Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-03-13


and believe that corrupt and unlawful means,
involving the action of certain members Of
the Legislature, had been used. He concur
red in other points. The contestants should
have an opportunity to be heard before
Committee of Investigation.
MIR. Benjamin insisted against any insinua-
ton that a majority of the Committee were
indisposed to any charge of fraud or corrup-
ton to vitiate any election. No charge what
ever had been made against Mr.. Cameron.
Mr.. Butler said the report was drawn in
conformity with the views of the committee.
He was sorry that Mr. Pugh hal dissented.
lie protested against its deyolying on the
Senate jurisdiction to try eases Of corruption
OF state legislatures. Let the members of
each legislature who are 50 charged be tried
by their own peers. Let the legislature purge
itself, before it came here to ask the Senate to
give it the medicine.
Mr. Cameron said it was not until yester.
day that he heard of this charge Of corruption.
The whole protest was looked upon as piece
of humbug. More than % of the signers of
it had called on him to say there was nothing
1t, but that they were compelled to sign it,
lest they might give offence to some of the
leading men who can influence appointments.
he asked justice from the Senate, and that
they decide the case before they adjourn. If
they should turn him out, he believed he
would be returned here. He was too proud
of bis character to occupy seat By any other
than honorable means.
Mr.. Bigler said the party to which Mr.. Ca
meron did not belong elected majority of the
members of the Legislature The Democrats
were entitled to, and expected the Senator
yet they were disappointed, because three
members, in violation Of party principles and
No. So
member of the Republican party. The mem
bers OF the Legislature who thus cast their
votes, and became subjects of criticism, were
elected by large Democratic maiorities. One
was elected by 1000 and another by 1900 ma
jority, and his colleague must be aware the
allegation was promptly made by their con-
stituents that they had betrayed them from
improper motives. He united in the hope ex-
pressed by MIR. Pugh that there would be no
evidence of corruption, for that was too dear
a price to pay for seat here. He could not
agree, considering the circumstances sur
rounding this case, that it should be disposed
OF without a full examination.
Mr.. Cameron replied there had been no
time within the last twenty-five years, and
his colleague knew it, that there had not been
more than three men in the Pennsylvania
Legislature of any party opposed to him po
htically who would not have voted for him
for any Office. In the county of Schuylkill,
where two of the members resided there was
not time when a majority Of the ID emocrat-
ic party did not prefer him TO any other pub
lie man. In the county of York, his colleague
had reason to believe and know there always
had been large portion of the Democratic
party favorable to him CCameron.)
Mr.. Foot of Vermont submitted the follow
ing resolution That Mr.. Simon Cameron is
entitled to a seat upon this floor, as a legally
chosen senator from the State Of Pennsylva-
MIA.
The resolution was laid over.
After an executive session of several hours,
the Senate adjourned till tomorrow at eleven
o'clock.