The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-11
Senate-Extra Session.
WASHINGTON, March lo-
IL - III ny, =, a,

WAsHiNsToN, March l0-
Mr.. Morton offered the following;
Resolved, That the Committee or
Elections and Privileges be directed to
prepare and report at the next session
the best practical method OF elechng
the President and Vice President Of the
United States, together with a plan fol
an organized tribunal to determine
the case OF contested questions connect
ed Herewith, and that the Committee
have leave to set during the recess ol
the Senate.
Mr.. Morrill, offered a resolution that
witnesses summoned to attend inveeti'
cations ordered by the Senate shall be
paid at the rate OF $4,00 for each dav
they were in attendance, and five cents
per mile each way for the distance
actually travelled; but no mileage shall
be paid witnesses summoned at the
place OF triM. The resolution was laid
over.
Mr.. Chandler, of Michigan, presented
q petition asking for prohibitory liquor
laws.
Mr.. Feuton, OF New York, proposed
to present q petition to the Senate when
Mr. Hamlin interposed, and objected
to the reception oil any petitions OF
legislative nature. The Senate at
l2lO P. NJ, went into executive ses-
sion. At 1910 P. NJ, the doors were
re-opened.
Mr.. Morrill, then called mp the reso-
luton declaring that Alex Caldwell
was not legally elected to q seat in the
Senate by the Legislature OF Kansas.
Mr.. Morton then called lor the read
ing ofthe report made in the case OF
Caldwell bv the Committee on Prlvl-
leges and Elections at this session.
Mr.. Morton then briefly argued that the
charge that Caldwell had secured his
election by the use of money was fully
sustained. He mentioned that judy
ment on Caldwell's conduct properly
came within the jurisdiction OF the Sem
ate. He quoted from precedents to
sustain this Jurisdiction which is denied
by Mr.. Caldwell and his counsel. lie
dwelt at some length on the arrange
ment between Caldwell and ex Cover
nor Carney, by which the latter for a
certain sum paid to him agreed to re
tire from the Senatorial contest in
Caldwell's favor.
He quoted from various English au>
thorities that the effect of proofs OF
bribery in an election was TO vacate the
seat OF the member guilty OF such
bribery, and to absolutely invalidate
the election. To employ Influence in
obtaining votes is legitimate, but to buy
off the opposing candidate is bribery.
If it was legitimate for candidates TO
buy off Mr. Carney it .as equally le-
gitImate for him to buy off other OPP
posing candidates, and thus exert a
Quasi kind OF coersion Of members oi
OF legislatures, ss they would have no
other candidates to give their suffrage
TO.
| In continuing the argument about
the Caldwell case Mr.. Morton
claimed that the right to take cogniz-
ance of such act a. this was expressly
conferred upon the Senate by clause
in the Constitution giving it the power
to be the judge o. the qualification Of
it's member. Suppose a man obtained
his election to the Senate by personat-
ing kidnapping the opposing candi-
dates or by any other dishonorable
means was be to be undisturbed in his
seat ?
In bis (Mortons) opinion this was
one of the most fiagrant cases Of bribe
ry ever known in English or American
annals Caldwell was man utterly
unknown politically and man of large
wealth. The very fact that he was
elected to such a position as the Senate
of the United States proved there were
other than political influences at work.
Caldwell had put in a statement before
the Committee, but he had declined to
swear to it when informed that he
would be subjected to cross exami
nation, and had then put it on his
honor as Senator.
Mr.. Morton then proceeded to allude
J to current rumors around Topeka at the
time OF Caldwell's election, that it was
openly talked of that money was being
!, used, and the talk of the corruption
was just as free aud common as talk OF
, the markets and the weather. He then
alluded to the testimony Of Senator
Smith, Csldwell's partner. Mr. Smith
had been before the committee and
denied all knowledge OF any corruption,
or bribery, when just as he was leaving
the stand be made an insdvertent re-
mark. This caused him to be pressed
and he finally acknowledged the pays
ment Of money to Mr. Carney. n. further
reviewed the transactions of Caldwell
and his agents with member. OF the
legislature 10 influence their votes, and
commented on the statements made by
; Caldwell that bis election had cost him
from $4,000 to 100000; that the
amount he paid to Carney was not more
than ten per cent OF his actual expense
In concluding his remarks Mr.. Nor
ton said that the duty he had performed
was not pleasant, but it had devolved
upon the Committee on Privileges and
Elections to examine into this question
and although not an agreeable one,
they had endeavored to perform it.
Mr. Caldwell said his voice was 80
badly affected by a cold that he was
unable to read statement which had
been prepared and which be now asked
to be read at the Clerks desk. There
we're many things said by Mr.. Morton
which be could retute and disprove, and
which he would do before this discus
! sion was over.
The statement Of Caldwell was then
; read from the Clerks desk. 1t was in
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