Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-01-19

the legality OF the TWO cOnHicduS svfcaH
ments in Louisiana, and q possibility, there
fore, exists of final solution of the ques-
ton, 60 far as that body is concerned, oe-
fore the adjournment Of the present COZ
gress. ~
Tha Harlan EfectiOneering Money
Senator Harlan's Chronicle takes strong
objections to Lhe testimony, OF ThQpas Y
n9rant before the Credit Mobilier Commit.
tee. Yesterday, Wherein the latter seatso
that he paid ten THOUSAND collars 20 secure IS
the election of the former to the UnIvvo
States Senate in 1867. LIS principal potnt
of complaint is that the committee trans
eends its authority when il tinquires into the
private affairs Of politicians. 1t then con-
cludes as follows:
at Is not probable that the public OF the
Government win derive any benefit from q
disclosure Of who contributed oil tneT pu'
vate means to aid in the election oil Gen
eral Grant or Senator Harlan, or ANYBODY
else. That considerable sums OF monay
ae spent foolishly, it may be, ID every ma
portant political contest, must De known 20
everybody, and to none better than tne
members Of this committee. Ii spent ier
what are considered to be Legitimate cleo
ton or campaign expenses, it cannot De re-
garded as crime, and there is no shadow
Of evidence that Durants money was ap-
piled 10 corrupt uses."
The Senator himself Is understood 10
claim that this money was paid for hotel
bills, newspaper puffs, and other similar
expenses, incident to the election; but the
wilson Investigating Committee, not being
satisfied with this explanation, determined
TO. dsy to investigate Mr.. Durant q LITTLE
further. HIS examination By the latter
committee, on this particular point OF haV-
ing given money to secure Hsrian's cleo
ton, wss quite severe. He admitted that
the two checks of 5000 each were made
PAYABLE to the order Of Senator Harlan, and
that they were either handed to him in per-
son or sent to him by third party, and
that it was at the personal solicitation OF
Harlan that he gave the money, and that it
was given with the understanding that it
was to be used solely to secure Harlan's
election to the United States Senate.
On the point as to whether the money
was private funds or the property OF the
| Credit Mobiler, or Union Pacific Company,
the witness equivocated great deal, and
finally ans sTered that III, books of these
companies would show, his own memory
| not being good on the point. He also stat
| ed that he was much annoyed by the per-
| sistency with which this money was de-
msnded. He reluctantly admitted that be
was interested in the election of Senator
Harlan because of large interests in Iowa,
and that these interests were identical with
those of the Pacific Railroad.
Tomorrow the committee will examine
Durant as to the giving of counsel fees to
members of Congress by the Union Pacific.
This inquiry will be conducted under the
FarnswOrth resolution offered in the House
| yesterday.
Butler says that they won't be able to
catch him here, as all the legal services ne
rendered in the matter were as counsel ID
| Oakes Ames and John b. Alley In their
| fight with the New York faction, when
Jerry Black was retained By the latter.
| The Political Troubles in Alabama.
Nothing has been heard of an official
character from Alabama in regard to the
political troubles in that Stste. Nothing OF
a decisive character is expected by the Gov
ernment or the Congressman of the State
| for several weeks. The President Of the
! Senate nearly four weeks ago appointed
| committee composed of two gentlemen from
| each party to investigate the conduct OF the
| election in the county of Marengo and the
| districts embraced by Butler, Tuscmbia and
| Conecuh counties. II it is shown that Mil
| Ter is entitled to the seat in the Senate III
| stead of Martins, the Senate will be Repub'
| Hcan, otherwise it will be Democratic. Ii
seems likely that there will be two reports
| from the committee and that the Senate
| will have TO decide for themselves afyer all