New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-27

susceptible of direct proof, but Clayton did
support Edwards openly and effectively. Not
withstanding this, however, BOles received
clear majority of several thousand votes. The
election over and Clayton back in his office,
he proceeded to carry out his bargain with
Edwards. and actually issued to him certif-
cate of election in defiance of the law and the
facts. The case went up to the House of
Representatives, and Boles was given the seat
held by Edwards, the House sustaining the
strong report of its Committee of Elections
by an overwhelming vote. SO much for that
part of the case, which is matter OF official
record.
But Clayton, having secured all the votes
he needed to make him Senator, had an en-
envy in the Lieutenant Governor j. NJ. john
son, who would succeed to the G0vernorship
in case Clayton went to the Senate. This did
not worry the Governor so much as it did his
friends, who did not want the leadership OF
the party in the State 30 go to the house OF
Johnson. These made Clayton publicly pledge
himself that he would not take the Senator
ship until the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was dis
posed of. Legal proceedings were Instituted
against Johnson, but before he could be Ousted
the election came on and Clayton was elected
United States Senator by majority OF forty
One Democrats and Republicans voting tor
him. He was under promise TO get
rid Of Johnson, however, 80 he declined
the Office and addressed himself to
the fulfllment Of that duty. r. j. L. White
was Secretary of State, but was willing to re-
sign for consideration" He was paid $4,000
in cash and $4,000 in railroad bonds from the
~ 10
Gov johnson also resigned, and was appointed
Secretary Of State in place Of White; and
Hadey, who was of the house of Clayton, and
had been previously chosen President OF the
Senate pro tenn, became Governor. Clayton
was again elected, the way now being clear,
and went to the United States Senate with the
reduced majority of votes The Arkansas
Legislature was becoming virtuOus or scared.
There is neither denial nor explanation of any OF
these facts by ClaytOn's friends. In the evidence
taken by the Special Committee of the Senate
it il shown that corrupt bargain was made
with White to induce him to resign, and that
CLAYTON sent him the certificates of deposit
which were taken in consideration of his re-
signaton. The payment was not made until
after White had resigned and Clayton had
been eleCUcu OtHdIOI. NO IiohS hCiO w w h""
by anybody. Gov Hadleys testimony before
the Committee also shows that he appointed
not less than 10 members of the Legislature
to Offices, and it is not necessary to say that
most of these men held Clayton's recommend
alton, and that all of them had voted Tor HIM
in the Senatorial canvass.
This, briefly, is the case against Powell
CLAYTON 1t is one of the strongest primd face
cases ever brought before the Senate Time
would fail us to tell of the crimes against the
right of suffrage committed by Claytons
registrars; of the irregularities to which he
was a party, and the Openness OF the bargains
by which men changed Offices and made 1t
possible for him to take the SenatOrship for
which he had traded. Yet, when the full ma
ture of that disgraceful bargain was made
plain to the Senate Committee, they Innocent
~ said that to conclude that Clayton furnished
the $4,000 which he paid White would be to
proceed upon mere presumption; and that
such presumption would be IN the race OIL
the fact that 1T had been demon
strated more than once that he mad
"a clear majority in both houses of the Legs
Stature" What petty quibbling is this! The
$50 900 paid to White was to induce him to
get out of the way so that Johnson could be
appointed Secretary of State and Clayton be
enabled to keep his bargain and take the
waiting SenatOrship. And this is the way In
which the United States Senate treats case
of great gravity and magnitude The evidence
was taken in secret; it is yOluminous and In
volyed and it has been on the desks of Sen
ators but thirty busy days We have shown
how clear an analysis of the evidence makes
the case against Clayton; and the Senate has
shown how little it cares for its honor or its
standard of integrity by its summary disposal
of the whole matter. BY vote of thirty three
the Senate decides that the charges affecting
the official conduct of Senator Powell Clayton
are not sustained. Several of the new men
who have just got into their Senatorial chairs
voted as confidently as the rest on the matter
about which they knew absolutely nothing.
The people may or may not be corrupt the
| Senate has Clayton i'll 1t.