Evening star., 1926-08-08
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Gen. William w. Belknap, who re-
signed the office of Secretary of War
a., under Gen. Grant un-
Acqulttal OF der charges of impro-
Relknan priety of relationship
with certain contract
ors. was impeached by the House of
Representatives and tried by the SEN
ate. despite contention that his res
ignation removed him from the juris-
diction of Congress. In The Star of
August |. 1876. is the following news
report at the conclusion of the case
with r verdict of not guilty:
"SOon after II o'clock today the
Senate. reSuming It's session as a
court of Impeachment, proceeded To
vote on the first article of mpeach
ment in the Belknap case. The gal
leries set apart for men were we'll
filled. There was n sprinkling of dip
lomatic representatives in the diplo-
matte gallery, and the ladies' gallery
was comfortably filled. Seated on
chairs placed behind the rows. of sena =
tOrial seats. and on the sofas were
perhaps 50 or GO members of the
House. including Messrs. Garfield.
Lawrence and Martin !. Townsend:
chief Justice Waite. Hon. William NJ.
F.varts. counsel for President John
son during his impeH cnment trial: ex-
Senator Fowler Of Tennessee. ex. x.Sena
tor Stewart and col. e. G.. Sheats. en-
sixth auditor. also occupied seats on
the floor.
"All the managers were in their
seats. but no one representing Gen.
Belknap. except Gen. Matt Fl. Car
penter. occupied seats at the table OF
the counsel for the respondent Mr..
Carpenter kept Il talley list before
him on which he recorded the votes
as they were given, apparently with
much satisfaction. When the name
of Senator Logan was called, who
voted not guilty many of the mem
bers of the House rose and left the
chamber, being apparently convinced
that the respondent would he acuuit
ted. When the result was announced
on the first article. 35 voting guilty
and ~ not guilty. several enthusia stic
females i'm the ladies' gallery gave n
few feeble clapS Of the hand but AT
once desisted when finding no one. to
join them.
THE vote on the second article of
impea chment resulted yeas Sc: nays.
25. Mr.. Maxey having come in and
voted guilty. Senator's who voted
not guilty on the first article voted
in the same way on all the other
articles.
Most if not all of the Senators
voting against conviction explained
that they did so because they did not
believe the. Senate had jurisdiction in
the premises. Gen. Belknap being IA
private citizen and not an officer of
the Government when iinpeHched.
But one Democratic Senator, Mr..
Eaton of Connecticut. voted not
guilty and he took the same view as
regarded want of jurisdiction. While
81 Senators voted. IL Gwo-thirdsl votes
We're necessary to convict.
Mr.. Morton was not present. hav-
ing met with a slight accident this
morning by the overturning nf a
heavy chair i'm which he was sitting.
Cen. Belknap's son. a Young man
of perhaps ~ or 3. Was in the cham
her while the vote was being taken
on the first article. and was evidently
considerably agitated When the re-
suit was announced he exhibited un-
mistakable signs of delight.
Gen. Belknap himself was wait
ing for the verdict at Mr.. Carpenters
law office on r street. In moment
the result was announced a mounted
messenger In waiting was dispatched
to carry him the glad tidings. Mr..
Carpenter himself was warmly con
graduated. he having made a special
plea before the court against juris
diction.
While the vote on the fifth article
was being taken Mr. Morton was
aided into the Senate cha amber and
took his accustomed seat. lie voted
guilty OF the % Senators voting
not guilty % did SO without refer
anon ~ he pyi1oncp hilf tepa they
did not believe the Senate had juris-
diction in the case. Senators Wright
and Conover voted not guilty he,
cause they did not regard the charges
as sustained&y the evidence"