New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-06-13
The Charges Against Senator Pom.
PrOy.
Report OF the Committee on Privileges and
Elections.

The following is the report Of the Commit
tee OH Privileges and Elections as submitted
to the Senate by Senator Logan on the charges
against Senator Pomcroy of bribery and cor
ruption in securing his election:
l. That it appears from the evidence that
two United States Senators were elected by
the Kansas Legislature in 1867, Mr.. s. G.
Pomeroy for full term of six years, and Mr.
Ross for an unexpired term Of four years from
the 4th day of March, 1867; that the candi-
dacy of Mr.. PomerOy was generally under
stood by the people of Kansas during the
election of members of the Legislature who
were to elect Senators for the State of Kan
sas, and that the election of Mr.. PomerOy as
one of those Senators was generally con-
| coded; that all candidates against Mr.. Pom
| eroy, for the long term, Withdrew from the
contest, save Mr.. A. l.. Lee. Mr.. Pomeroy,
| in Joint convention of the two Houses OF the
Legislature, received eighty-four votes !; Mr..
| Lee received twenty-five votes the disparity
of votes being so great as to preclude of itself
| the idea that the election Of Mr.. Pomeroy,
against the will of the constituents of those
who voted for him, was procured by corrupt
means.
2. There is no evidence that Mr.. Pomeroy,
or any one for him, used any money or other
valuable thing to influence any vote in his
favor, or in any manner to bring about his
election, except hcdrSdy, and this is plainly
contradicted by the direct testimony OF the
parties either Of whom or by whom it is al
| legged such considerations were given.
| 3. The evidence that Mr.. PomerOy's cam
vass for Senator cost him considerable money
is clearly shown to be the expenses paid by
him for himself and friends during the Sena-
torial canvass for hotel accommodations, dis
connected entirely with the vote of any menu
Der, either for or against him.
4. The evidence shows that some OF the
friends of Mr.. PomerOy have been appointed
| to Office under the Government of the United
States, but fails to show that they were APP
pointed in consideration of any vote or any
influence used by them in procuring the cleo
| ton of Mr.. POmerOy and your committee
beg leave to say that they can find no fault
with Mr.. Pomeroy, or any one else, (when
they recommend for appointment to office
that they recommend their friends instead OF
their enemies.
5. 1t appears from the evidence that Mr..
Pomeroy engaged, for compensation to be
made, the services of the Lawrence State
Journal to advance the interests OF the Re
publican candidates and the Republican party
in the State of Kansas in the year 1866; but
it also appears that said Journal broke its en-
gagement, and supported the Conservative OF
Democratic ticket
Your committee, therefore, after maturely
considering the testimony adduced before
them, are clearly of the opinion that the
charges of bribery and corruption against >
G.. Pomeroy, connected with his Senatorial
election by the Kansas Legislature in 1867
totally fail to be sustained by any cOmpeten
proof, but seem to have been urged for som'
purpose unknown to your committee, beyont
that of correcting existing evils. Your com
mittee, therefore, beg to be discharged from
the further consideration of the same.
o. =. MORTON,
b. +. RICE,
/, JOHN A. LOGAN,
II. b. ANTHONY,
MATT. Ii. CARPENTER,
Committee.
We concur with the other members of tn
committee in the finding that there is no evi
dence before us sufficient to show that Mr.
Pomeroy's election was procured by the us
| of corrupt means, and having no definite, re
} liable information leading to the conclusion
: that further investigation would develop sue
D evidence. we concur in the recommendation
that the committee be discharged from tn
, further consideration of the subject. Her
1 we think that our duty ends. We do no
l think it proper to impugn the motives of thos
: who urged this investigation. The subJec
was brought to the notice of the Senate b.
the General Assembly of Kansas, and, as
seems to us, proper respect for that Dod
precludes an imputation OF improper motives
r We cannot, therefore, concur In the las
r paragraph of the report. And there ar
other passages that do not meet our approval
For these reasons we have preferred to stat
/. our views in our own language.
A. &. THURMAN,
:, JOSHUA HILL.