The Republican journal., 1876-03-09
The Record of Administration
Frauds.
Secretary of War Belknap
Detected!
HE C0NFESSES AND RESIGNS!
THE HOUSE IMPEACHES HIM !!
The Democrats Determined to
Purify the Government!
HE CONFESSES AND RESIGNS!
THE HOUSE IMPEACHEs HIM /!
Special Dispatches to the Boston Herald. !

Special Dispatches to the Boston Herald
g. WASHINGTON, March2. When the Secretary
Of War, Gen. Belknap, came out of the room of
the Committee on the Expenditures of the War
Department. yesterday afternoon, with tears
streaming from his cheeks. there was seen by
one or two persons who were near by the sad
dest sight that has been seen in the Capitol for
many year-sadder even than when the Vice
President of the United States, Mr.. COlfaX, in
the winter of 1928 testified before the Credit
Mobilier investigation and wriggled himself in
to nest OF lies from which he can never escape
in this world, for CofaX had no tears in him
and no heart. Belknap did not try to lie out of
his villainy, when confronted with it, but he
cried like a woman, begging mercy at the hands
of the committee and asked that he might be
allowed to resign and no further proceedings
taken in the matter To this not even the Re-
publican members of the committee were incn-
ed to listen The whole transaction is so dam
nabe and the evidence so perfectly oyerwhelm-
ING that any suppression of the facts would be
certain and eternal infamy TO all who were
prlVy to any such arrangement. The commit
lee did not obtain the fatal evidence until yes
terday. when a Mr.. Marsh of New York ap-
peared before the Committee, in obedience to
subpoena served on him last Saturday, and tes-
titled that he had obtained contract to post
leadership at Fort Sill and other army posts in
the Southwest. for which he
PAID TIE WIFE OF SECRETARY BELKNAP
$4,000 cash and $4,000 per annum as long as he
held the same three years. To-day Secretary
Bclknap was notified of what had transpired,
and was requested to appear before the COM
mittee. The testimony of Mr.. Marsh was read
10 him and he did not attempt defence, but
confessed that the statements of Mr.. Marsh
were all true
lHE WITNESS WHOSE TESTIMONY INCULPA-
TED Gen. BEIKNAP
is Mr.. C. Il. Marsh Of New York, of the firm of
Marsh, Hurley X Co. large contractors. He
a -
TO Gen. or Mrs. Bclknap for monopoly of fur
nShing the supplies at Fort Sill and some other
posts. The committee got on the scent of Marsh
two weeks ago. They sent for him, but he tried
TO escape, and was on the point of leaving for
Europe when he was subpTnaed and captured
on the limited express between Washington
and New York.
1t is now known that this is only one of a
number OF cases of corruption in which Belknap
Is involved, and it is believed that he has re-
ceived from various contractors a very large
sum of money.
Belknap is completely broken-hearted, and
his ruin eXcites pity on every side.
THE DESIGNATION OF SECRETARY BELKNAP
ACCEPTED.
Secretary Beknap called at the White House
this morning about 10 O'Clock and presented his
resignation TO the President, and it was imme-
tilately accepted. 1t appears that the President
was not appraised of the facts relative to Secre-
tary Bellnap till last evening. This morning
tatlon of the members OF the Cabinet at the
White House. Chandler, Bristow and Pierre
pont being present, also Senator Morton. While
they We're in the Presidents office Gen. Belknap
arrived and presented his resignation, which
was accepted by the President. The conSulta-
ton at once ended, Beknap leaving in company
with Chandler who accompanied him to the
War Department.
HE PRESIDENT 70 FOEEsTALI. nIPEAC
Immediately on accepting Belknaps rcsi9na-
ton, President Grant sent an autograph note to
the investigating committee at the Capitol in
forming them OF the fact. The evident purpose
10 shield Belknap from impeachment eXcites
the greatest establishment. The committee are
indignant. and Democrats generally denounce
the Presidents act.
SECRETARY IsoBEsoN ArroIN TED Al IN
TERM
The President subsequently appointed Secre-
tary Robson acting Secretary of War as the
following letter will show:
EXECUTIVE MANSION
WAsHINGToN, d. c., March 3
Sir: The resignation of the Secretary Of War
having been rendered and accepted this day, you
hereby directed to assume and perform the duties
addition to those of your Office until otherwise
directed Very truly, yours,
|. 5. GRANT.
To the Secretary of the Navy.
The PUBLIC SURPRISE AT THE NEWS
lie intelligence oil secretary BeIkndn'S CRIME
was not even intimated by any of the Washing
ton newspapers. and would not have been gen
orally known but for a paragraph in a single
Baltimore paper. This was read with the pro
foundest establishment by public men Of both
parties and many of them refused to credit it.
1t was deemed incredible that any man of COM
mon sense could have committed such blum
der, let alone the criminal character to which
Belknap has fatty confessed. On the way to
the Capitol scores Of people stopped on the av-
enue and inquired anXously concerning the
truth OF the statements about Belknap.
THE POLITICAL EFFECT
The Republicans are terribly mortified and
Disguised with this affair of Belknap. 1t is
seen that ii will have an immediate and eXten-
siye influence in New Hampshire. The sur
prise on the Democratic side is fully as great
among the Republicans. Only two DAYS ago
a leading Democrat of the House declared all
The Investigations undertaken by the House
committees were failures, and he hoped there
would be no more of them.
1t Is certain is certain can be that this affair
i only the first thunder-clap. Other equally
astounding revelations are to come.
THE SOCIAL RESULTS OF THIS EXPLOSION
in the Cabinet will be tremendous. Mr.. and
Mrs. Belknap have been the very elite in
Washington society for two years. They have
entertained largely This winter. Mrs. Belknap
has been assiduous III her attentions to men,
bers of the House. AS soon ~ the appojnt-
ncnt OF the Committee on the Expenditures of
The War Department was announced by the
speaker. the Belknaps began to pay the mem
berS of ii the most marked attentions. They
were entertained, and the wife Of one Of the
members who had never previously received
any social notice from Mrs. Belknap, although
they had long been acquainted, was invited TO
AID her in inviting and receiving company
The reasons for these attentions now fully APP
pear. 1t is a curious fact that Mr.. Clvmer the
chairman of the committee was Il classmate of
Belknap at Princeton College