AMERICAN SCANDALS.

Evening Star, Issue 4115, 5 May 1876, Page 2

AMERICAN SCANDALS.

We have just witnessed the outburst of a whole crop of American scandals of the most disgraceful character. General Schenck has been recalled by his Government for his connection with the Emma Mine. Messrs Belknap, Babcock, and Bobeson, all of them occupying important places in the Washington Government, are about to take their trial on charges of corruption of the most out rageous kind. General Belknap was Secretary of War, and when on his acts of bribery and venality being discovered, he tendered his resignation to the President, he remarked that he " wished he had killed himself.” “I wish,” replied General Grant, “you had.” The ‘Times* Washington correspondent thus comments upon the Marsh affair:—"The committee on the expenditure of the War Department, in the coarse of an investigation, summoned one Caleb P. Marsh, of New York. Mr Marsh appeared, and stated that he had paid Mrs Belknap, wife of General Belknap. the War Secretary, the sum of 10,000d01., in consideration of an appointment as post trader at Fort Sill and several other frontier military posts, and that he had also agreed to pay her 6,000d015. annually. It appears that Marsh’s first dealings with the Belknap family occurred six years ago, and that the arrangements with respect to his appointment were made with the labs Mrs Belt nap, a sister of the General’s present wife. If the witness’s statement be true, the post was not only sold for a sum down, but the Belknaps received an annuity from the purchaser. In the second day’s testimony Marsh positively accused the War Secretary of having been privy to. the transaction and of having personally received the money . This the Secretary has substantially admitted. Mrs Belknap first went to the Committee and said she alone was to blame, and that the Secretary knew nothing abont the matter. General Belknap; learning this, stated that the cbarge was true, and that he desired to assume afi the responsibility* The : case has ■ caused throughout the couhtry thie most profound sensation that has been knowm smbe 'the assassination of President Lincoln, It-ik universally felt to be ai.national disgrace. The President is‘described as greatly distressed by the event. When General Bel-

knap communicated the circumstances to General Grant he conveyed the impression that Mrs Belknap alone was guilty, and that he himself had only just discovered what had occurred. Unfortunately, this position seems no longer tenable. But General Grant, ading upon the idea that the General was innocent, accepted his resignation, the offer of which, however, has not saved the War Secretary from impeachment in the Congress, as a Committee of the House of Representatives appeared at the Bar of the Senate, and impeached Gen. Belknap of high crimes and misdemeanors. There seems Uttle doubt that the prosecution will be bond fide, for the offence is glaring, the scandal is universal, the opposite party, the Democrats, are strong, and as the presidential election approaches no weapon which can wound the em my will be disregarded. If rumor is to be trusted, the affair with Mr Marsh is only one of a series ; evidence as to other irregularities will be forthcoming, and possibly the War Secretary may not be the only person involved.”