Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-24
EXECUTIVE SESSION OF the SENATE
MONDAY, March "a.
SENATOR Caldwell RESIGNS.


The Vice President laid before the Senate q
letter from Alexander Caldwell stating that he
had resigned las seat a. a Senator from Kansas.
and Also a copy OF Mr.. Caldwellls letter of
resignation to the Governor OF Kansas now ia
this city, and letter from Governor sbOrn
acknowledging the receipt OF the same.
Mr.. Morton then stated that a. chairman. OF
the committee on privileges aud election, he
CONSIDERED his duty i'm connection with The case
at an end.
Mr.. Fenton stated he had proposed 70 submit
some remarks on the subject this morning hut
sunpoSsa now ~ would not be proper 20 DO 20.
Mr.. Wright then moved TO taxi up the
CASE OF Mr.. CLAYTON, or ARKANSAS
MI. Thurman hoped this case would be
allowed 10 60 over tiil the next session. and ,aid
IT was manfestly impossible Tor Senators 10
vote understan"ingly upon IL a this time a.
they had no opportunity TO examine the test
monv.
Nj. Wright insisted that il Wa. a matter nj
justice TO the Senator affected. TO the Scnatu
ana TO the country, that this ase should be lis
posed OF now. Most of the facts i'm the case had
been before the Senate for Is months and the
hnal report was made more than a month ago
MI: Clayton also demanded, az qua 20 him
and due 10 his state, that the Senate should act
on his case BOW. He considered that he had
the right TO ask this of the Senate.
Mr.. Thurman said. nothing but the desire 70
do exact justice bad led him TO make the sng-
gestion for delay, but NJ Senators could say
tll1J i.s.Is @ AL the testimony and were prepared
to vote on it, he should make no objection.
ice before Inc Caldwell case was taken up and
several times since, that he proposed TO ask
that the Clayton case be proceeded with. He
thought il was the duty of the Senate 20 clear
the criminal docket at this called session: and
he proposed to 90 on with the civil docket at
the beginning OF the next session.
Mr.. Norwood, a member OF the committee OF
investigation, regretted that Mr.. Wright had
made the motion to take mp the case at this
time. He asked any Senator here whether he
had read the testimony reported 10y this com
mittee. He said to the Senator from Iowa
{Wright) and the Senator from Arkansas
(Claytonl that ii this case was pressed TO hear
ing now, the country would say that the deci-
son, whether pro or con, had been made with
out due deliOeratiOn, and that IL would be, in
fact, "A snap jud gment.
In answer to question Of Mr. Wright, he said
that he was eonversart with all the facts HIM
self, but that he laboring under a very
severe cold now and would not he able to par
ticipate in the discussion to-day, at least.
MIR. AlcOrn thought il was the duty OF the
ing upon them. Would any Senator come here
next session any better prepared TO act in this
case than be was now.
Mr.. Morrill, (Me.) did not see how the Senate
could avoid acting on this case At this time. a.
twas plainly DIRE 10 the Senator from Arkansas.
MIR Bayard sad the session would have e. De
prolonged very considerably IL the Senate in
tended To afford the opportunity 90 enable Sem
atoTs 10 acc ulre the necessary inIoT nation; and
As Tor himself. ii sufficient tine was not given
for this, he should be iIhpelled b. a sense or
uuty 20 refrain from expressing any lnj .gmCnt
in the matter.
Mr.. Ferry Conn said he had read the testi
mony i'm this case. and satisfied from the
knovledged derived by thar perusal that even
handed justice would be reached by taking 4
up now, rather than by waiting until next
session.
Mr.. Wright said there would be no disposition
on the part OF the majority "a the committee -
press il TO an early decision.
The motion TO take up was then agreed to, As
follows:
aYEs-Messrs. Acorn, Allison, Ames, + ,gy. Bore
man, Boutwell,. Buckingham, Chandler. Clagtrn,
1fagB, Dorsey, Ferry Of Conn.,, Fern Of NJ IN
ErelingLuysen, Giitert, G 5lGtwaite, Hitchcock,
Howe, Ingalls, Lewis, Logan. Mitchell, NORTH IL
Maine, Morrill, af Vermont, NJ prton. ogIesby, Pa
Sherman, Spencer, Stewart, West, Window, aRi
MTight-3s.
NoE>-Messrs. Baya',i, Casserly, Davis, Feu.on
Gordon, Hamilton 81 Texas, koNy. Mercer.
IeTTiTuun Norwood, salisbury, SteN easOD, :; Jck
tor. ana ThuTman-Ii.
Mr.. Morton, 10y unanimous consent. submit
ted resolutions, W hich were laid over. rendering
the congratulations OF the Senate TO the gov
ernment of Spain for its abolition OF slavery IN
Porto Rico.
Mr.. Wright then said he would not ask that
tina discussion in the Clayton case proceed III
to morrow.
~ tie suggestion of Mr.. Stewart the report
on the case was then read from the desk.
When the reading of the report was conclg-
ded, at half-past . O'Clock, the Senate went
into executive session.