New-York tribune., 1873-03-21
us. .SENATE-spEoIAL SESSION
A TILT BETWEEN SENATORS C0NKLING
AND SCHURZ.
WASHINGTON. Thursday. March 20. 1873.

Il was resolved that tho Committee on Public Printing
be instructed TO inquire into the number Of bills reports
and public printed for the use OF the sehate
and report what changes. II any, are necessary.
On motion OF Mr.. ANTHONY, the daily hour OF meet
ing OF the Senate was fixed Ut 1880 until otherwise
ordered.
THE CALDWELL CASE.
The Senate resumed the confederation the Caldwell
question.
MIR. Conkling Rep., NJ ". who was entitled to tho
floor, being absent. Mr.. HAMILTON Dem, Md ex-
pressed his views the subject arguing that the Senate
could not 90 behind the election OF Senator and inquire
into the conduct motives OF members composing the
Legislature To do would tend to destroy the princ
pies on which our Government ts founded. therefore
he could not vote for the pending resolution declaring
the seat of the Senator from Kansas vacant but there
was no doubt as TO the power to ee Senator who has
passed beyond the control OF the Legislature ana IL
amenabe only to the Senate They could by its exer-
else redress the wrongs committed the people and on
the Senate and that he preferred The testi-
mony showed horrible condition Of moral and political
affairs IN the State OF Kansas in which the 5enator
from that State became involved He could not com
promise with fraud and, while he sympahized with the
person on whom he was called 10 pass Judgment. he
could not escape c0ndemnng the act Oh the senator
from Kansas In the most solemn form.
MR.. coYKLrse CONTINUES HIS SPEECH
Mr.. CoNKLING (Rep., N.Y. resumed bis remarks from
be adopted It would stand recorded 10 the Senate hat
no choice of Senator made In Kansas In 1871, and
that the seat held by Mr. Ross has been vacant
since Mr. Ross departed aud that under these GU
cumstances there would be such vacancy as the Gov
ernor OF Kansas could all by temporary appointment.
He alluded to other difficulties which would attend tne
passage of the resolution aud in the course of his re-
marks said bribery, like all other crimes, must
be established by legal evidence. The Senator
from Wisconsin Carpenter whoor 20 years has studied
legal evidence has said to the Senate that upon the tes
mony in the pending intelligent and upright jury
or court could find solitary instance OF bribery OF
any member OF the Legislature Of Kansas The senator
from Illinois (dr Logan, another member OF the Com
mttee on Privileges and Elections has spoken to the
same effect The Senator from Rhode Island thr.
Anthony, a third member OF the Committee also
dssented from tho report, though u
has expressed opinion. The report
came from members OF the Committee. Mr.. Conkling
condemned grossly perncious and ndefensible the
payment by Mr. Caldwell Of $4,000 TO Mr. Carney to for
bear action iu his behalf and to support Mr. Cald-
well for Senator but this did not show the bribery OF
the Legislature which elected Mr. Caldwell. In conclu-
sion said believed the discussion would concen-
trate burning focus OF public attention the lax aud
culpabe agencies which tamper with elections and that
the States and Congress would severay pass laws
furnishing bribery In elections. He hoped after the
termination OF this case the record would show the
American Senate was calm enough, placid enough, firm
enough trustful enough to maintain the genius, the
spirit the methods and the safeguards OF the Constu
tion as our fathers gave 1t to us.
PERSONAL DEBATE BETWEEN MEssRs. scHURz AND coSK-
LING
Mr.. sCHURZ lib. Rep, MOI alludng to a portion Of
Mr. Conkling's remarks. asked the Senator from
NewYork (Conkling) whether he had readn The wash
ington Chronicle article severely crticisng his
(Schurzs) late speech and saying it was welknown
fact that this immaculate reformer had received 500
fee for each speech be made during the late political
campaign"
Mr. CONKLING remarked that he little sur
prsed that the Senator should mako such inquiry OF
him.
Mr. sCHURz said he was a little surprised after the
friendly discussion here that the Senator should have
made such alluson TO MIN. He characterized the
story absolute and unmitigated fabrication. He
not only did not ask pay. but never received single
cent.
Mr. C0NKLING inquired whether the Senator meant
the last previouses canvasses.
Mr. sCHURZ replied that year ago there were sim
liar charges against him in NewYork newspaper. and
he then pronounced them base and unmtigated false
hoods. During the late campaign he received small
contribution from Liberal Republican source, which
covered about one-ha the amount he had paid for doc
uments out OF his own pocket Whenever compensation
was offered he refused to receive cent. When,
after bitter campaign as that through which
the country nad passed. Senators nau met
again friendly spirit and debated public affairs for
months kndest and most courteous tone he must
express his surprise that the Senator from NewYork
(Conkng should feel called upOn unprovoked to make
such alusion TO him. He did not the prOprey Of
1t. He did not wish to engage in personal discussion
but this from apprehension OF the consequences
Mr. CONKLING said he had nothing to do with the
exoneraton from the charges but the Senator
had read him a to the propriety of his argu
ment He denied right OF the Senator to criticise
argument the he had The Senator placed
himself the attitude OF assuming that he guilty
Of practice which extraordinary that 1t was not
the privilege OF others but his alone He had apology
to make 10 the Senate, but would stand by the
and soundness Of what he had said.
II the Senator had ever denied that money
was paid to him during former campaigns he had
never heard it, He should grove to hear him deny
this floor elsewhere that he received money for
services during the former campaigns The Senator
Missouri forced him to say this, and reminded him
that previous occasion he schurD denied charges
made in New-Ycrk paper. He again said he did not
the Senator at the time to receiving pay during
those campaigns. He hoped the Senator from Missouri
would put to him the question OF localities and times
Mr. sCHURZ replied he had never said that in former
campaigns he refused to take from political committees
money to compensate him for his expenses Neither did
he think there anything improper In doing so. He
stated year ago last January In reply 10 article In
NewYork newspaper that during Is years OF campaign
speaking almost every State outside Of the Southern
States, being himself hot rich and having no
money 70 spare, but working week after
week and month after month, in behalf
Of the Republican party he did, and obliged TO take
compensation for his expenses TO enable him to do the
work 20 which be was inv ted He wished to address
remark TO the Senator from New-York tConkug,, and
TO test the observance Of decency this OCCASION The
Senator had the right to argue the pending question in
his own way but when he interrupted the amenities
which should always prevail among Senators,
to refer TO a slander against Senator
this floor, he would ask the Senator from
New-York what he would think 0 him II he
had repeated that the Senator from New-York