Belknap Scandal

The scandal emerged from Belknap’s corrupt relationship with John S. Evans, who operated trading posts at Fort Sill in Indian Territory. Evans paid substantial bribes to Belknap and his wives to maintain exclusive trading rights at profitable military installations, exploiting soldiers and Native Americans through inflated prices and inferior goods.

Belknap received payments through his first wife Cora LeRoy Belknap until her death in 1870, then continued the arrangement through his second wife Carrie Tomlinson Belknap. The scheme generated thousands of dollars annually for the Belknap family while Evans monopolized lucrative trading post contracts across Western territories.

In February 1876, Democratic Representative Hiester Clymer’s House committee investigating military expenditures uncovered evidence of Belknap’s corruption. Witnesses testified about suspicious payments, luxurious lifestyle inconsistent with his salary, and the systematic exclusion of competing traders from profitable post assignments.

Facing inevitable impeachment proceedings, Belknap submitted his resignation on March 2, 1876, hoping to avoid criminal prosecution. However, the House voted 123 to 13 to impeach him anyway, arguing that resignation could not prevent accountability for crimes committed while in office.

The Senate trial proceeded despite Belknap’s private citizen status, with prosecutors arguing that impeachment applied to former officials for conduct during their tenure. Belknap’s defense claimed the Senate lacked jurisdiction over resigned officials, establishing precedent for future impeachment debates.

On August 1, 1876, the Senate voted 37 to 25 to convict Belknap, falling short of the required two-thirds majority partly due to jurisdictional questions. However, 23 senators who voted to acquit stated they would have convicted if Belknap remained in office, effectively acknowledging his guilt while preserving constitutional limits on impeachment power.