Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-17
The Case Of senator Caldwell.

REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PRIVILEGES
AND INSTRUMENTATION NOT LEGALLY
ELECTED-AS MUCH SINNED AGAINST AS SIN
MING.
Mr.. Morton, from the Senate committee on
privileges and elections, which for several
weeks past has been engaged i'm investigating
the charges of bribery made against Senator
Alexander Caldwell, i'm connection with his
election by the Kansas legislature as United
States Senator, made report to-day, which was
laid on the table, to be called up at any time
The committee are Of the opinion that the ar
rangement between Caldwell and Governor
Carney was corrupt; was against public policy;
was demoralizing in its character; directly con-
Iibuted to destroy the purity and freedom of
election, and not to be tolerated by the Senate
of the United States as a means OF procuring a
seat in that body.
The report says that buying Off opposing can
didates, and in that way securing the votes of
all or the most of their friends is i'm effect buy
ing the Office. 1t recognizes candidacy for Office
as understandable commodity, a thing having
money value, and is as destructive TO the
purity and freedom of elections the direct
bribery of members of the legislature. A can
didate for the Senate, without strength or merit,
may, by purchasing the influence and support
OF all or a part Of his competitors, and with
drawing them from the canvass, succeed i'm an
election, thus, not only committing fraud
upon the friends of the candidates who were
purchased Of, but greater fraud upon the
people OF the state who may be thus saddled
with representative I'm the Senate of the
United States about whom they know little, for
whom they care nothing, and who possesses
little ability to represent their interests.
In regard to the transaction between Cald-
well and Sidney Clarke, the report saws the
latter had several conferences i'm this CITY with
MIR. Caldwell, in which Caldwell promised to
pay Clarke from 1000 to $15, 900 for his ex-
penses in the senatorial contest, but never did
SO. MI. Clarke was unwilling to admit that he
had made an agreement to transfer his friends
to Mr. Caldwell in consideration of the latter's
promise to pay this money, but taking all the
testimony together the committee have no
m rot he froNa nnffA l.oA.-
Mr.. Clarke was as has been stated Mr.. Cald-
wells subsequent refusal to paw the money to
Mr.. Clarke does not relieve the character of
the exposure Of Mr. Caldwell and the institu
ton OF this examination. There was nothing i'm
the evidence to show that Mr.. Clarke's expenses
In the senatorial canvass, or in the preceding
canvass before the people, amounted to half
the sum which Mr.. Caldwell was to pay him.
The committee have had much difficulty in
tracing the money transactions; but the evil
uence shows that various sums, amounting to
over $50 600, were drawn under circumstances
mat make 1t probable they were used to pro-
cure Mr.. Caldwells election. The testimony
OF Mr. Sprfggs is very full, and shows that the
canvass OF Mr.. Caldwell was thoroughly cor
ruRt, and that money was the chief argument
The report concludes as follows:-s.It has bean
q subject Of discussion in the committee whether
the offenses Of which they believe Mr.. Caldwell
to have been guilty should be punished by ex-
pulsion or 60 to the validity of his election, and
validity OF his election and had the effect to
make 1t void. wherefore the committee recon-
mend to The Senate the adoption Of the follow
Resolped, That Alexander Caldwell was M.
duly and legally elected to q seat in the SENATE
Of the United States by the Legislature of the
In conclusion the committee remark th..
while Mr.. Caldwell did things to procure nj,
election which cannot be tolerated by the Sem
ate, they believe he was a. much sinned aoainst
Is aiming: He was novice in politics. and evil
IDENTITY IN the hands OF men who encouraoed him
in the belief that senatorial elections in ansss
were carried by the use of money.
The minority of the committee, Senators Lo-
gan, Carpenter and Anthony dissent from the
majority report, upon the ground that there WAS
not snmcienf evidence of bribery to justify it.
The case viii be argued at great lenete in Omen
Senate before the decision e reached.
CAMEL CoAL.-The charlottesville. Va.
Raslight company have made arranoements,'
since the completion of the Chesapeake And
Ohio railroad, to use camel coal from the west.
by which they viii be enabled to furnish Gas al
as heretofore. - '