The New Orleans Democrat

Important from Washington.

Belknap Caught This Time, and Caught Fast.

The Secretary of War Bribed and Pleads Guilty—He Resigns and Grant Accepts.

But the House Impeaches—The Senate Notified—President Grant Implicated,

Gen. Grant Expected Kellogg to be Impeached—Oh, Moses!—What an Administration!

Washington, March 2.

Secretary of War Belknap has been found guilty, on his own confession, of high crimes and misdemeanors in office and will be impeached next week. He admits having received, through his wife, from a Mr. Marsh, twenty-eight thousand dollars for a contract as post trader at Fort Sill.

He begged for mercy and asked permission to resign.

Second Dispatch.

Washington, March 2, 7 p.m.—The House impeached Belknap unanimously. He resigned, and Grant accepted his resignation. The Senate will be notified to-morrow.

All interest in Kellogg by Grant has died out. He expects to see him (Kellogg) impeached, and likewise himself.

The President is charged with being accessory after the fact, and with conspiracy. A resolution to this effect is to be offered to-morrow.

This escapade, it is said, will carry New Hampshire, and give the Democratic party five hundred thousand votes in November next.

Third Dispatch.

Washington, March 2, 11:10 p.m.—Intense excitement prevails here over the impeachment of Belknap; and, as an evidence of the gravity of his offence, it has been currently reported he has committed suicide. The Republicans admit it to be a fearful blow, and certainly defeats Grant if not the party. Other similar developments are promised.

Secretary of War Resigned.

Secretary of the Navy Ordered to Assume Belknap's Office.

Washington, March 2.—The President has issued the following order to the Secretary of the Navy, dated March 2, 1876:

Sir—The resignation of the Secretary of War having been tendered and accepted this day, you are hereby directed to assume and perform the duties pertaining to the office of Secretary of War in addition to those of your own office until otherwise directed.

Very truly yours,
U. S. Grant.

The Belknap Sensation.

The Secretary Resigns and Wants to Explain.

Washington, March 2.—The President to-day approved an act of Congress removing the political disabilities of Daniel T. Chandler, of Baltimore.

Internal revenue receipts to-day, $150,482.84; customs receipts, $703,282.82. National Bank notes received for redemption to-day, $547,485.

The statements concerning the complicity of Gen. Belknap with corrupt sale of post traders and his consequent resignation, causes a most profound sensation in all circles here, and is the theme of universal conversation. Published statements only give one side of the story which, from all that can be learned up to the present hour, does some injustice to Gen. Belknap. There are peculiar and delicate complications surrounding the affair, which can only be cleared up by a thorough investigation, and as the committee having charge of the matter have so far refused to hear the statement of Gen. Belknap and his witnesses, a full explanation of the subject cannot be given at this time. It seems that the committee determined to report articles of impeachment against Gen. Belknap, and on that account preferred not to hear his testimony until it was delivered before the Senate, sitting as a court of impeachment.

The resignation of Gen. Belknap having been this morning tendered to the President and promptly accepted, defeats the impeachment project, and it is now thought that the committee will agree to receive such testimony as Belknap wishes to offer in explanation of his connection with the matters charged against him.

It can be stated as a positive fact that while money was paid by Mr. Marsh as a bonus for post tradership at Fort Sill, Gen. Belknap did not originate the arrangement which resulted in the payment of this bonus. Neither was he privy to the fact until long after the arrangement was made and fulfilled. When the matter came to his knowledge, such were the delicate complications surrounding it, that he, as a man, could do nothing less than assume the entire responsibility. In his statement to the committee yesterday he assumed the responsibility, as he did in his explanation to the President this morning. In this article it is preferred not to explain all allusion made to the delicate complications surrounding the case, but to allow such explanations to go to the public from the committee having charge of the investigation.

Gen. Belknap's counsel, Judge Blair, visited the committee this morning to notify them of the fact that Gen. Belknap had tendered his resignation to the President, and that it had been accepted, and to request of the committee that they allow Gen. Belknap and his witnesses to appear and testify in the case.

The result of Judge Blair's interview with the committee has not yet transpired.

After tendering his resignation to the President this morning, Gen. Belknap repaired to the War Department and took leave of the subordinates in his office, and then went to his residence, where he now awaits the decision of the committee.

New York, March 2. The Times' Washington special says that Mr. Marsh, of New York, appeared before the Committee on Expenditures of the War Department yesterday and testified that he had procured of Secretary Belknap a contract for certain post traderships at Fort Sill and other points in the Southwest for which he had paid the wife of the Secretary $25,000, and continued to pay as long as he held the post $5000 yearly. He also testified to other frauds and corrupt acts of the Secretary and produced records in evidence.

He was subjected to a thorough cross-examination, but his testimony was not shaken.

Secretary Belknap, yesterday afternoon, confessed that the statements were true and he implored the committee to save his wife from dishonor and to suppress some of the most damning proofs, offering to suffer the whole consequences provided the records of corruption were withheld, but the committee was inexorable.