The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-26
AT THE CAPITAL.
Stories of Belknap and the
Famous Scandal.
WHAT SHERMAN THOUGHT OF 1T.
aeneral Grant and Belknap's Interview with
Him-Justice Miller's Death-SOme
Octogenarian Justices.

WASHINGTON, Oct. %, 1S9O.-[Special cor
respcndence of THE HERALD. Washing
ton is still talking of the deaths of General
Belknap and Justice Miller. The two men
came from the same state. They were
the closest of friends and their careers
during a great part of their lives ran side
10y side. When Belknap was made secre-
tary of war Justice Miller spoke of him
in the highest terms, and when through
the fault of his wife he was forced to
leave the war department Judge Miller
was the first public man to call upon him
and to tell him that he still believed in him.
More than one-half of the noted Belknap
scandal has never been told. There is
NO GREATER LIAM THAN HISTORY.
j know of men who have passed away
within the last ten years and who now
shine in the minds of the people as the
brightest stars of morality and purity in
the heavens of American craftsmanship,
who led double lives and whose public
acts were never truly reported. l know
of others who were far better than dame
history has ever painted them; and the
angel of Truth when she reads between
the lines of Belknap's record will give him
better place in the future state than he
has ever had in this.
l chatted last night, with one of General
Belknap's closest friends, man who was
here at the time Of the scandal, who knew
all the parties and who has been associated
with the general from that day to this.
Said he: General Belknap did not know
that his wife had been receiving money
from the post-trade until it came out in
the investigation. He then took the whole
blame of the act in order to shield his wife,
and he has endured the shame from that
day to this rather than blame her before
the people. You remember the story.
Belknap was married twice, and his
present widow was the sister of the wife
whom he first brought to Washington. By
this first wife he had child. He was a
poor man and both himself and his wife
were proud. His wife became acquainted
with his post-trader at Fort Sill. The man
wanted to hold his position or to secure it,
and it was worth over fifty thousand dol
lars year to him. Through his wife a
deal was made with Mrs. Belknap by
which she received several hundred dollars
month of the profits as long as he held the
position. Mrs. Belknap, without saying
anything to her husband about the deal,
persuaded him to appoint this husband of
her friend.
SHE RECEIVED THE MONEY
regularly as long as she lived, and Bel
KNAPP, who paid little attention TO his wife's
money matters, supposed it was part of
her income. This happened during Grants
administration. 1t was time of high liv-
ing and money spending and the extrava-
- h.
is now. General Sherman, in speaking
about il, said that there was not cabinet
officer who could live on his salary. and
that the only man he knew who had not
gone beyond his means was Hamilton Fish,
who had an income of S200,0J0 and who
spent $40, 900 year in entertaining. Gen
eral Sherman then said that it cost him
he attributed Mrs. belknap's act to the
ridiculous extravaganza of the times. He
was right in saying that Mrs. Belknap was
extravagant. The secretary OF war enter
tanned like prince, and his wife, who was
beautiful and witty, presided over bis
household like princess.
well, so it went on till Mrs. BelknaI
died and her sister took her place as the
head of the household, She had known Of
the bargain of the post leadership, and she
also knew that
GENERAL BELKNAP WOULD NOT PERMIT i
to go on if it was disclosed to him. Sh,
took her sisters place and received TIT
money, and the matter would have never
come out had it not been for one thing
She and the post traders wife were very
thick. They went to London together, anC
there quarreled. The result of the quarre
was that the post traders wife swore shi
would be revenged, and she got her reveng,
by making an expose of the whole mat
ter. 1t came like d thunder clap 10 Bel
KNAPP He was called before committe
of Congress, and upon being asked what M
had to say, replied: Il have heard til,
charges read. Some things ] know
nothing about But make your charge
and put anything in it you ma,
please, it makes no difference what, as &
my guilt. / will acknowledge 1t withou
reserve. Only grant my wish that thi
investigation shall be pursued no further
as il affects any member of my family" Ii
the meantime forgot to say General Bal
KNAPP had married his wife's sister, and sh
had had a brilliant social career before til,
investigation was sprung. As soon as Bel
KNAPP knew Of the investigation he callet
upon President Grant, and Grant has toll,
the story of his call Said he: GENERA
Belknap came in with Zach Chandler. H
was so changed l hardly knew him, and b
looked as If be had not slept for week.
had not heard of the scandal and got u
and shook hands with him. Chandler the
preached the subject of the investigation
and General Belknap said that he was sur
Is would damage him, but ne did not wan
il to hurt the administration. He said b
had written his resignation, and he there
upon handed me a paper, bursting int
tears | told fim that did not want hi
resignation, but / finally accepted it an
handed him letter before he left to tina
effect" General Grant said that he knel
the whole circumstances and that he col
siGered Reklnap innocent
General Belknap was one Of
THE MOST SENSITIVE MEN
ever KNEW" continued this man, "Whe
Grant returned from his trip around til
world ] was at Philadelphia with hin
There was great throng of callers and til
room was crowded when General Belknap
card was sent in. General Grant locke
at the card and replied to the messenge
General Belknap, and he asked him to ca
down that evening. In the newspaper r,
ports of that afternoon this fact was ne
mentioned, but the reporters stated that
number of distinguished gentlemen ha
called upon General Grant and that the
had all been received with the exception
General Belnap, whom it would be n
membered, was the hero of the most dis
graceful scandal in Grants administration
When General Belknap came down to tt
hotel that night he was raving. He m,
me in the lobby and asked me if | had see
the statement / told him l had and /
asked me as his friend to 10 to the new
While we were talking together Jes.
Grant came down and taking the general
arm told him that his father would s,
him. l told him that l would fix Il
matter if il took me till midnight, and wit
that he left. Shortly after this some of Il