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I ' ' \ . i N. 1 >0 a ino^/^ ' ' . - ^ "p'ff' I,!., . , , . , *_. _. '_j / ?8 . DEVOTED TO POLITICS, MORALITY. EDUCATION AND TO THE GENERAL INTEREST OP THE COUNTRY. ... i _. , " , x_, ' 1_,:.?,.? . : L ? " /'/ VOL. V. ' . PICKENS, S. C., THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1876. ~ NO/!!* IVI-fH^' ? '!' ! ' " "* ~~ The Impeachment of Belknap00 8 '(i fho t e\v8 of tbo impoaclnuont of General Belknap, President Grant's * Sjgfcretary of War, says tlio Augusta Clironiole & Sentinel, camo like a clap of tlmndcr from ft p.lnnr bVu "NTr? intimation had beon given that any - nob proceeding was in contemplation.. No statement cnmo by telegraph or mail that such serious clmrgee had been made against a Cabinot . officer. The members of tho com> piittco mado thoir investigation very quietly and kept their proceedings .a profound 6ecrot. The first intinm>> tion givon ot their discoveries was oontainod in tho resolution of imL. * ' .1... r? peacnmem prc8eniea to tne uooso oi . Representatives Thursday, and which ^vtsro adopted by a unanimous vote of mombers. From the statement of tlio case sent by telegraph it appears that Genoial Belknap sold a position 'as l'oftt-trader at Fort Sill, in the tliidinn Territory, to GftUb P. Marsh for tho eiiin of twelve thousand dollars and un annuity of several thousand as long as the appointment was ^ rotained. Tlioir bargain was made aevoral years since, and tho payments liavo been made regularly since that ftimo?tho last inatallmont having boon received two months ago The 'Secretary mndo a clumsy attempt to 'conceal 11is corruption or to provide a shield for himself in the event o! t ^discovery at tlio expense of his wifoV 4ionor, by causing the money lo pass through his wife's hands. This ?un rangeinent continued up to ihe death ;6f the iirst Mrs. Belknap. After that event even this flimsy cU>ak was Jaid aside and tho annuity was paid directly to the Secretary of War.? The enmity of a man whein General Belknap had dismissed from tiio eer. vico lnoiKjht tlm ti aiiKimtmn in Hw curt} of an Alabama Congressman uiul t 1>?j Cuininittco i'ii Expenditureit) the War Department traced tin matter until Thursday, when tlieir labors tenuii.ated in the roaignati-Mi bird impeachment ot ono of tiie high est ofliocrs ot the Government of the TT..!i_J C..1 - UilllUU OUUV8. 1IJU CUBU HOC11I8 U> have been made out so strongly tha1 no defense was possiblo. The man tfho bought the appointment wan lifQuglit, an unwilling witness, before the Committee and ratbor than com rait perjury, guve tho history of ilio wholo transaction. Confronted with Mareh the Secretin y could do nothing but tnako confession of his guilt, o^i'd a#k for the mercy which could ' a _ l t r . i . ? % EDI DO BOOWII. iVUOWlllg mai imj?e?ohinent was inovitablo if lie to mained in oftioe be sought to avoid it t>y resigning iiiu position in tho GpfrineN Tho President attempted to assist him to evade justice by accepting his resignation tho moment it Was tendered. Forgetting what ho had said in tho ease of Columbus Delano when charges of corruption wore ponding iigainut that man as Socrelary of tho interior, viz: "That ?p officer of the Government would be permittod to resign while under ilio Presidonl hastonod to ac Cept tlio rcaigriation ot a high oflicor who had been proven guilty of tho gr0880i3t corruption,~in order toahield IiAra from tho punislii&ent which ho ? 60 richly merited. Gon. Grant cannot: bo condom nod too aijveroly for hia I ciohtiuct lu thia case. If hia cloeign bad anccooded tho Secretary of War wdhiH hnoA hftnn nftrmitfnrt tr? from oflico and eecapo tho only pun ishmont which can avail to cheek tho Cfi|tyecl of which he had been proven It is true that General Bulk, have boon indicted and tried in the Courts lor accepting a br^Ue, but the chances aro that ho would have finally escaped through tbo law'# delays and the influence of the Preaident whiob would have shielded him aa }t baa just saved Babcock, For a man occupying hit* yosition and guilty of bis offunau ' ' there 'a but ouo punishment, and that i punishment must be administered by the verdict of ft high Court of Iuipoachment. Fortunately the firmness ot tho Democratic majority tn the Houec-of Representatives render*. ed tho Presidents effort abortive.? Notwithstanding his resignation Belknap lias boon vim peached and itilist ans ' or at the bar of tho Senate fur his offenses. As in tlie Babcock matter the Pro. sident will and ought to snircr by the impeachment of Belknap. Tho cor nij t omcini was nis warm personal friend. Ilis appointments was asm*, prise t> the whole e Mintry. lie was not a statesman. He was not a boIdier ot distinction. He was aim ply a young man who had 6erved credit ably in a subordinate capacity during the war and acquirod the friendship f General Grant. IIis name was uuarcely known out of the army regintiiiH and |>ay rolls. Yet to this young and obscure man tho President gave one ot the highest and most responsible positions under the Government. lie was placed at the head ot tho army, given entire control of all military affairs and entrust ted with itmnont-o tiJitioiiiiorn nurl tlin disbursement of enormous sums of money. This untried man was unable to leftist the temptations which promotion placed in his path, and fell from honesty and from honor. He trafficked in offices, and made mors chandise of his patronage. At last detection ami exposure came, and he appealed to 'lie President for protec (ion. riic Pi i'c>uK.ut, who had just proclaimed that no otlieial wmld ho permitted to resign while under fire, who hao just seen liin Private Secro tary under indictment ior conspiring to deiraud the Government, who knew til fit the air whs filled uitli charges of corruption, wiio ?%iio.v tiiut the jioo|?lc were growing indignant at witnessing, day after clay, tlio escape of men who despoiled them, the President made indecent lmeto to aes eept the resignation ol his favorite, and to screen him horn iinueachint-nt and punishment. ii can be said thai tor the firs' time in the history of tiie nation a memboruf tho Cabinet has been arraigned hotoro tho Senate for tlio corn mi-hion of high crimes and misdemeanoiH. It can also be said that, tor 1 no t)rnt limu in the history of the atioii tho President of the United States, knowing the guilt of a (Jahi net officer, has sought to shield him from punishment. Grant's Masterly Move to Throttle InvestigationThe President reccommonds the prosecution "t Mnivli, tlio witness whoso testimony lias revealed iho moiit glaring and outrageous fraud that over disgraced Iho history of a people. Why this reecotrimendation? Doeswiich action lend t>adv(}-ico t!iy Cause of jus' ict? ...I l.?l? If ? 111 c*i on O u.\ t III I HUH ?>ll UOIIUIl (>l | tho Government, and testified to tacts which tended to criminate himself.? This testimony ho oould not have lioen com pel lo?i to givo. It is the universal practice ot tho Courts, founded upon sound policy, to grant immunity to those accomplices in crime who arc used by tho Stato as witnesses for tho conviction of inoro prominent offenders. Change this rule, publish to tho world that witUG88 who testify against high officials aro to havo arrayed against them selves tin- power <?f the Government, and tbe result will be that no ono will ever again l>o found ao bold to imfypaeb tho olmrnqUr of t\ friend ot Qen. Giant, lSfIai*li Is jneignifi cant iok| \inknoWn, and tliongh big I gnill bo as dark hh Erebus, it is bot tor tlifyt lie ghoul<) go unscathed tlian that tho rule, which is m<>ro potent tiirtu all other agencies in tho discov Kiiy, and liettQe in the prevention ol oritno should bo violated. i But for the circumstances, pointing with unerring eortainty to the opposite conclusion, wo would gladly infer that this recommendation was I an error of judgment. Wo find, I however, tho President interposing tho shield of his power to prevent the impenchtnont of Belknap, to prevent the fiction of n tribunal whose 'judgment he could not nullify, and immediately afterwards warning Marsh ot his danger instead of assuring him of eafetv. Tho mail It i? tunil, and perhaps was anticipated Marsli has fled, and the Attorney General may find himself without sufficient testimony to establish the guilt of Belknap in a Criminal Court, and the Senate will lack evidence lor his impeachment. k,JLot no guilty man escape."?Charleston News and Courier. Robeson's CourtesyIn July last Mr?. Belknap, wife of the then Secretary of War, arranged a yachting excursion for herself uml some ot her s<>cioty friends. The only trouble was about a yacht. The Secretary did not number ono among his possessions not having had an opportunity to obtain one from any ot liis bribe givers; and it would not bo exactly, the thing lor a Cabinet lady to sail in a hired vessel, or nvnn in a chartered steamer. Besides, the expense would bo 11 serious consideration to ii family that was struggling along on $-,000 a year. In this dilemma, Mrs. Belknap sought counsel of that pure and virtuous official, Sec r Robeson, and in iiuiiueu 10 nun mat ne loan of a government vessel would lend eclat to lier proposed voyage. Robeson promptly placed at Iter disp Hal the United Stjiuu steam friga'e Powhatan. The pleasure party,- consisting of Mrs. Belknap, her child and nuiso, seven lady friends, and a war department clerk as her escort and messenger, embarked on board the Powhatan at tllfi 151*1 If* lv I VII imi'V Vflril r.n July 27, 1875. The frigate proceeded liist to New London, Conn., where the party remained for ten days, and where MrsBelknap excited groat admiration both by her style and hot* flirtations. one men visited JNewport, then f.u'w rngansett Pior, then steamed back to Now York again, and np tlio Hudson to West Point, where a stay of several days was made. At this point the Powhatan, which is one of the largest and most effective ships in the navy, was recalled by the department and ordered to prupuru iui huuvu uuty ill mo waters ol linyti, whore trouble was tlien anticipated, grow ing out ol tho official misconduct of another of Grant's proteges, But notwithstanding the ship whs under pusiiive Bailing orders, Mrs. Belknap was unwilling to end her pleasure trip so abruptly. She poetod oil'to Washington, saw Sudor R.ihn? rn * eon, and actually ; rovailed upon him to coiiutormaiid the Powhatan's nailing orders. The Swatara wa6 consequently substituted and despatched to the West Indies, while the Po?liiifun I'ftinainAfl fit. At i-o H?>l I.- nn i ? y commands. Tlio Powhatan is ono of tho iuo6t poworlul cruisers of our poor navy Her running expenses lire not Ie6s than $18,000 a mouth. Yet Secor Kohesun aufl Mrs. Belknap managed to ki'Gp hot* out of service when p.!jo was roully wanted, and to trans* f<>rm her jnto an excui?i- 11 bargo for a party of women and children. mm m A scientific authority says that a propeny (juamiQii oim ram nove'butts without iirst backing, This i? true; and from tho way tho Domooi alio Cotigross has been going back, it will soon butt the ^uLlo end oif of something. \ Selling *h? TradershipsThe St. Louis Times publishes on the Authority of a man who has been engaged in frontier trading for tho past eighteen years some very inter ?6ting facta conncctcd with that business. lie says that Orvil Grant, the brother of the President, has been interested with Belknap in disposing ot the trading posts fur money. Orvil Grant, shortly after the appointment of Belknap ns Secretary ot War, visited most ot the posts on the U'ontier and cancelled all the liconses issued hv SiiPI'ntiipu ?e? ? 1 nun. xyuriuu unci Peek, I wo government transportation ngents on tlio frontier, held tlie prin? cipal sntlorsliips at this time, and wore astonished at Hie unexpected chango. Mr. Peck investigated the matter, and found Orvil Grant had full authoiitv from ill" ..J .. vti V (JCV/I l/UH J U1 War to dispose of all trading pouts as bethought lit. Mr. Peck applied to Orvil Grant for authority lo retain posts where his firm had invested largo sums of money in buildings and goods, and would agreo to it only on terms of so much casli, down arid a certain share of the prolit*; precisely the same arrangement that existed between Marsh and Evans Co. at Fort Sill. Peck refused to comolv I with these terms, nnd others received tho appointments at Fort 15uford and Fort I'eeSf. A. C. Loightou was appointed sutler upon tho terms proposed 6y Orvil Grant, but tlic bonus required was so large that ho lost money, a id subsequently oH'ered to sell to Durfeo & Peek. Tho latter agreed to buy, but Leightou had (irst to obtain per* mission to sell tn>m Orvil Grant. This tho latter refused, and made easier tentirt with Leighton. The F<>rt Sully tradership wad taken from l)in fVee Sc Peek and given j to .John T. All'cy. Athey paid all the money he had to get the post, and wuh obliged to make terms with Durlrco& L'eek to manage and run ! 4 n^l 1 ? li. ahu uuier Linn leased irom mm and carried 011 the business f>r a year, when llie prolils accruing to A they enabled liiin to manage the business himself. Dnrfoo & Peck had tho tradership at Fort Sill, but it was given to Evans <fe Co. Dui't'eo & Peck attempted to carry on business in opposition to Evans & Co.. but the officers of tlm post were forbidden to give tlio soldiers orders on any linn but Evans Sc Co., and they wero toicod to abandon the post. Orvil Grant went so tar in Ids opposition to Durfoc & Peck that he forbade those to whom ho gave appointments to purchase the goods or buildings belonging to that firm. Orvil Giant also had an arrangement with the interior department ?by which he controlled many of the Indian trading posts.? Thoao he disposed of in the stime manner as the butlerships?to the highest bidder. Orvil Ctra111 was in the habit of vis ting the military posts and Indian ( iin < ) i it A? r t 11 I i , ilin /til ill' II ii AH li t , . /i/\] 1 /k/it iiuuiu^ ouimuiio uyuij jlftl iu v/wlluvyl money duo him and his partner Bulk nap, and tor this purpose lie had authority truin Secretary iielknap t;> draw upon any military posts for ambulances, teams, and bucIi aid as ho might require. His authority was generally recognizee!, and ho was _ ?i._ r i -.11 ..i iir..? i! ... greuuy icivruu uu iiionjj uju uumiur. J l)y authority lor those statements is pr. has been for many years past actively connected with tlio firm of Durloo & I'eck, and who has spent much of his lite on tlm frontier, lie saVB that the Congressional committee will open up a rich load if thoy will investigate hlFairs at Fort Butord, The Georgia Legislature has adjourned without onlling for a general convention. No harm done, and no capital for the Northern "bloody shirt" Republicans. ? I.. i? How Many More ? The dcmoraliz ition wliicli followed ill the wuko of our grout civil war I?;ih j not ceased yet. Each day brings ub i i 12 evidence of now bribery commit- : ted or of old corruption revealed.? } The highest ollices, which nono but1 ;he purest in the land should fill, arc occupied by swindlers. We need, perhaps, not be mtich astonished to see iv r.osviy emancipated slave whose former position was not favorable to moral development, play rather | loosely with the commandments when it is put in 11is power to make an easy living, plenty of money and no work* When, however, corruption invadeb the greatest ollices in tt e govornnionti, it alfocls by a rellex action the whole nation and wo Joel that wo are to a certain extent responsible for having selected such public servants, and we consider cmr good standing us a nation imperilled. Revelations follow each other with startling rapidity.? The Emma Mine scandal seems to bo now fixed on Minister Schenck; thore is no doubt that he roccived somd $50,000 to give English capitalists confidence in the stock by having his name connected with it; a Minister at a foreign court who should repre?j ocui mi; jjuod cnaracier oi ins j?ooj> 1 o abroad. Thou ciune in quick succession the uncovcrii.g of tho frauds' of the Whiskey lling in tho Wujt, which revealed gigantic fraudulent operations; IJabeuck, tho President's private Secretary, was acquitted by a S'. Louis jury, but there are but few people who do not think that lie was tho soul of tho plot at Washington. But ho had to be saved at any risk, for if P>ubcock was guilty Grant) 111) i I lw? iittan/inf ?<vv WW ?. i W/Vil I I -A- I VJJ I U| > U I i I J the Attorney General?and liero is another outrage?sends for Dyer, the District Attorney tor Missouri, ami worms out of him his plans ot j prosecution against Babcuck, ami the i names of witnesses and tiio nature of j the evidence, and communicatcs them to Stores, the leading counsel lor B ibeoek. A beautiful picture lor an Attorney General. The iijbcoelc excheuront has not subsided bolb ro theic is another thunderclap, tho bribery ol Belknap, the Secretary of War, an ollijer of the President's Cabinet; lie received &20,000 from one Maisli to secure to him the post traderships at Fort Sill and other army posts m the Southwest. Belknap confesse.-?, resigns and the President immeiiia'elv accepts his resignation, so ns, il possible, to prevent impeachment Being represented by corrupt oUiecrs at home, by swiiul le>"s abroad, we can hardly expect admission into the society of civilized nations. Tliero is a goo J dual of Coutynnial w-.-rk ahead, A Stautmno Kbtimate.?The Now York Bulletin makos this startling estimate of the losses to property and trade by corrupt government: 4After allowing for I lie inevitable addition to the taxes arising from war expenditures, it may be ealely estimated tliat for the lust ton years the tuxes, including all kinds, have been swelled by corrupt political ins lluonces at lho rate of ?200,000,C0U a year. It" this es4imate be correct, we have paid within one decade $2,500, 000,000?an amount sufficient to ox^ tinguisb the whole national debt and equal to four years net eMningg of the nation?as the penalty tolerating political corruption.' Tlio President has decided to retain Babcock. ('ant ex^Gov. Moses, nrr?t sin in it I mnn t l?\r Prnoi ? fri? -I I- - "J - v-"* dont, 110 is ft game Rooster. TI?o Government sues tlio New York, New I lav cm and Hartford Railroad for $.'500,000 unpaid taxes. Jiocehor calls Bowen a dismal ftwainp. lto probably wishes ho would "dry tip." -i<? o'>4-. t-.' iu-r* Chamberlain and Parker- ;*? - m m " -i i I flirt? It ia generally known that IJSTif^a G. t'arkor, of "Parker's haul'' notpriQty WI\B.eonviff?H In n niull C.l? ~. ? ... ? vi i ii oni i>j niftf ifc judgment entered against him for,tJbfrauding the State to tho amount,of ?75,000, which is only 50 potVcftnt, of tho money which ho stole. Barker wasrelcasod from jall upon habeus oorpue by an intimate friend of Gbam-> bcrlnin, and in an improper way, As llio Supremo Court lias decided. AItor liia release, Parker was again arrcatod on a criminal elmrgo lor this fraud, and gavo bail in tho small sum of ?2,500 for his appooranee whim called. Since thin lime ho Una rbfiMfed 111 xi uv* uvjroy. Now, tho report comes-to,-?w, -with how much truth wo do not know, that Parker hus written to frionds in Columbia expressing his willingnotd to return and tell all that ho knows, providod he can got immunity. -It is further assorted that ho says that tho tostimony of Captain Ladd, given in il.ntiMnl * tl m >uv V1IHI U1 XUIIVV1, in liI UU, A I* \V )I1 bo romombcred that tbe amount mi aping from the treasury was abo^t 8450,000, and Captain Lmdd tCBtiiiod that I'avkor roeqived $150,000, (Jha??^ borlain $50,000, and other variops sums, making the amount of doficit. The jury rcturnod a verdict in accord unco wiui me testimony, ami, or course, l his vol diet leave# ft renting upon the fair fume of our ritun Govornor. That Parkor is in New Jorsoy, is assorted and, wo boy-> liovc, admitted, llo offers to relish and make a c'.can breast of it if immunity bo granted. If Chambcrlajp is slandered, why docs ho not grant the immunity?let l'arlcer re), 4^)7? give uiu lu.itory ux nm uneving janu convict the other rubbers? But u? talco another view of this mattor.? Parker is a fugitive from, ju3^ice-rrhp is in jSow .jersey. Why doos nx^t Govornor Chamberlain make a re^uij sition for him and brin?j him b:\ck tp Columbia? We loavo these questions be answered by Democrats who m'o throwing their hats in tho air. au^l shouting hosannau to Chamberlain. If Parker is wauled ho cau by found^ But just hero id the rub. Would iho party in power liko to see Puricpr again in Columbia,!' Words are leavejij gontlomcn?doeus are fruite. -Uoj^, tell us you would liko to aeo him, buj. prove it to ua by your actions.-^ Lauronsvillo Herald. * 1? A Boy Scared to Death.?I n Ko\v York, on Thursday, William S. Parsons, aged 15 yoara, who wa-t sick, was given by his father a quantity of aconite in mistake for his regular medicine. lie told the hoy of this and ho was so badly frightened that ho diejJ immediately. Physicians were eallpcl and said that tho boy d ed from hcarji disease, the rosnlt of fright. In Jones County, Ga., somo days sineo Charlos 1*\ Bird killod his brother Pleas. Cf. Bird. Tho killing seems to have boon dono in self defense. Tho evidence before tho coroner's jury shows that they wero both drunk and that Fleas. was rushing on Charlcft with a pioco of lightwood, and Charles defended himself with a knifo. A Now York letter says: Soulhorn ' vogetables and fruits tiro boginuiHg to crowd tho city market*, (iroon peas from Florida iiro soiling at S-lftO to $5 ' por crate, and cucumbers at from 80 to ?0 per dozen; lottuco .r>0 to 75 cents por do/.on; straw bo n ios $4 to ?0 por* quart. Bermuda potatoes aro also > beginning to make thoir appoaranco. The easo of Ilogc, tlio Congressman, goes to tho committeo without any defense, and as ft consequence IIo?o will bo ruled out* n ?iM Tho Now Hampshire Republicans think tlio Bolknap bombshell comos at a most uofortonalo time. - "T" ? llevcrdv Johnson was insured for $100,000; ClmrlcB O'Connor is worth a million. Whon wo road of Bowon, lteoclicr^ Babcoclc and Belknap, v?o woll may inquire, "Can flitch thinga B?"