Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-22
EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE SENATE
SATURDAY, March %.

MI. Ferry Mich regretted that the Senator
from Connecticut Ferry had submitted a res
olution of expulsion at this time. He had given
close attention to the ten days debate which
had shed so much light for the first time on the
question whether bribery vitiates the election
OF a member of this body. The debate was con-
fined to the legality of the act by which Mr..
Caldwell held his seat. IL appeared the major
ity OF the committee on privileges and elections
were in doubt as 10 the proper method to be
pursued, and therefore they chose TO present
the question involving the validity Of the cleo
ton. The Senator from Mississippi, (Alcorn, }
one Of the me mbers Of the committee, had sub
mitted a resolution for expulsion, thus serving
notice that he would press his resolution should
that of the committee fail. The Senator from
Connecticut Ferry had offered an amendment
also proposing expulsion, thus requiring the
Senate first TO vote on his proposition before the
Senate shall adjudge in voting on the resolu-
ton OF the committee whether Caldwell was en-
titled to the seat he held. He desired to have
acton on both in the order in which they were
presented.
Mr.. Morton interrupted to say, that as chair
man OF the committee, he in his first speech
attempted TO discuss the question OF expulsion.
He held the Senate had the choice of remedies
and had favored a resolution OF expulsion, but
the majority of the committee thought il best
the election.
Mr.. Ferry would not commit himself i'm adj
vance as to the merits OF the question involved,
but would approach each OF them with the
respect due TO the action of the state, and his
constitutional duty, TO deal rigidly with Official
wrong, his intercourse with Caldwell showing
that in his conduct here he had been guilty of
no act affecting his character a gentleman.
He then offered an anne ndment, to place back
the first question substantially where it first
appeared from the committee, as follows:
ResOtced, That Alexander Caldwell be, and he
if hereby declared to have been elected a Sena-
tor OF the United States by the legislature Of
Kansas.
MIR. Allison discussed briefly the question of
Jurisdiction, maintaining the constitution
makes the act OF the legislature in the election
Of Senator subject to review by the Senate.
Mr.. Ferry, Conn, } in explaining his reasons
for offering his amendment to the resolution OF
the committee proposing the expulsion of Cald-
we'll. said in examining all the evidence he was
unable to avoid the conclusion that the election
OF Caldwell was effected by bribery, the pur-
chase money having been paid by CALDWELL.
Having reached the conclusion of fact. il was
essential, not only to the dignity and honor o;
the Senate, to the state of public feeling of
the country, but for the preservation of the
institutions under which we live. that tie
Senate should in some emphatic way eS-
press condemnation % the transaction. A.
cording to common law and usage, running
through all the English decisions until now. a
bilbed vote IL no vote: and il il be found that
bribed votes effected the election, they must be
cast out and the election voded. When charges
were made that Senatorial election was pro
cured by bribery, IL was the bounden duty of
the Senate, under the constitutional clause that
made tie Senate the judge OF the election,
qualification and returns of its members to in
quire into the facts. The Senate was a conoo-
nent part OF our government, which was 80
organized that corruption could not exist with
out destroying the liberties and prosperity OF
the people. When rich men obtain seats here
merely for personal glory, without regard 10
country; when great corporations, which are
advancing in giant steps, obtain control; and
when state legislatures have become - corrupt
a. TO send unworthy members to this body
then will have been sappped the foundation of
all our hopes, and republican government
become a sham, and the way prepared for tie
will of a Tiberius Napoleon.
Considerable time was spent in discussing the
propriety and expediency OF arriving at some
arrangement by which the consider alton OF the
subject could be concluded at given time, but,
without arriving at any conclusion, the Senate
went into executive session, and then adj
journed.