New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-25

obtained by securing the committee rooms, and
bringing out Senators who would much rather have
lodged And 30 the Civil Service is reformed.
SENATOR CALDWELL RESIGNS.
ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR MR.. CONKLING-HE DE-
SERTS HIS FOLLOwERS-PR0BABLE VOTE ON
THE CAsE-PITIABLE SITUATION OF MIR.
CALDWELL.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
WASHINGTON March Ex-senator Conkng, prob
ably foreseeing the inter rout of the party he had
assumed to lead in the defense of Caldwell and the
wholesale bribery by which he obtained temporary
seat in the Senate and not wishing, doubtless, to
witness the triumph of his rival, Senator Morton,
left the city, and his followers, with one or two ex-
ceptioDs, did not venture into the Senate Chamber
to-day until the notice of CaldwelPs resignation
had been read. In thus DESERVING the field, Mr.
Conklng, after an unbroken series Of reverses
which have followed one after another since the 4th
Of March, retires, temporarily at least, from the
contest for the leadership of the Senate, and leaves
Mr.. Morton master of the situation.
The friends of Caldwell were, until within the
last few days very hopeful that they could save
him. The Morton resolution, which it is now proper
to say was reported, instead of one of expulsion,
more out of regard for the opinions of the other
members of the Committee than from. a conviction
on his part that it was the best form in which to
bring the subject before the Senate, was open to
very grave legal objections, and the opposition to 1T
was much stronger than Caldwelps case itself was.
This circumstance was fortunate one for Cadwelis
friends and they took advantage OF 1T so that 1t 10
not probable that at any time since it was reported
Mr. Morton's resolution could have got more than 20
votes Another thing inspired the defenders III
Caldwell with hope. As long the debate was
mostly confined to legal questions. the facts shown
by the testimony, and which must have entered
into the judgment of the Senate in considering
the question of expulsion, were kept comparatively
in the back ground, while every day the Senate be-
came more and more impatient to adjourn and go
home. Could amendments have been prevented, the
resolution been kept in its original form, and the
debate continued through the greater part of the
present week. it is doubtful if the majority would
have consented to have taken Mr.. Alcorn's resolu-
ton of expulsion from tire table and the case would
have gone over after a vote HAD been taken on Mr..
Mortons. But the amendments made it impossible
to escape vote the worst form the matter could
take, aud every day saw some new convert Ito the
side Of reform and pure elections, so that when it
was discovered that eight Senators, who had been
counted upon as Caldwells friends week ago. had
gone over the Othsr side the Senator, in justice
TO those who had taken upon themselves the odium
of defending his corrupt practices in speeches, but
who wished TO escape the further dishonor Of going
upon the record by vote in favor Of those prac
tees resigned
careful canvass of the Senate on the question
of expulsion showed that, had there been 10 dodg
ing the vote would have stood about as follows:
In ne A frnatfce-Messrs. Alcorn, Allison, Anthony,
Bayard, Foreman, Boutwell,, Buckingham, Casserly,
ConOver, Cooper Cragin. Davis Dennis, Fenton, Ferry
ilton CTex) Hamilton (Md), McCreery, Merrimon,
Morrill, tMe), Morrill, Vtl. Morton, Norwood, ozesby
Dana nlGhn Aahr Gpnff 2lar
man. stevenson, Stockton, Sumner, Thurman and
Wrght-as.
Chandler, Clayton, Conkling Dorsey, Frelinghuysen,
Gilbert hitchcock Howe, Ingalls,, Jones Kelley, Lewis,
Ger, sprague, stewart. West aud Windom-25
ASs or 70, Eam0t ESssssrf gSgy
johnson, Upton and Wsdleigh-9.
Two or three of those who are here recorded in the
negative are understood to have attempted, this
afternoon convey the impression that they would
have voted in the affirmative; but as they are
known to have given private assurances the other
way within few days, they are recorded as they
have been canvassed by both sides for the past week
As the table is made up from the opinions expressed
by the several Senators in their speeches and in
private conversations it may be inaccurate in regard
to one or two men, who may have changed their
minds since expressing an opinion Mr.. Freling-
huysen tits said would have voted to Cald-
well, Dut believed expulsion severe a punish
ment Mr.. Hitchcock placed little confidence in the
testimony of any of the witnesses, but based his
opinion more on what he learned from disinterested
Kansas men whom he knew. Mr.. Ingalls's opinion
is said to have been little shaken by the debate.
At least half dozen Senators recorded in the affirm
alive would have voted No a week ago.
Mr.. Caldwell has tonight as he has had from the
beginning the sympathy Of nearly every Senator
who intended to vote for his expulsion and the &C
ton of the majority in forcing him to resign before
a vote was taken on Mr.. Mortons original PROPOSE.
tion OF upon the last substitute which in degree
covered the same ground lis characterized as nothing
short of cruelty. The vote on that resolution. for
reasons that have heretofore been explained would
have been in CaldwelPs favor and he could then
have resigned and gone back TO Kansas with much
better record AS it is, the only record that has
been made is the report Of the majority of the Com
mittee against him, for the minority who defended
him submitted no report, and the debate in which
almost every Senator whose opinion is worth any
thing, or who spoke on either side, denounced in
terms of more or less severity the practices which
sent Caldwell here This history of this case cannot
fail to make Senatorial elections purer in the future
THE POSTAL CAR CONTROVERSY.
POSTMASTER GENERAL CRRswELL pBsENrs FROM |
THE STATEMENTS OF THE RAILROAD CON-
PANIEs i