One OF the most eminent legal members
Of the House committee also remarked
tonight that Congress certainly has the
right TO divide the charges, as was done
in the impeachment case of Judge Bar
nard, where the Senate Veted first wheth-
sr he should be removed from Office, and
second whether he should forever after
be disqualified from holding Office. Some
Of the Senators hold that Congress can
not remove q man from an office that he
does not hold. But, as the member OF the
committee alluded 10 says, it is difficult
to see at least why they have not power
TO disqualify, especially As they have a
clear precedent for so doing.
The House Committee to-day instructed
Chairman Knott to prepare articles Of i'm
parchment TO present TO the committee at
it, meeting tomorrow. Tonight Mr.
Knott is working at the articles, which
Will be ready for the committee tO-mor-
row, and viii be laid before the Senate
Monday. Quite probably Mr.. Knott will
be one of the House managers, but the
selections of those managers deyolves en-
tirely upon the House, and, Of course,
who they Will be is wholly uncertain.
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