The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-12-22
The Radical Senators Vote Down
nm InYcstlgatlOn.


Cbagress, &c.
Washington, Dec. lS.-The Re
publican Senatorial caucus reasmblet
this morning At 1890. Senator Ansho
nv, Of Rhode leland, in the chair
The discussion Of TrumhulFs resOlu
ton was resumed with increased ex
element. The recalcitrant SENATOR
seemed to realize today what they
evidently did not know yesterday
that they had been drawn into trap
When they went into caucus yesterday
they had no idea that an arrangement
had been made between the President
aud his friends whereby their projec
for an investigation into the corrup
practices of the administration Was Il
Be nipped in the bud. The thing wa
sprung upon them 80 suddenly tha
they were, so to speak, dumfounded
and il was not until the discussion
had progressed for some time thai
they understood the object Of the eau
Gus. ID appears that Senator Trum
bulls resolution FIRST attracted th'
attention of Senator Morton, who, be
ing a sharp politician. saw at once IL
scope and Its consequences. He, !
appears. communicated with the Pres
dent and anumber Of Senators knoSI
to be the unquesnioning henehmen o.
the Administrations IL was at oncere-
solved that something should be done
TO check the discussion Of the resolu
ton in :open Senate. There were nj
fears Of its passage, for the admin is
tration had force sufficient TO defeaI
il against the combined vote Of the an
ii administration Republicans and the
Democrats. II was rightly presumed
that il the resolution and its support
ers could be pushed into a caucus
both would be either modified or mol
li6ed or effectually gquelched. The
possibility Of n vote upon the part oi
the dissatisfied Senator'S, does not seem
to have been seriously entertained,
Their pluck was largely discounted,
There is reason to believe that had
Schurz and Sumner bolted the caucus
nc serious regrets would have follow.
ed, for the former is regarded by the
administration Senators as a sort Of q
spy in Radical camp. while the latter
10 conceded 10 be so far gone in his re-
bellion against the powers that be as to
to be beyond all hope of redemption
might be inferred from the result OF
the proceedings yesterday. the caucus
assembled this morning in anything
but an amiable mood. II has already
been stated that the dissatisfied and
disappointed Senators had arrived at
q full realization Of the dilemma in
which they were placed. A few of
the more resolute determined TO make
the best of the fight, but it soon be-
came apparent that ordinary opposi-
ton was fruitlcss. There was n sharp
interchange of sentiment Zach
Chandler, recognizing the fact that
the anti-administration Senators were
in minority, was unusually bold ard
violent. He impugned the motives OF
the supporters Of Trumbuifs Fesolu-
ton, and charged that they were too
10 make an open attack
upon the President and sought this
indirect method to bring Odium upon
the administration. This charge was
repelled by Senator Trumbull, the au-
thor Of the resolution, who insisted
that he wanted nothing but fair in
vestigation ofwhatever frauds might
be found in the different departments
Of the government A discussion
arose "a to the construction to be
placed upon the resolution relative to
The powers Of the committee which il
to create. Senator Morton
argued that it could do nothing ex.
cept by special order Of the Sci ate.
while Schurz and Trumbull contended
that it would have plenary powers to
institute investigations without 10.
There were several sharp
thrusts between Senators,
but these were not Of public import.
ance. Finally vote was reached
upon Trumbulls resolution, and il
was defeated. The yeas and nays
we're not called, for the majority was
TOO large to admit Of doubt. The
ieath Of the resolution was immediate
y followed by q proposition from Sen
ator Morton tn appoint committee Of
even. to be known as the Committee
IN Investigation and Retrenchment,
Shich should investigate all mat
ers referred to il by. the Senate.
This emasculated all that was Of con-
equence in Trumbull's resolution.
Az matter OF course it was opposed
~ the friends Of the measure, Senator
Upton. of..Nebraska, denounced this in
lnmeasured terms as q whiteVashing
'roI osition and as an attempt TO evade
fair investigation Of the alleged cor.
uptions under the administration.
lie wanted committee with free
passes and with carte blan-
be to 20 TO every part Of The coun.
ry and TO investigate every depart
lent 1f the government. He gave
office that he would not submit 10
nv gag arrangement. and he there
pom left the caucus. He was follow
d by Senator Sumner, who insisted |
hat no harm could be apprehended |
-om the resolution Of Mr.. Trumbull,
xcept from those who we're guilty OF
'auds upon the public Treasury.
After few of the recalcitrAnt Senators
Id ventilated their views the vote was TAX |
} and Morton's resolution was adopted |
ithodt division, Trumbull and his adhe-
ints refusing 10 vote. The anti.Grant
enators number in all about nine, and the
ore judicious cf them calculated that
Ten with the Democrats they could not
uster q majority against the friends of
e administration In the Senste. Trum-
Ill and his friends had a splendid oppor-
nifty to-day 10 bolt the caucus and 10 be-
re the country upon the issue Of whether
not u rigid examination should be made
20 the alleged frauds upon the national
It was manifest, however, that
ey had neither the pluck nor the disposi-
)n to make an open, square issue with the
Iministration. The only bold man among
EN- was Upton, OF Nebraska. Had the
hers followed his lead there would have
ZEN rupture. Trumbull and those who
pportcd his resolution by remaining In
Q caucus until the final vote was taken
ere bound TO abide by its decision.
When the caucus proceedings were de-
Hoped i'm the open session OF the Senate
the presentation Of Morton's programme
: q standing committee Of the Senate on-
instead of special joint committee, the