Thereupon Butler left the Republican party, first declaring
himself an Independent and attempting in that capacity to
get elected as Governor of the State. Failing in that he
avowed himself a Democrat, and was, as has been already said,
elected by the Democrats in the fall of 1882. This transaction
terminated his relation to the Republican Party, and his defeat
for Governor terminated his political life with the exception
that he was the Greenback candidate for the Presidency in
1884. But he received little support.
CHAPTER XXV
BELKNAP IMPEACHMENT
March 3, 1876, a message was sent to the Senate from the
House of Representatives, impeaching General Belknap, the
Secretary of War. He was charged with having received corruptly
a large sum of money, payable in quarterly instalments, for
the appointment of a Post Trader, an officer appointed by
the Secretary of War. This was a very lucrative position,
the profits of which depended very largely upon the Secretary.
I was chosen one of the Managers of the Impeachment by the
House. There was no serious question of the guilt of the
Secretary.
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