The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-03-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
Caldwell Bribery.
Norton Makes a Vigorous Effort
to Purify the Senate.
Most fragrant Case of Bribery
on Record.
Cs!iwelfs Statement and Gamer
On'S Loss Of Patience.
senate.

; TIL, Committee On Elections was directet
the mot prscicl DIE method Of electing tn,
President and Vice PRECEDENT Of the United
states, together with plan for the organi
zation of tribunal to determine all contested
questions connected Herewith, and that tn.
committee have leave TO sit during the reces;
Of the Senate.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Maine, offered a resolu'
ton that witnesses summoned in the invss-
tig atoms by the Senate, be paid four dollars
per day while in attend ance, and five cents
PEI mile each way for distance actually trav.
eled. Lid over.
The Senate, at 1910, wen, into executive
session When the doors we're again opened
the Senate proceeded to the consideration Of
areso.uiion reported By the Committee on
Elections, that Alexander Caldwell was not
duly and legally elected to the Senate by the
Kansas Legislature.
At the request Of Mr.. Morton, the report
Of the case WAS read.
Mr.. Morton spoke on the Caldwell report,
| saying tina. Ca'dwell's was the most q igrant
Gaze Of bribery in American politics.
Mr.. Morton, after preliminary remarks,
alluded to the general denial of Caldwell
that he had bribed any membe. of the Kan
sas Legislature to vote for him, and then
proceeded to argue thar the charge tina, Cald-
we'll was elected by the Use of money was sus
tanned BY the testimony. He quoted parlia-
mentary law to show that bribery is not only
an infringement Of parliamentary privilege,
but when a single eiector is prevented from
exercising his right BY external violence. the
election is void, without reference to tie
number OF votes. This is indispensable to
the freedom of elections. The man who
would purchase one vote would purchase all.
His corrupt influence wou.d he limited only
by his means of corruption. The Senate had
a right to pro'ec. itself against criminal,
although the Legislature electing hin, might
lie difident on the subject. The power to
expel member was necessary to enable the
House to perform its high functions, and was
needed for the protection Of the State. In
further argument, Mr.. Merton said
that this was the most f,grant case
of bribery in English or our own politics.
and they examined the les ilDony IN the Gaze
to show that such was fact and that ju., be-
fore Cald~ell's election ait rf c,rrupii
WIS as common snd free ia Topeka as Of
m irke,, or wsah -r.
Senator Caldwell said he had prepared a
statement which, hi- v"i.e bein. aH-.l.d
BY cold, he desired ,hoaii he read at the
Secretary 8 desk.
The Secretary then rerd the s;s'smrn',
W icb w,s in the nature of i-.-i argument.
There Was I'D p-.t,nce t1at his ere entails
di'. no. -, AZ j'Ie rru h. II s.s an ahsniure
FAC that Iie M j-ci Of abe k,asas Legisla-
inre I'D vote Tor hiu, while there Was ne
proof that there was aIv restraint IN the
premises. TIE election Of SinstOr il an
&C, o. the Safe in is sovereign capacity,
with which the Senate cannot interfere
Numerous precedents are qioed in support
"f this proposition. The Constitution makes
the S-a.te sole jIls- Of the qualifications
and returns OF its members, but Is NUS; he
governed b. written law. Senator Caldwell
insists that the Senate must be governed by
law as it existed at the time Of the election.
Before the reading Was completed on motion
Of Senator C,meran the Senate went into ex-
ecu;ive session, and afterwards adjourned.