New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-26
TWO SENATORIAL INVESTIGATIONS.

Two SENATORIAL INVESTIGATIONS.
The Senate took up, yesterday, the cases of
Messrs. Bogy of Missouri and Clayton of Ar
kansas, and disposed of them forthwith Mr..
Bogy was accused of using corrupt means
to procure his election by the Missouri Legisla-
ture, before he came to the Senate. An inves-
tigation was ordered, and it was shown, after
a searching inquiry, that the only attempt at
bribery was made by the supporters OF his chief
competitor for the prize. One ELUSIVE youth,
a son of Bogys adversary, testified to his hav-
ing gone to Jefferson City with generous
sum, which he had borrowed of his mother for
the purpose of buying up the Legislature.
His artless explanation was that he thought
the affair easy of accomplishment, good
dinners and unlimited champagne being his
main reliance in the noble work. lie went
home with the greater part OF his cash unex-'
pended. Bogy was elected. The Legislative
investigation having failed to damage any
but Bogy's opponents, it was Immediately
bruited abroad that his prosecutors would
appeal to the United States Senate.
no specific charges were made, and
nothing but the vaguest allegations appeared
in the memorial which was prepared by thirty
seven members of the Legislature and sent to
the Senate. That memorial merely said that
the Legislative investigation was imperfect
and conducted with languor No hint as
to the means by which new evidence
could be obtained was given, and
that already collected by the Legis-
Iative Committee and forwarded to the
Senate was frivolous, weak and imPertnent.
These facts and opinions are not The TRIB-
UNE's special property. They were embodied
in the report of the Senate Committee that
investigated the case, of which Mr. Morton is
Chairman and number of Administra-
ton Senators constitute the majority. We
had right to expect searching
and rigorous inquiry into Mr.. Bogy's
case. He is a Democrat If Administration
Senators wanted an opportunity to show the
country that on occasion they could be re-
lentlessly and virtuOusly severe with brother
Senator suspected of corruption, here was
their chance. We must presume that they
improved the opportunity; but their re-
port concludes with the statement that the
evidence submitted makes no case for investi-
CATION by the Senate; and they ask discharge
from any further consideration of the same.
Mr.. Bogy, who has manfully held his peace
and withheld his vote all this time, is honora-
bly, and completely exonerated by Committee
largely made up of his political opponents.
The Senate has had about thirty days in
which to examine the evidence and reports in
the Clayton case. 1t required nine months to
60 through the investigation; and since the
reports were made, the Senate has discussed
and decided numberless other matters, of
which Senatorial corruptions were promi-
nent. The charges against Clayton
were specific and backed by volumnOus
evidence. That he used his power
as Governor to influence cOrruptly his election
as Senator, and was party to an open bargain
by which general swapping of State offices was
made to prepare the way for his election, was
notorious long ago. In fact, no denial of the
general charge has been made by anybody;
and it was not until yesterday, while the
case was before the Senate that Clayton
(nO longer on his oath) denied that he con-
tributed anything to the fund used to hire
the Arkansas Secretary of State to agree to
the shameful trade among the State officials.
But the Senate was in a hurry to get rid of
this troublesome business. Mr.. Clayton had
been TRANQUILITY resting IN the hands
of his political friends about as
long as he thought it worth while;
80 the case was airily taken up and disposed
of in less time than a glib auctiOneer might
knock down a choice lot of Senate Chamber
furniture. Astonished at this summary way
of getting rid of a grave case. the Democratic
and Liberal Republican Senators declined to
vote. They dared not risk their cOnsciencesi in
vote on a matter which no Senator could pos
sbly have had time to examine. Thirty-three
Republicans, less sensitive or more knowing,
ratified off vote generating the accused
Clayton. Six Democrats negatively protested
and thirty three Senators of all parties declined
to vOte-Mr Carpenter giving notice that he
joined the Democratic party for this occasion
only and would not vote.
These two Investigations seem to tell their
own story. Both were conducted by Commit
tees of which Administration Senators were "A
majority. The defendant in one case is I'M
friendly to the dominant party in the Senate;
in the other he is in full sympathy with that
party. Both are found Not Guilty. Honors
are easy. The Investigators were glad to say
that there was no case against Mr.. Clayton.
Being only human, and politicians at that,
they would not have been displeased if they
could have convicted Mr.. Bogy. 1t is pity
that policy in one case and the facts in an
other compelled the acquittal of both defend
ants. There are no more prisoners in the
dock. The Senate has lost its chance of max
ing an awful example of somebody.
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TEgTJkG At HUH1N FR1IITY