Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-01-19
The Political Shambles Laid Bare.
Testimony of Ex.Gov. Carney.


Committee on Elections this morning re-
sumed their Investigation Into the election
of Senator Caldwell, of Kansas. Bx-Gov.
Carney was examined at great length. He
corroborated the testimony heretofore given
by Sam. It. Smith, Caldwell's partner, TO
the effect thst at a private interview be-
tween Caldwell, Smith and himself, Csld-
well offered him (Carney) $4,000 if he
would withdraw from the contest for Sena-
tor. This Offer he soon afterwards accept
ed aud signed paper pledging himself that
be would in no case become 8 candidate, in
resurn ior which he Carney received
| Smiths note at 80 days for $4,000, given
Internationally, and Smiths due bill for
s. 900 conditioned on Caldwells election.
| The consideration named In the agreement
| was for the expenses Incurred and the as
slstance to be rendered by Carney.
| Smiths note for $4,000 was paid
Carney at maturity. The due bill
| for $1,000 was paid last spring Rfter
the election. While Caldwell was on his
way to Washington to take his seat in the
Senate, Carney met him in a railroad car
and Caldwell told witness that he wa.
aware the due bill had not been paid, but
that as soon as he got to Philadelphia be
| would remit to witness the $1,000 to pay
| it. Caldwell did not keep this promise,
but spoke to Carney on the subject four or
| FIVE timees during the summer, aud just be-
fore he cameto Washington next winter he
| told Carney he would soon arrange to get
some money from the Kansas Pacific Rail-
road with which to pay the due bill. Cald-
well said the Kansas Pacific Railroad
Company had promised to pay him some
money 10 assist in his election; that they
had not yet done so; that no far as he was
concerned they could get no legislation up-
I'll they keptEheir promise ard paid him
the money. Witness testified that dur
| ing the Senatorial canvass one day 2.
| ]. Anderson, an employe of the Pacific
Railroad Company, came TO Smith, and in
his presence asked for 1000 to be used in
| the contest. Witness endorsed Smiths
check for The amount, in order that Ander
son might get it cashed. Witness believed
| Anderson got and used it for political pur-
poses in Caldweh's interest. Caldwell once
stated to witness that he (CaldwelD would
win,
IfIt Cost Him S25O,OO0.
Subsequently, Caldwell told witness that
his election had cost him over 100000.
| Caldwell haviEg told witness that he felt
very grateful to him and his friends, and
| would do what he could for them, several
members of the Legislature made written
application to Caldwell, through Carney,
for various offices. On one occasion,
when witness presented to Caldwell
such paper, Caldwell took out MEM
o1an6um book, and after referring
to it, said, 81 don't owe that man anything.
paid that man for his VOTE" No mem
Der Of the Legislature had then received
any Office from Caldwell. Witness there
fore knew of no other way by which the
person referred to by Caldwell could have
been paid except By money. WItnsss could
not remember the name Of this person. It
seemed from Caldwell's manner on this oc-
cssion that he had in his book list Of all
the members Of the Legislature with their
prices. Caldwell at another time told
| witness that he had paid James <. Leggett
$1,000 for his vote, and Buyers, another
member, $500 for his vote. Before the
election Levi 7. Smith told Caldwell in
wiiness's presence that he had already in
VOWED himself to the amount of 100000
for Caldwell, which he feared Caldwell
would not recognize. Mr.. Smith added, how
ever, that he would pay one-half the ex-
pense in c2se he did not succeed by his ar
! rangements In electing Mr.. Caldwell, where
I
Ghesd" At times during the canvass Mr.
Anderson would come to the committee of
Mr. Caldwell's friends and say he must
have some more money. hr. Smith would
say: "Fel the fellows to be patient; they
must have a little patience. The currency
OF the banks has all bsen paid out, but more
has been sent for and will be along present
ly." Mr. Anderson was employed by
Messrs. Caldwell and Smith to see all the
members of the Legislature and get all the
votes he could. From day to day he would
report that such and such members could
be controlled for perhaps $500, $1,000 or
$1,000 each. j. l.. Mcdowell was
another member of this working
committee, and made similar reports,
on the reception Of which the
committee would discuss what prices
ought to be paid. Smith once told witness
that the Kansas Pacific railroad company
had given him $4,000 to aid Caldwell in
the contest. Witness was taken into the
confidence Of Caldwell and Smith, and tes-
tilted unwillingly. Witness talked TO mary
members of the Legislature at the request
of Caldwell and Smith. Sometimes mem
bers would say to witness that they under
stood Caldwell was paying for votes; that
his election was not expected or desired By
the people; that they could not stf)rd 10 go
home and defend their course if they voted
for Caldwell without being paid for it. In
such cases witness would refer the men,
bers to Smith and others, who were man
aging for Caldwell. Williams, OF Johns
town. one OF the members of the Legislature
told witness that Smith had already prom
ised him money for his vote. Witness heard
that Levi Il. Smith, Caldwelrs friend, had
employed Anderson to assist them. Geo.
Smith, OF LeavenwOrtb, was also working
vigorously for Caldwell. Told witness that
be had arranged for the vote of Butler by
agreeing that Caldwell would pay an out
standing note of bis for $3.50. Geo. Smith
told witness st another time that one ofthe
members of the Legislature had sold him
out and run off with the money which had
been paid him. Witness also testified that
Hon. ThOs. A. Osborn, who was yesterday
insugurated Governor of Kansas, was 3
member Of the managing committee OF
CaldNell's friends, which conducted his
canvass and purchased the votes OF mem
hers Of the Legislature.
Carney's crOss-examinatiOn was post
poned in consequence of Caldwell being i'll
A Cloud of witnesses.
John Fletcher then testified to cOnVer-
sstion with Anderson in which he said he
had Caldwell's note for S, 800 given him by
Caldwell for services rendered during the
canvass. lie intended to make Caldwell
pay it,
d. r. Anthony was recalled and gave
testimony that he was informed by Au-
thony that Col. Miller took the $1,000 re-
ferred TO in Carney's testimony for the
Doniphan county delegation and gave it to
them.
w. S. Banks, editor of the Lesvenworth
Times, testified that Caldwell gave him $2,-
900 for the support of his paper during the
campaign. Also that Caldwell told him
that his election had cost him $60,000.
Jas. IL. Snesd, member Of the Legisla-
ture cave evidences that one HamTond
. proposed the sale of his (Swesd's) vste tC
Caldwell for 81, 600, the amount to be divid-
ed. They went together to SEQ Lieut..
Smith ca the subject but Smith was very
busy and they did not talk with him.
Adjourned to Monday.
The Credit MObiIIer.
At the session Of Poland's committee on
! tine Credit Mobilier this morning, i. NJ
Bower, eX-member Of Congress from Penn
, | e,Icapia Voluntarily anAearad, He said h(