Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-01-31
FOR S.ELR.

FOR S.ELE.
The testimony of ox-Gov. Carney in the
Caldwell case is enough to make one doubt
whether such q thing as legislative honesty
exists any longer in the United States.
When Mr.. Caldwell made up his mind to
go into the contest for the SenatUrship, lie
vowed that he would win il it cost him
$780, His first operation was to buy oil
his competitor, Mr.. Carney, for tie sum Of
$4,000 down, and $1,000 conditional upon
his (Caldwelrs) election and then he be-
gan the systematic purchase of the honora-
BILE gentlemen whose votes in the Leglsla-
ture were to confer upon him the coveted
honor. To one he paid thousand dollars,
to another twenty five hundred, to third
as much as five thousand--but this men,
bor seems to have been uncommonly high
toned. One he secured by paying OFT
note that troubled him. Another was
tempted with saddle horse, and large
amount of money besides. The whole OF
Doniphan County was fixed for 81, 900, and
at times the market was so fiat that Kansas
legislators could be bad for the ridiculous
ly low price Of $500 head. Nor was there
much difficulty or delicacy in conducting
the negotiations. When the gentlemen
heard that Caldwell was "buying," they
came forward with rush 10 offer them
selves for sale. The editor of The Leaven-
worth Times testities that Mr.. Caldwell OBJ
tanned the support of that fearless and in
dependent paper for 81 900. 1t is usual, we
believe, in transactions of this sort, for those
who receive the money to give some sort
of explanation TO their own consciences.
Some of the Legislators considered the sums
paid by Caldwell as reimbursement of
their election expenses others were COM
plimentary enough to say that as Mr..
Caldwell was very unpopular and dis
creditable person, they could not afford to
60 home and defend their course in voting
for him unless he offered compensation for
the strain upon their conscientiousness
and the damage to their standing among
their constituents. The prevalent readi-
ness to sell must have kept down the prices;
for it turned out that Mr.. Caldwell got in
to the Senate for only $50, 000--although
one of the legislators whom he had pur-
chased failed to vote according to agree
ment, and ran away with the money in his
pocket.
The question has of course occurred to a
great many people, what return did Mr..
Caldwell expect from an investment into
which he went so heavily? Men of his
stamp are not usually willing to spend
s25O,OO0 without some tangible equivalent
for their money. Perhaps certain facts
which have been developed in one COM
mittee-room Of the Capital while ex-Gov.
Carney has been enlghtning select COM
pany in another, may throw some light up
on the answer. A great deal can be made
in Congress when good things" are urged
upon Congressman in consideration of their
influence; when railroad companies want
Senators and Representatives to take "a
friendly interest in their schemes, and all
sorts of enterprises are anxious not to be
interfered with or investigated. Credit
Mobilier stocks, which pay 1900 per cent
dividends in year and half, are not to
be picked up every day but we have
Cakes Ames always with US, either in per-
son or in some Of his many imitators and
successors, and the yawning pocket need
not be long untitled. The railways prob
ably furnish Congressman of a business
turn of mind with all the trade they can
desire, and ii the truth were told We should
doubtless find on the books oil good many
corporations suspense account" like
Mr.. Duranfs s435,00O which has been
audited without very close examination
of the items. Mr.. Caldwell declared, ac-
cording to Mr.. Carney, "Lhat the Kansas
Pacific Company had promised TO pay him
some money to assist in his election, and
so far as he was concerned they would get
no legislation until they kept their prom-
ise." Mr.. Bushnell, on behalf OF the I'm
ion Pacific and Credit Mobilier, confessed
to contributing to General political pur-
poses," because it was every mans duty
TO do something "to save the country" and
the particular method by which the coun-
try was TO be saved in his case was the
of 200 to the Collection ex-
penses" Of Senator Thayer. This was a
pretty large sum, but Mr.. Bushnell said ne
was in the habit of paying from 81, 900 to
$4,000 for such purposes, lust as he would
pay taxes" Even the excellent Mr.. Har-
Ian, when he was Secretary Of the Interior.
came upon the Union Pacific for $40, 900 TO
defray the cost of electing him to the Unit
ed States Senate, though what cost there
could be in such an election unless ii was
managed like Mr.. Caldwells, has yet to be
explained.
With these instances before US we can
understand how corruption at the State
capitals Is the natural result of the loose
morality and debased sense of honor which
prevail at the national seat of government
If six years in the Senate are equivalent to
a handsome fortune, we shall have mercen-
airy adventures buying their way into the
seats of Monroe, Clay, and Webster. II
member of the House Is permitted to make
money out of his position, the House will
be over-run with scamps, and
the honest men will be driven out. There
must be thorough work with the cases now
before Congress, or we shall never have a
reform. Whatever may be said of the guilt
or innocence Of individual mem bers, there
can be no doubt that the three Investigat-
ing Committees now in session are on the
track of shameful corruption. Let each
make searching inquiry and just report;
and then we shall look to Congress for a
salulary example.-M y Tribune.