The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-02-11
Politics iys * ansas.

| The recent election Of Mr.. Caldwell to the
/ United States Senate By the Legislature of
Kansas seems to have created intense excite
ment at the seat Of government Of that State.
/ Thomas P. Fenlon. Esq. formerly of this
place. nov residing in tho city of Leaven-
worth, and who is one Of the Democratic
| members of the Legislature, appears to have
been the leading supporter of Caldwell, ais
though the latter is republican. We sup
pose that Mr.. Fenlon's devotion TO Mr.. Cad
well was based on bis {CaldweII'.) admitted
good character for honesty and integrity
Charges Of bribery aud corruption were OPEN
ly made and widely circulated, and Mr..
Fenion's character was assailed In defence
of his own good nRmo be made the following
personal explanation and offered the pream-
bic, resolution and oath which we publish
below. About one third Of the member of
the House took the oath, the others. refusing
to DO so. Although Mr. Feplou's motives
were all right, if We were member Of the
Kansas Legislature, we would also have re-
fused to take ii. 1t was entirely worthless
y
for the plain reason, that when a member Of
that or any other Legislature takes the usua,
oath to discharge his duties with honesty
and fidelity, it excludes all imrutation
Of corruption. After having taken the pre-
liminary oath and then violated it by &C
cepting bribe. Mr. FenIon,s cumulative
oath would lot be much of stumbling block
in the way Of veuaI representative.
Mr.. Fenlon rose to question of privilege
and consent of the House being obtained,
spoke as follows:
rise to question of privilege and will read
from the Leavenw0rth TINES, of date 2Ist and
I'D inst. Sir. FenlOn read from newspaper
AS 10 TINS sta emcnt of some unknown and
lying vagabond, in this paper, have but little
TO say. Those who, honoring me by their suf.
ira9es' sent me here, know me too well, and
may say, without egotsm, too favorably to
require any defence or explanation of NV vote
The remark, however, is III character with
what is trapspriHg throughout the State since
ihe assembling of this body. Attacks and
charges OF fraud, corruption and bribery are as
thick as leaves in Fallambrosa For myseIf
my good name IL about all have to leave nv
httle ones, and that, with the help of God
snail be lett them. The best third of NV life
mas been passed in the midst of my immediate |
constituents the icnGest recoi cc.ons of the
past and all the hopes and aspirations OF the
future, are connected with this noble younr
State and her people ; and so it Is with manV
OF you; and surely, iii view of our heroic histo /
~, what 1t has cost in sacrifice, suffering and |
blood, 10 make that history the man who tbis !
day would barter his vote for money, deserves
the brand OF judas upon his brow deserves 10 |
stand like the tree that Christ cursed on bis |
way to Jerusalem, blasted, blackened and !
Hlthered--a monument for all coming .ime % .
infamy and disgrace. These rumors, however
are in our press and on our streets, in tho
mouths of every ono meet; the air is footed !
and corrupt with the human breaths that utter
foul charges on the members of this body nm !
til the stranger who knows not the honorable |
men who here assemble-Gntil the future read.
ers of the journals of the day might well
believe that this body was but den OF thieves
or corrall OF cattle to be bought and sold bv
the political butchers of the State. II is due
to US, to the honor of the State, to the confid
ing people VINO sent US here, that the lie-di
rect and certain, should in some way be given
to these tout Rspersions upon our chara cter.
and | shall IN this spirit and for this purposo
offer tho preambles and resolutions hold in
my hand-unprecedented they probably are
and so are the foul charges made-they will