smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

impeachment is a process altogether out
of the ordinary criminal and merely vulgar
range; it implies not simply crimes and
misdemeanors, but "high" crimes and misde-
meanors, the large offences that result when
great souls find the limits of the law too
little for the indulgences of vigorous vi
tality. In our studies it is associated with
the parade of Justice in her grandest pano-
ply. One remembers the tremendous ora
ton that drove Verres to immediate flight
and left no opportunity for the delivery of
the five others. 1t calls up the story of War
rem Hastings and revives the days when the
country was divided over the acts of Andrew
johnson. That is not the kind of process to
apply to the sordid creature who deals in q
bribery that in its last resort is taken out of
the officers and soldiers who guard our from
bribery that compels a soldier to pay
twenty-five cents for glass of whiskey
which would be dear at five. For this man in
dictmert and the State Prison-the ordinary
machinery for the punishment of ordinary
malefactors-is the only one in character.
Impeachment is moreover, conceived in the
political fabric as the means of reaching
the offences out of the scope of the ordinary
courts In England it is the only trial of an
offender at which he may not plead the royal
pardon, and in this country all the impeach-
ments have been for acts not punishable by
the statutes but Belknap's delinquency is
within reach of the commonest kind of JUS
tice. There comes sort of promise from
Washington that the President has deter
mined to mete out this kind of justice to his
offending Secretary of War The Attorney
General is to proceed against General Bel
KNAPP in a criminal prosecution and try him
in the courts for the vulgar offence of which
he was guilty. AS Marsh is to be included
in this prosecution it is difficult to see from
what source the government expects to get its
evidence for Belknaps conviction unless his
confession is alone to be relied upon. But
President Grant may be in earnest neverthe-
less. If he is we are disposed to give him
full credit for the act, and we are free to say
that Belknaps conviction and punishment
upon criminal prosecution would 60 far
to redeem the Presidents hasty and ill
judged acceptance of his Secretary's resigna-
ton. Indeed, it is the only thing left
open to General Grant whereby he can
save his own honor in this unfortunate
transaction.
Year: 1876

PROBE DEEP We like the resolution fol-
the investigation of the improvements of the
District of Columbia There have been more
assertions in reference to the manner in
which the improvements of the District OF
Columbia were made than of any other act
of the administration. If true, not only
should Governor Shepherd be pun
ished by imprisonment but the severest
censure should fall upon all in power
who have either shared in his rascality Oh
countenanced him in its enjoyment. But
let the whole business be investigated. This
coming campaign for the Presidency prom
ises to be rich in scandals and slanders. The
sooner we know what are really sins and
what are mere averments meant to hurt or
aid party the better for the canvass and the
better for the public sense now deadened by
this Niagara of scandal which has poured over
the country for the past few years. Let the
whole District of Columbia business be probed
and probed deep.
Year: 1876

THE MAcDouGAL WRIT, which was issued
on the 10th of January last, was served on
General Schenck yesterday, as will be seen
by the special cable despatch to the HERALD
this morning, when the Minister was about
leaving London on his return to this country.
The service was an absurdity, apart from
the question of General Schenck's guilt
or innocence of the charges regard
ing the Emma mine, and we are sorry
the English courts permitted its issue in dis
regard of the rights of the defendant Atthe
same time we should like to see General
Schenck take his trial like any ordinary man.
He forgot he was an ambassador when he
commended the Emma mine scheme, and it
would be refreshing to find him forgetting
il again, now that he is asked to undergo a
trial in the English courts
Year: 1876

The Acceptance OF the Resignation.


The Presidents acceptance of Mr.. Bel
knap's resignation is an act worse than the
offence of the Secretary. To screen him from
the consequences Of this arbitrary interfer-
ence between Congress and the guilty otncial
General Grants friends claim that he was
not aware of the extent of the Secretary's
offences when he accepted the resignation.
But this defence will not do. The President
had been informed of the scandals of the
War Department, and besides this the very
fact that Mr.. Belknap resigned was revela-
ton enough. President Grant had no ex-
cuse under these circumstances for accepting
the resignation instantaneously and with
''great regret" but was bound by official
dignity and duty to consult with the Cabinet
and await the action of Congress.


The reasons why we consider the act of
the President worse than the offence of the
Secretary are these =


FirSt-The President has endeavored Off
cially to protect criminal who confessed to
him his crime. 1t matters not how far that
crime was confessed or how confused and
incoherent" was the manner of the offender.
The President knew there was guilt


Second-The President has endeavored to
prevent Congress from vindicating the honor
of the Republic. The disgrace which Mr.
Belknap inflicted upon the country required
that Congress should instantly purge the
government by his impeachment and con-
viction. This was necessary to the honor of
the country, and this the President has for
hidden. The articles of impeachment
adopted by the House, it is feared, will fall
like spent bullets The President has par
doned Mr.. Belknap before the Senate could
try him.


1hird-The President crowns by this act
of interference long series of acts of pro-
lection to officials who were suspected or
accused or convicted of crime. The list
need not be repeated now but the final act
casts retroactive shadow over q record
already dark and doubtful enough.


Fourth-General Grant has by this act
placed the Executive in suspicious atti-
tude in the sight of the world. What the
world may think of Ulysses S. Grant may
not be important, but in the opinion that
other nations may hold of the President
of the United States the people have GER
tainly an interest. The President disgraces
the people when he uses his authority to
protect criminals and puts veto upon their
punishment. The felony of the Secretary
of War was bad enough, but the act by which
the President removed him from the hands
of Congress, and tried to battle impeachment
and prevent the nation from vindicating
its honor, constitutes moral offence which
the law may not be able to punish, but which
the people, who made the laws, will not for
give.
Year: 1876

whose character it guaranteed by electing or
appointing them disgrace themselves and it
by scandalous malversation. 1t does not
acts" and individual weakness" entail no
consequences which reach beyond them
selves.


In the present shocking case, which fills
the whole country with disgust and indigna-
ton, the blame, to be sure, lies primarily
upon Secretary Belknap, but it is justly
shared by President Grant and by the party
which gave political bonds for the purity of
President Grants administration. 1t is pre-
posterous TO whine about the injustice of
other people suffering for crimes not their
own when it lies in the very nature of free
government that a political party stands in
the relation of bondsmen for the officers it
puts in power, and that the condition of the
guarantee is political forfeiture if the officers
fail in their duty. 1t remains for the people
of the United States to declare, by the regular
method of elections. that the republican party
has justly incurred this forfeiture


1t will not do to make scapegoat of Bel
KNAPP nor even of President Grant. The
republican party is responsible for both of
them and for the multitude of other officers
who have abused their trust and disgraced
their country. Senator Cameron's indignant
criticisms of the President are only half
just 1t is true enough, as Mr. Cameron
alleges that the President has caught up
obscure men of no political standing and
foisted them into the highest positions from
mere personal favoritism. But how has he
been able to do this when the Senate holds
n check on all his appointments The an
swer is easy and it lays bare the core of the
present hideous corruption. The republi-
can Senators have assumed, as one Of their
rights, to control the chief federal appoint
ments in their own States-that is, they tell
the President whom they want appointed to
this or that Office, and he complies with their
wishes. But he complies on this understood
condition: that they are not to vote against
the confirmation of his favorites for offices
which he wishes to fill himself The natu-
raj fruit of this log-rolling arrangement, by
which part of the offices are farmed out in
order that the President may have complete
control of others, is the revolving corruption
which pervades every department of the
public service. Instead of the joint action
of the President and Senate which the con-
stitution contemplates and caution requires,
the rule is kept in form but violated in sub
stance, and the President and each republi-
can Senator has a bundle of appointments
which he virtually makes according to his
own pleasure. 1t is futile and ridiculous to
contend that the whole republican party is
not responsible when all its chief members
have selishly contributed to build up the
system which has covered the administration
with disgrace.
Year: 1876

Mr.. MARSH Some of the "organs" assail
Mr. Marsh with Characteristic ferocity. No
body can altogether admire that gentleman's
career; but he is not, as they seem to as
and put under oath, and so the story came
out evidently not by his volition. But the
organs perhaps believe that man who had
participated in such corruption should not
have stopped at perjury. But Marsh clearly
thought he must draw the line somewhere,
and in this only showed the possession of
conscience. In any just view of the subject
it will be conceded that this wretched per-
son has at least made to the nation all the
reparation that was in his power in further
ing the ends of justice by making o clean
breast Of it
Year: 1876

GENERAL SHERMAN would make an excellent
dd interim Secretary of War. His thorough
knowledge of the department and the affairs
of the army; his practical habits, and the
uncompromising spirit in which he would
overhaul jobbery, all designate him as the
man for the place at the present moment.
Why did not President Grant name General
Sherman instead of Mr.. Robson, who, if
rumor speaks true, will have quite enough
to do to straighten out matters in his own
department? If there are other and greater
abuses than this sutlership scandal in the
War Department, Sherman is the man to deal
with them vionrouslv and nromntlv-
Year: 1876

From the Presidents declarations it ap-
pears that he will not remove man "while
under fire." but it also appears that if man
who is under fire wishes to run away the
President will help him and endeavor to
cover his retreat. So long as allegations are
made against an officer of malfeasance or
misconduct in ofice-allegations which
seem merely to require that the person i'm
plicated should get out of Office and give
place to one who will perform its duties with
more regard to the public interests-then
the President is solicitous with regard to the
side of the case that concerns the mans
honor He will sustain him. have faith in
him and otherwise assist him to answer the
allegations from the standpoint of man in
position-which is certainly better than the
standpoint of man dismissed, and, there
fore, under quasi condemnation. There is,
in that view of the case o notion the people
appreciates the more, because it not merely
gives the man a chance to explain from high
ground, but puts him under the obligation
to do so.


But it appears that the President takes a
different view when the case is the other
way for when the charges against q man
are of such a nature that his vacation of
Office is not satisfaction to justice, but an
escape from it when the charges require an
examination while the man is in Office and
his dismissal from Office and exclusion from
all other offices are seen to be the principal
penalties that the law can impose when his
abandonment of Office enables him to slip
through the fingers of the law-then the
President, who would sustain man in Office
against accusations, does not require his
man to remain in Office and face accusa-
tions. On the contrary, he not only permits
his man to run, but takes time by the fore
lock to give him an early start, and becomes
the accomplice of his fight.


From both points of view, therefore, it ap-
pears that the President takes far livelier
interest in the fortunes and welfare of his
men in Office than in the efficient administra-
ton of the public service. If the public in
terest requires that rogue shall be removed
from Office the President keeps him there,
under cover of an epigram that seems to in
yolve principle ; and when this principle
itself is depended upon in another case to
hold man where justice can get at him,
behold the principle has evaporated, the
man is gone and the President is assisting
his escape. But the President is a man who
islands by his friends and what friends
Year: 1876

THAT THE CENTENNIAL YEAR of the Re-
public should be attended by national
disgrace is too truly misfortune. But it is
also the year of Presidential election, and
it is well that the people should know their
danger. Let us have the bottom facts, that
we may vote in light and not in darkness.
Year: 1876

MINISTER ORTH is about leaving Austria
10 return TO this country. We presume his
purpose in returning is to make his canvass
for Governor of Indiana 1t is sign of
healthy republicanism when American states
men are willing to give up high positions
abroad for the honor of being Governor Of
pne OF the States Of the Union. and Mr.. Orth
Is to be congratulated on the impulse which
brings him home.
Year: 1876

At the time when General Sherman
changed his base from Washington to ST
Louis, though the public did not see mol
comprehend very clearly the reasons for it,
1t was commonly conceded that there was
some sound strategy in the case, which
would appear sooner or later. Now we SEE
1t. Belknap was put into the War Depart
ment between Sherman and Grant. 1t ID
said that Sherman recommended him and
if he did it is at all events true that up to
that time Belknap was only known as a good
soldier and as a man believed to be capable
and upright. But the meaning of the ap-
pointment was that the War Department
should be in the hands of a dummy, and
that Grant and Sherman, while thew could
agree should run the department to suit
themselves. But they could not agree for
ever, and in this case disagreed early so
that Grant and Belknap had the thing all to
themselves and Sherman necessarily saw
how they proceeded. Having head little
longer than Grants he could see further
than the day after tomorrow, and saw what
must come. This induced the reflection
that, as he was associated in the accession OF
Belknap, it might be unpleasant to be picked
up in that neighborhood after the mine had
exploded. He had gained great fame by his
march to the sea, and here was a fine
chance for march to the Mississippi, and
he moved Immediately, in the most level
headed manner.
Year: 1876

wNsLow, THE BosToN FoRGEB, was
formally committed for extradition yesterday
and will be sent to this country after the ex-
piration of the fifteen days of detention be-
fore surrender. The commitment was made
ppon charges of forgery and the uttering of
Torged paper. The case against the accused
Is thus made a very simple one, and it will
be left to Boston jury to determine whether
nthe Boston forger' is indeed forger.
Year: 1876

PRINCE BIsMARcK's HEALTH is now reported
as in a very satisfactory state, and it is pos
sible that the blood and iron policy will be
relaxed, at least until he gets worse. Ill
health is often full of evil to nations as well
as to men.
Year: 1876

SEVEN YEARS ago this day the President
took the oath of his great Office. How has
he kept it? If seven years of his administra-
ton have caused American republicanism
to bow its head in shame, what degradation
might we not expect from twelve?
Year: 1876

A REMARKABLE TRAVELLER is Mr.. Caleb
Marsh, who, in the expressive language of
Detective Tilley, turned up Bclknap" the
other day. His manner of going to Montreal
is not unlike his intended trip abroad; but
then he was going because he did not wish
to expose the Secretary of War, and now it
seems he has gone because of his own ex-
posures.
Year: 1876

About IL o'clock yesterday, the corner
OF Burgundy and Cont streets was the
scene OF a most shocking accident by
car No. ii Of the Orleans City Railroad
line running over Peter Bellinsona, a
little boy fourteen months old and
almost instantly killing him.


The child was removed to it's home q
short distance from the scene of the
accident, where 1t expired Immediately
after arriving. On examination it was
found that the wheels had past over the
little fellows stomach and limbs, man
Cling them terribly.


Our reporter visited the driver of the
car, Anthony Alimo, at the Third Pre-
clint Station, who gave the following
statement:


saw the child standing on the cross
ing at the corner a lady pulled the bell !;
put on my brake and turned my head
to see when she would be out of the
car; let my brake go without looking
around; as soon as / had let the brake
go somebody followed there is a child
under the car; stopped the car as soon
as could but it was too late, the front
wheel had passed over It's body. I i'm
mediately surrendered to officer Tomp-
kins, he went with me to deliver up my
car, after which he brought me to the
station.
Year: 1876

About II o'clock yesterday morning
Mary Bannegan, aged n years, and u
native Of Ireland, was found lying in
sensible on the floor of her wood and
coal shop, 129 Thalia street, having
been severely burned about the body.
1t is supposed that her clothing ignited
while sleeping too near the fireplace,
and on waking up and finding herself
on fire, was frightened to such an ex-
tent that she became speechless and
unable to call for help. She was found
by her friends yesterday morning in the
above condition, without clothing, and
her body almost burnt to cracking


A physician was called in, but too late
to do any good, as the unfortunate
creature died before he left.
Year: 1876

The situation in the disputed States has
undergone but little change since yesterday.
The Republican managers, sustained by the
Federal administration, are doing all they
can to retai d justice and prevent an honest
return of the fotes of the people, but the
Democrats, alive to the fact and to the ex-
traordinary emergency, are, under the lead
Of able counsel, proving them
selves equal to the occasion, and are by their
pursuit of the luaveS in and out of court lay-
ing bare their knavery and making it plain
that they are acting in concert, inspired from
headquarters at Washington. In Louisiana,
50 far, twenty parishes have been counted,
which give Hayes a majority over Tilden of
FIVE thousand nine hundred and four These
are undisputei parishes Those disputed, it
must be borne in mind, are so because they are
believed to be Democratic When the returns
from these are given in, it will no doubt be
made to appear, as we already know from
figures in the possession of the State Demo-
cratic committee, that Tilden has a majority
Of between nine and ten thousand. The re-
turns by parishes so far made out are as fol-
Year: 1876

eOur. We are now grayely considering the question
Of issuing another mandate Of this board.
| cannot believe that when these gentlemen
come 10 consider. when they come tonight to
ask the favor and protection OF their tod, when
they recall the sancity OF their Oaihs OF Office,
don't believe they will long resist the power of this
court This cOurt Is clothed with majesty. We do
not speak In the voice OF men; we speak I'm iudg
ment, and Judgment is the voice Of God Every legal
power VIII be exhausted BY the cOuu TO compel from
them what their conscience does not yield and what
ever loyalty. fe6y and justice there is IN The com
munily VIII be eXered to compel by force what
VIII cease? We should take into consideration the
bearings OF this question, the action of this board.
spirit IN the people, and fOrgetful of par
tisanshp cause them 20 unite upon the
high ground of Justice and truth than anything that
has been dole In the history OF the country since


its first Origin. Has this court any teasUn 20 dIsbe
leye thBt Il process will he respected


The count meets tO-InOuow morning at ten o'clock.
Year: 1876

HamptOn:


NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, J


New YORK November "a, 1876


Ny DEAR SIR--YOuF admirable address to the peO-
pie of South Carolina IS the subject OF universal
cOmmendatiOn herein fact the prudence forbearance
and Self-cOntrOl In your people under the most
aSpeTating prOyOeatiOnS Is beyond all praise
can iOnly trust that In the exciting
situation In whic yeu viii find yCt1iself next week,
no outbreak viii occur IL is almost too much to
peet that there Will be no indiscpeet man In south
Carolina who mag provoke collision, bat neverthe
less, the providence of God has SO far guarded you
and your people Ia all your difficulties that
your friends rest I'm calm confidence
upon the wisdom and good fortune which have so
far attended your action You may rest assured that
your northern brethren have cOnsecraed themselves
to the work OF your deliyeTnce and will never cease
their efforts until you are restored to thai freedom
you were made free by the labOTs and sac
TificeS Of our fOrefathers and your fOrefatheTs.
CiOd give you and your people all the wisdom and all
the patience needed in this hour of trial. and in this
crisis of the destiny Of our common country. We
have full faith i'm the justice of the people of the
United States and we do not entertain doubt
Of the final verdict which they will pass upon
the occurrences of last week. This verdict will surely
vindicae their majesty, and Fe-eStablish free gov
enment upon lasting basis. ] have the honor to
be, very respectfully, your Obedient servant,


ABRAM :. HEWITT,


Chairman National Democratic Committee.
Year: 1876

= Majority of One for Congress.
SAN FRANCISCO, November 24-The returns at
the office of the secretary of state give PachecO Re
publican majority for congress in the fourth dis
trict of one vote
Year: 1876

1t is to be deplorsd that our young
people are reluctant to marry because
they cannot at once set up expensive
and stylish housekeeping. Late mar
riages are becoming so highly chArac-
teristic of our social life, on these false
and selfish grounds Of social econ omy,
that society. as \ whole, and religious
life in particular, are seriously dam
aged. If man has gained position
that enables him to marry with srdi-
nary prudence, let him marry, and let
not the prudence be pressed too hard; ;
young love, if true and godly, will
make early struggle wholesome and
Joyous. If he has found woman who
will make him happy, let him take
her to a modest home, the loving wife
of his youth. His life will be better
for it, and his fortunes too.