New-York tribune., 1873-01-20
EOR SALE.

The testimony of eX-GOv. Carney IN the
Caldwell case is enough to make one doubt
whether such a thing as legislative honesty
exists any longer in the United States. When
Mr.. Caldwell made up his mind to go into the
contest for the Senatorship, he vowed that he
would win if it cost him $250,0O0. His first
operation was TO buy off his competitor, Mr..
Carney, for the sum of $4,000 down, and
$4,000 conditional upon his (CaldwelPs) elec-
ton and then he began the systematic pur-
chase of the honorable gentlemen whose votes
in the Legislature were to confer upon him
the coveted honor. To one he paid thousand
dollars, to another twenty-five hundred, to
third as much as five thousand-but this men,
Der seems to have been uncOmmony high
toned. One he secured by paying off note
that troubled him. Another was tempted with
a saddle horse, and a large amount of money
besides The whole Doniphan County delega-
ton was fixed for $1,000, and at times the
market was so fiat that Kansas legislators
could be had for the ridiculOusly low price of
$500 head. Nor was there much difficulty or
delicacy in conducting the negotiations. When
the gentlemen "heard that Caldwell was
"buying," they came forward with rush
to offer themselves for sale. The editor of
The LearenuOrh Times testifes that Mr.. Cald-
well obtained the support of that fearless and
independent paper for $4,000. 1t is usual, we
believe, in transactions of this sort, for those
who receive the money to give some sort OF
exclamation to their own cOnsciences. Some
of the legislators considered the sums paid by
Caldwell as reimbursement of their election
expenses; others were complimentary enough
- 4l,o& NJ oil q xynr
ular and discreditable person, they could not
afford to go home and defend their course in
voting for him unless he offered compensation
for the strain upon their conscientiousness and
the damage to their standing among their
constituents. The prevalent readiness to sell
must have kept down the prices for it turned
out that Mr.. Caldwell got into the Senate for
only 10000 although one Of the legislators
whom he had purchased failed to vote ac-
cording to agreement, and ran away with the
money in his pocket
The question has of course occurred to a
great many people, what return did Mr.. Cald-
well expect from an investment into which
he went 80 heavily7 Men of his stamp are
not usually willing to spend $25O.000 without
some tangible equivalent for their money.
Perhaps certain facts which have been devel-
oped in one committee-roOm of the Capitol
while ex-Gov. Carney has been enlightening
select company in another, may throw some
light upon the answer. A great deal can be
made in Congress when "goOd things" are
urged upon Congressman in consideration of
their influence when railroad companies want
Senators and Representatives to take "a
friendly interest" in their schemes, and all
sorts of enterprises are anxious not to be
interfered with OF investigated. Credit Mobi-
lier stocks, which pay 1900 per cent dividends
in year and half, are not to be picked up
every day but we have 0akes Ames always
with us, either in person or in some of his
many imtatOrs and successors, and the yawn-
ing pocket need not be long untitled. The
railways probably furnish Congressman of
business turn of mind with all the trade they
can desire, and if the truth were told we should
doubtless find on the books of q good many
corporations suspense ACCOUNT like Mr..
Durant's $435,00O, which has been audited
without very close examination of the items.
Mr.. Caldwell declared, according to Mr.. Car
ney, "that the Kansas Pacific Company had
promised TO pay him some money TO assist in