Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-03-28
THE COMING KANSAS CONTEST
CALDWELL VS.. POMEROY.
ENGELHARD & SAUNDERS,
Wilmington. n. q.

Senator Caldwell, of Kansas, has
resigned, and doubtless because he
and his friends had become satisfied
that the Senate had determined he
should vacate his place, peaceably if
he would, forcibly if they must. There
can be scarcely any question that the
late Senator acted prudently and dis
creetly. He can now 60 back to
bleeding Kansas and ask its Legisla-
ture to endorse him by reelection !;
but be will not find his path strewn
with roses only. The course OF a
contest for Senatorial honors as seldom
"runs smooth" as that of true love.
In the one case as in the other, rivals
are almost sure to spring up and
disturb things The Kansas contest
will not prove an exception TO the rule
Ex-senator Caldwell will find in
ex-senator Pomeroy a foeman worthy
of his steel. Each one of them ''knows
how it is himself" One escaped
expulsion by the skin of his teeth and
the fortuitous help CT friendly sine
dic adjournment. The other escaped
expulsion only by tardy, though still
timely, resignation.
They Kill dogs in Kansas in other
ways than by shooting them. When
Pomeroy wishes to go to the United
States, lie buys up the Legislature.
I Ill TO tr
the same posnt. We had almost said
he goes back to first principles and
buys lip constituencies. In financial
point OF view, the latter mode seems
open to objection on the score OF ex-
.,ense for it would seem to be cheaper
10 buy a single Legislator than to buy
3 numerous constituency. and then,
TOO, it would seem a rather difficult
thing to get reliable guarantee that
after buying up the constituency, the
Legislator would not have to be bought
also. Caldwell has way, too, OF max
ing regula: "corner i'll the Sena-
torial market, by Quietly buying out all
The stock on hand in the shape t
candidates for Senatorial Lonors.
He seems to prefer this course to n
direct purchase of Legislators nor
can it be denied that it has some adj
vantages to recommend it when one
sunsiders the possibility Of an investi
sItion by a Committee on Privileges
and Elections. Some men are gifted
with such keen perception as to be
able to SEQ great moral and legal di:-
ference between the act of forestallinga
Senatorial market by buying up opros-
ing candidates and the net of buying
up a Legislature. At any rate the dis
cassion of this subtle legal and moral
nicely by grave and reverend Senators
has given Al opp rtunity to Mr.. Caid-
we'll to put in an exceedingly oppor-
tune resignation. Another not unob-
jectionable feature of this plan of
operations is. that it does not
afford such easy openings to such mis-
placed confidence as happened to
Fomeroy, in his dealings with his
friend Yorke. On the other hand,
Pomeroy's plan is much shorter and
more direct. The contest will, doubt-
less, begin at once. Both Pomeroy
and Caldwell have money in album
dance, and each will seek to "place it
where it will do most good" To those
members who have no regard for
honor or honesty, seat in the Kansas
Legislature will, doubtless, be worth
rs much as Credit Mobiier stock in its
palmy days, when those sainted christ
ian statesmen, the smiling Colfax, and
the sanctimonious Wilson had not
come to grief.
The red flag is hanging out the
bell has nearly ceased to ring, and the
auction is about to begin. Gentle
men Of the Kansas Legislature, seat
in the United States Senate is for sale.
Who bids, and how much Give us a
start Mr. Pomeroy. Thank you, sir.
Mr.. Caldwell, it's against you. Who,
bids and how much ?"