The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-02-19
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 10. 1873
SENATOR CALDwELL's CASE

WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 10. 1878
SENATOR CALDwELL's CASE
The Senate committee appointed to
investigate the charges Of corruption and
bribery in the election of ALEXANDER
Caldwell as United States Senator
FROM Ksnsas, made, it's report on Mon1
day. The committee found incontesti-
BILE proof Of the corrupt use OF money
in Influencing the..votes of the members
Of The Legislature. They traced the
expenditure of more than Fifty Thous-
and dollars f6r this purpose. including
$4,000 which was psid to one rival
candidate to induce his withdrawal in
CALDwELL's favor. A similar SUM was
promised in consideration Of the with.
drswal of another candidate, but has not
been paid, and it was CALDwELLs de-
fault IN this case that contributed to
give publicity to the charges OF bribery,
and led to the investigation. The work
seems to have been carried on with but
little effort at concealment and with but
slight attempts ofevssion. To some
OF the members the money was paid as
the result at direct bargain for their
votes to others it was paid under the
guise Of refunding to them the expense
they had incurred in procuring their
own election; and to some, money was
offered but was not accepted. The. whole
election was thoroughly corrupt from
beginning to end; there never
has been and never can be
clearer case of buying ones way into
the Senate Of the United States. The
mental qualifications; political educa-
ton learning, or craftsmanship Of the
candidate, were not for one moment
considered. None Of those elements OF
character that used to be considered
essential to a Senator Of the United
States were looked for or thought OF.
CALDWELL had money, and that was
enough. His friends admitted after the
purchase that it had cost him more
than $4,000, but he was thrifty and
shrewd, and six years lin the Senate
would afford him abundant opportuni-
ties for replenshing his store; realiz'
ing upon his investment, and growing
fat upon i'll gotten gains.
But while admitting all these things
as being abundantly proven during the
progress of the Investigations the com.
mittee has hit upon plan to spare the
feelings of the tender hearted culprlt,
and, while seeming to condemn, afford
him at least another chance OF Crafty
inr his desire for Senatorial honors. In
stead Of expelling him at once and thus
placing upon his practices the stamp
of Indignant reprobation, the committee
finds that the bribery used has simply
yitiated and rendered void his pretended
election az a Senator. and so they re.
port that ALEXANDER CALDWELL was
not duly and legally elected to seat
in the Senate OF the United States by the
legislature of the state OF Kansas"
1t is accordingly already announced
that Mr.. Caldwell will 60 back to the
Kansas Legislature and insist upon re-
election. He has paid his money and
the Legislature should deliver the goods.
If any advance in the price be insisted
upon, CALDWELL will probably find some
friend who will see it paid. He is not
man to higgls and barter over mere
trifie, and he cannot now afford to
lose the sum already invested. He may,
therefore, be expected to appear in the
next Congress, with certificate Of cleo
ton as his own successor, to fill out his
own unexpired term. The presen'
report presents no obstacle to HE
being sworn in and holding his
seat by virtue of a new cleo
ton, and it is quite probable
that the people of the United States
will. yet be compelled, in some
one OF the numerous crafty and indirect
WAYS known to modern congressman,
10 reimburse to Mr.. CALDWELL twice or
thrise the sum spen. by him in pur-
chasing his opportunity to steal.
The Committee of investigation con-
sisted Of Senators MORTON, ALcoRN'
HILL, TRuMBULL. CARPENTER, ANTHONY
and LOGAN, by the first named four Of
whom the report is signed. The re-
manning three present no minority re-
port, although it is understood that
they dissent from some of the Conclus
ions reached by the majority. The re-
solution presented requires only the
concurrence Of majority of the Sc
nate; a resolution Of expulsion would
have required two"thirds.
..rs srsI.
As may be learned from dispatch