The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-01-21
Tie Caldwell Election Investigation.
THE DOORs THROWN OPEN.
important Testimony Ofthe Hon
Sidftty Gfhrke.

WASHINGTON, Jan. T0.-The Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elections
voted, this morning, 10 gil with open
doors durJhg its Investigation OF the
chargrs that Senator Caldwell used mon
ey corruptly toseedre his election The
firsLwituess sworn was the Hon. Sidney
Clarke, ex-memher Of Congress and a
candidate for the Senatorship at the time
MIR Caldwell was elected Senator Mur-
Ton asked him to state in his own way
what he knew about the subject under in
veStigatioB and be said his knowledge
was derived from what members OF the
Legislature adsieldrhiin and swha,a he had
learned from the friendstf Seassor Cald-
wel',who were at Topeka working tor his
election.
! He then went on to say That after the
frs, vote was taken, and while he was at
supper atthe left House, he received a
aote either from Mr. Caldwelsror one. ,oi
this friends, asking fpran interview,in an
l1,pper room NJ Clarke Consulted with
Esoine of his friends, and then concluded
TO call on Mr. Caldwell The. latter saida
in substance, when Mr. Clarke called, has
it was then, in the pow4r of witness
friends to secure his Caldwell } election,
iand offered money to effec, that purpose
Mr. Clarke replied tha' Ne would prefer
to see Mr. Caldwell succeed rather than
Ex-Governor Crawford, because the for
Iners friends mad not abused him go
much as those Of the latter, but that he
could not support him himself
| lie teld Mr. Caldwell that his Cali-
wells sppporl was simply the result OF
the use of money, aud that he believed
I that he had purchased II or IA of his
i (Clarke' votes. Mr.. Caldwell replied
that his success would remove tne stigma
OF The transaction A caucus of MIR.
Clarkes friends vas held during the night
and his name was withdrawn by the At,
chisor delegation, aud five or six other
\ mines proposed The Atchison ielega-
ti6n decidedto vote TOR Mr. Caldwell -
4 The next time that Mr. Clarke had any
conversation with Mr. Caldwell on the
I subject was the day following the elec,
ttion srssy wag ~ 4,,.,s, es44 )
I Both were on the train going away
from Topeka. and Mr.. .Caldu ell called
/ Mr.. Clarke from his seat in the front part
!, of the car and said thathe would arrange
the matter of Mr.. Carkes election ex-
penses with Mr. Stevens, a friend of the
latter, with. whom some agreement had
been m de. The nextiime the two gen.
tlemen met was in W Washington, soon after
Mr.. Caldwell came, here to take his seat
He then said that Mr.. Stevens had re.
quested him to settle the matter of the
election expenses with Mr. Clarke him
sell, an Mr., Clarke replied ihatif he had
made any arrangements with Mr. Ste
yens, he must settle with him m
! Numerous interviews took place after
this in regard to the appointment of .
a rlpostma, tel and some officers in the I,ter
mai Revenue service AT eachof these
MIR. Caldwell referred to the $4,000 ol
$4,000 which he proposed to pay to Mr.
Clarke S f lends for his election expenses
The most important of these Interview;
was had at Wells rooms, in this city
, when Nj Clarke had called at request
: Then Mr. Caldwell spoke<volmtarii,
= about tie Stevens business, and apologi
zing for his delay in paying up and saif
that The election had C ,st him $4,000 IL
money, ani that it had used UP nearly al
OF his ready cash a
A railroad had agreed to pay snnp o
these expenses. but had not done So, AM
]. he was waiting Tor some legislstio II
: Congress BY which he could squeeze
out of the company. Mr. Clarke under
: fstuod him to reisr to the Kansas and Pa
!, ci6u Ralroad He also said in the sam,
5 interview that he had been lookin!
, arou for a chance to make some none,
:. :. but lad come to the conclusion that Con
: gress was not SO good place to max
!, !, ! mu1ty as outside. SD
y. M. Clarke denied that he ever mad
:, any agreement with Mr. Caldwell for tn
: payment of any money, and testified tha
:, the expenses paid b, himself and friend
: amounted to about $4,000 or $4,000
!. In reply to question by Mr. Trumbnil
: Mr.. Clarke said that he based h 8 state
:, ment that MI Caldwell was elected by th
J, use of money on what he learned fror
= = lneml,eis OF the Legislature, the fact tina
" he hadino political standing in,the State
and nthe statehentof Gen. Smith, Nj
s Caldwelfs partner, thatthey would hav
the Senaiorsbip if it cost S250,000.
IS In answer to cross questions oy Mi
Q Caldwell himself. Mr. Clarke said he ha,
), distrusted MIR. Caldwell from the firsi
O aid now considered him very dishor
/ orable and contemptihle man, and .denie
that heerer told any onethat he Intend
s ed To get Sl5.000oui Of MIR Caldwell.