Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-21
EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE SENATE
FRIDAY, March n.

FRIDAY, March q.
Mr.. sherman offered a resolution authori Ting
the furnishing of two boand copies of the Con
gressiOnal Record for this session 20 each Sena-
tor. Referred 10 the committee on printing.
SPECIE PAYMENTS.
Ar fenton offered the following which he
asked be printed and laid ever:
Resolred, That the committee ON finance he
directed 70 inquire what measures can he adop-
ted by the government, which shall give 20 the
country currency convertible into gold at
the option or the holder, thus securing greater
stability in the exchanges OF trade. the work of
production and investment and i'm the compeu-
sation OF labor, aud to report by bill or other
Mr.. Wright asked the Senate to take up the
PROPOSED NoDlFIcArIoS OF THE RULES
submitted by him Yesterday.
MT. Morton suggested that il be not taken M
until the Caldwell case was disposed Of
MIR. Sherman reiterated his previous opinion.
that IL was essential, IL business was to be facii
itated, that there should be some change in the
rules; and said, further, that during ali of the
last session nothing whatever was done 10 pro-
mote the material interests OF the country he
yohd the passage Of the appropriation bills.
But the whole financial interests were neglect
ed. The people of Louisiana were subjected 70
an irregular government, and Congress had
been unable TO dispose OF the bill 10 remedy
this, because OF the unnecessary consumption
of much valuable time in discussing matters of
comparative unimportance. This was the only
parliamentary body in the world where there
H.
hoped that the Senate would adont some fair
rule, placing it in the power OF Iwo-thir.ls of
the Senate TO limit debate at any time and con-
hne Senators to the subject matter under dis
c1ssion.
Mr.. Scott said il was obvious no action could
be had ON THIS matter al this session.
ON motion OF Mr.. Wright, the further consid-
Grafton OF the whole subject was then postuoned
anti the first Monday OF December next
OFFICIAL REPORTS OF THE SENATE DEBATES
Mr.. Anthony said, in accordance with the au-
fn f1.a.v. h
printing had entered into contract with Mr.
Dennis Murphy. the chief of the reportorial
STAFF in the Senate, TO continue the reporting OF
the debates. He then submitted a resolufisn
designating Dennis Murphy as the official re-
porter OF the Senate, and allowing to him and
his staff at this session the rate of $40. neT
thousand ems, printers measure, with 20 ner
cent. additional. He also said the commitfee
had gwen instructions 10 the Congressional
printer TO print the same number of the o.
gr.sstonot Reekrd as OF the Congressional lobe a,
the past session, and that the RsooFE be ,liStrih
uted a. the Glebs was distributed.
THE CALDWELL CASE.
Inc resolution declaring vacant the seat of Al
eNander Caldwell, of Kansas, w as then taken nm
MIR. Ferry Comm offered an amendment In
the nature of a substitute. as follows:
Resolred, That Alexander Caldwell be- and
he Is hereby, expelled from his seat in the Sen
ate OF the United States.
Mr.. Frelnghuysen argued against the ress-
luton OF the committee. holding that there was
no tenahle ground on which it could be upheld
He maintained that the offence charged upon
Mr. Caldwell was not a crime, because il had
never been 30 constituted. and that. therefore
there was NO power resting anywhere to punisl,
him for it. He, (Mr. r. J however Considered
it very disreputable act. Whether in his opin-
ion II was such an act called for expulsion.
would be shown when he was called on to vote
MIR. Howe held that there was no foundatiop
whatever for the resolution OF the COMMITTEE
for TO him the evidence was overw hel lining that
Mr.. Caldwell was duly and legally elected
As to the question of expulsion, he would meet
M IN
Mr.. Morrill, (Maine) said among the things
which were apparent was the prominent fact
not debated, not denied, but conceded on all
hands, deprecated, condemned, den ounced by
all, that in the state of Kansas in the wear ~
upon the occasion of the election of Senator
there were scenes which were disreputable to
the people of that state ami to the country AT
large, and the consequences OF which affect the
public welfare, and on this hinge and turn the
great fundamental principles OF government
LII we would live and not perish. we must
reenacted in any OF the other states
The Senate had been under the shadow of this
great political enormity for these many davs:
IL has been 50 characterized on all sides AMI ,n
the honor and dignity OF the Senate N can Ia
said that during this whole debate there has
beeh no exhibition Of partiZanship on either
slIe. III ulere was no misstatement OF facts.
what took place in Kansas as a grOtesdue sar-
casm on the election of Senator. He ,iiI NOT
regard that the question of state rights or of
STATE state sovereignty entered into the determine
II was prominently within the iuris,iIr-
ton Of the Senate To inquire into AN
election for Senator, and il would he a sad
day for 1t when such was not the case In AN
the centuries that come down to us there was
no principle better defined than the power ro
inquire into the conduct OF elections and IN An
election was obtained by bribery, it was at once
vitlated. The man who cast bribed vote was
not man, he was a chattel. and his vote was
Sofd. IN reply to the argument that there was
no CONSTITUTIONAL power TO inquire into the mo-
uves OF members OF the legislature he said tbe
motives had nothing to do with it, II was the
tacH ina were 10 be inquired into. III the facts
were PROV that the man did not receive a ma
jority of the free, 6.shribed, unpurchased votes.
then the election was void. lie should vote for
the resolution of the committee because he be-
lieved ii was wholesome, and not dangerous
exercise of power he should vote for it, because
he believed il was a duty devolving upon the
Senate. If the Senate cannot correct this evil
there is no other power in the land that can do
it. In his Judgment il was clear ana IN
doubted power Of the Senate, and he had made
up his mind TO do his duty, dissgreeable though
il may be.