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


Mr.. Morrison, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means presented
the views OF the minority on the bill to
carry into effect the Hawaiian treaty,
Ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Randall, Chairman ofthe Commit
tee on Appropriations, reported bill ap-
propriatiag Sl63, 900 to provide for en-
craving, printing and other expenses of
making and issuing United States notes,
and directing the Secretary Of the Treas
ury to issue silver coins Of the denomin-
ations of ten, twenty, twenty-five and
fifty cents in the redemption of an equal
amount of fractional currency, and to
provide for such redemption until the
whole amount of fractional currency is
redeemed. Ordered to be printed and
recommitted.
Mr.. Clymer presented a resolution of
impeachment against VIM. w. Belknap,
late Secretary of War, for high crimes and
misdemeanor i'll office. In the midst of
great excitement and with unusual still
ness in the House, Mr., Clymer rose and
said | ask permission of the House to
make rel ort from the Committee on
Expenditures in the War Department of
so grave importance that | am almost
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 found, at the very
Threshold of its investigation, such un-
questioned evidence of malfeasance of
Gen. VIM. W. Belknap, then Secretary of
War, that they found it their duty to lay
the same before the House.
They further report that this day, at
eleven o'clock, letter of the President
ofthe United States was presented to the
Committee accepting TIE resignation of
the Secretary of War; together with
copy of his letter of resignation, which
the President informed the Committee
was accepted about 1920 this morning.
They therefore unanimously report and
demand that said Wm. w. Belknap, late
Secretary of War, be dealt with accord
ing to the law of the land, and so that
end submit herewith testimony in the
case taken together with several state,
ments and exhibits thereto attached, and
also report Of the proceedings of the
Committee had during the investigation
OF this subject, and submit the following
resolutions;
Resolved, That Wm W, Belknap, late
Secretary of War, be impeached of high
crimes and misc emeanors.
Resolved, That the testimony in the
case of VIM. W. Belknap, late Secretary
ofWar, be referred to the Judiciary Com.
mittee with instructions to prepare and re.
port without Unnecessary delay, suitable
articles of impeachment of said VIM. w.
Belknap, late Secretary of War.
Resolved, That Committee of five
members of the House be appointed and
instructed to proceed Immediately to the
bar Of the Senate and there impeach VIM,
W. Belknap, late Secretary of War, in the
name of the people of the United States
of high crimes and misdemeanors when
in office, and 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 pre-
misses as they deem appropriate.
Mr. Clymer then proceeded to read the
testimony of Caleb P Marsh, taken yes
terday before the Committee, showing
that he had paid Secretary Belknap abou
$4,000 in the consideration of his ap-
pointmAnt as post trader at Fort Sill, In
dian Territory. The reading was listen
ed to with intense interest by members
ofthe House and by the large audience
in the galleries, In the more pathetic
portions of the narrative, Mr.. Clymer
was frequently for ed by his feelings to
pause until his voice recovered from its
and himself from his agi-
tation.
Mr.. Clymer, after submitting the unan-
imous report of the Committee, read the
following testimony and accompani
ments
TUESDAY, Feb. 30, 1876.
The Committee met at 10:30a. m. There
were present Messrs. Clymer, Blackburn
and Robbins. Caleb P. Marsh, one ofthe
witnesses ordered to be subp@naed, by the
Committee being present, was duly
sworn according to law.
Question by Charman-Where do you
reside Al reside at No. 80 West Fifty
seventh street, New York have resided
in New York about eight years.
Question by Chairman-Were you or
not appointed or rendered an appoint
nent as post-trader at Fort Sill, Indian
Territory, in the fall of 1870, by the Sec
retary of War-if so under what circum-
stances was said appointment secured to
you? State also if you were commissioned
by the Secretary as such post-trader, or if
not who was so commissioned and if any
,ther person than yourself was so COM
give his name, the reason why