Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-11
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Extra Session Of the Senate.
The Case Of Kansas Caldwell Taken up
Morton Declares it the Most fragrant
Bribery in AnglO-Saxon Annals.
Electoral.

Electoral.
WASHINGTON, March 10.-The Commit
tee on Elections were directed to examine
and report at the next ses sion the best and
most practicable method of electing the
President and Vice President Of the United
States, together with plan for the organi-
zation of a tribunal to determine all con-
tested questions connected Herewith; and
that committee have leave to sit during
recess.
Paying Witnesses.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, offered resolution
that witnesses summoned in investigations,
by the Senate, be paid four dollars a day
while in attendance and five cents mile
each way of the distance actually travelled.
Laid over.
Mr.. Chandler presented petitions for pro-
hibitory liquor legislation.
Mr.. Fenton proposed to present other
petitions when Mr.. Hamlin objected to the
reception Of any petitions of legislative
nature.
The Senate, at ten minutes past twelve,
went into executive session.
Morton Goes for Caldwell.
When the doors again opened the Senate
proceeded with the consideration of the
resolution reported by the Committee on
Elections, that Mr.. Alexander Caldwell was
not duly and legally elected to the Senate
by the Kansas Legislature.
At the request of Mr.. Morton the report
of the case was read.
Mr.. Morton after preliminary remarks
alluded to the general denial of Mr.. Cald-
well that he had bribed any member of the
Kansas Legislature to vote for him, and
then proceeded TO argue that the charge
that Mr.. Caldwell was elected by the use of
money was sustained by the testimony. He
quoted Parliamentary law to show that
bribery is not only an Infringement of Par
liamentary privilege, but when single
elector is prevented for exercizing his
right by external violence, the
election is void without reference to
the number of votes. This is indispen-
sable to the freedom of elections. The
man who would purchase one vote would
purchase all, and his corrups influence
would be limited only by bis means of cor
ruption. The Senate had right to protect
itself against criminal, although the legis-
lature electing him might be Indifferent on
the subject. The power to expel a men,
Der was necessary to enable the House to
perform its high functions, and was Incl
dental to the protection of the State. In
further argument Morton said that this was
the most fragrant case of bribery in Eoglish
or American politics, and then examined
the testimony in the se to SLOW that such
was the fact, and that just before Cald-
wells election the talk of corruption was as
comm and free in Topeka as the mark
cts and the weather.
Caldwell Argues Against Expulsion
and Gets Choked OFF,
Caldwell said he had prepared a state
ment which (his voice being affected by
cold) he desired should be read at the Sec
retary's desk.
. The Secretary then read the statement,
which was in the nature of legal argu-
ment. There was no pretense that his
credentials did net speak the truth. 1t was
an absolute fact that a majority of the
Kansas Legislature did vote for him, while
there was no proof that there was any re-
straint in the premises. The election of
Senator is tho act of State in its sovereign
capacity, with which the Senate cannot in
terfere. Numerous presidents are quoted
in support of this proposition. The Con-
stitution makes the Senate the sole Judge of
the qualifications and returns of its own
members, but it must be governed by the
written law. Mr.. Caldwell insists that the
Senate must be governed by the law as it
existed at the time of the election.
Before the reading was completed, on
motion of Mr.. Cameron, the Senate went
into Executive session and then adjourned.