New-York tribune., 1873-02-28
4 FEVERISH ATMOSPHERE.

Mr. Matt Carpenter, the Senator from Wis
consin. whom Mr.. Butler recommended Oakes
Ames to retain for the Union Pacific Railroad
because he was "a man with q tongue IN his
head" and who is reported to have been re-
tanned by the Central Pacific Road at the
providential crisis when ,the $4,000 fee came
very handy in dciraying the expenses of his
election to the United States Senate, has not
yet deigned to make to the people OF to Con-
gress, or to any Committee of Congress, any
explanation of the matter. This report is too
well defined and has too much the appearance
of truth to be passed over by Mr.. Carpenter.
There are two or three committees before
which he might make his statement; consid-
cradle time has elapsed since the report took
shape and came into general circulation; II he
is innocent he ought in justice to himself to
make public denial of the story; and yet he
is silent.
The only possible explanation of his re-
ticence may be fOund perhaps lit his remarks
in the Senate the other day upon the post
ponement of the consideration of the Caldwell
case. The Caldwell case, it will be re-
membered, is one of several inquiries now
pending with regard to the market price of
Senate. Caldwell of Kansas is in the Senate
as purchaser of seat and the Senate, reck-
less of its ancient dignity" or from not having
Nye at hand to "bear it aloft," ordered an
investigation. 1t was the report of the Com
mttee on this matter that Mr.. Carpenter
desired to have postponed. His reason for
urging "a postponement was that circumstances
made this an unfavOrabe time for the
"exercise of that dispassOnate, judicial judg-
"ment which alone can do justice to Mr.. Cald-
"well" "The atmosphere around the Captol,f
he said, had been :" rendered little feverish
"on account of the investigations which have
Lately been proceeding" and with profound
feeling he added: "Now, Mr.. President, if
"the Caldwell case should go over until the
"December session if we should reflect upon it
"durlng the leisure of vacation, while mingling
"with the people, who are charitable to others
"because honest themselves, and our temples
abe cooled by the frosty breezes of Autumn
"before we should sit in judgment not only
"of fellow-man but of a fellow Senator, l
"do not think the cause of public justice
would suffer; do not think the character of
"the Senate would be tarnished, nor that the
chances of q fair determination of Caldwelps
lease would be at all diminished"
This not only gives bis reason for post
poning action in the Caldwell case, but throws
a flood of light upon his modest declination
to explain the $4,000 retainer. 1t is well
enough to postpone that also. The at
"mosphere around the Capitol" is so
fcverish" that very few people would un-
derstand bis position, and it is better not
TO confuse the popular mind with too many
things at time. Moreover, he wants to
mingle with the people and have his item
"plcs cooled with the frosty breezes of
Autumn" before he explains. Doubtless he
is ready to answer now at any moment; but
he knows it would not be fair to the people
to do it while the atmosphere is feverisb,"
and anybody can understand that it will be n
great deal better to wait for "the frosty
" breezcs of Autumn" to cool his temples.
In this view it is quite plain. It's a
" fevcrish atmosphere" And very likely if
some of these matters should be acted upon
now. instead Of waiting TO e0ol their temples