The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-15
NEW YORK HERALD SATURDAY MARCH 49, ls7s-TRIPLE

IN UW "
and decency that the State win desire to be re,
leved OF q representative who delraudea ~ anu
that itself would annul the election hau IL the
~ T,,rd~The whole matter is RENTED to the State
~ same man It sees it, The whole pretence Of
an encroachment upon the rightiul powers OF q
The State retains unimpared the full scope and
exercise OF Its constitutional rights.
A PRECEDENT TO BE ESTABLISHED.
II Is said that there Is no precedent for the
luton. Admitted. But the disclosure in this case
has no precedent, Tor the honor OF the American
people. let me assume. II q precedent for one had
occurred, precedent for the other would have been
made. The question now is whether 1t is not nigh
time to establish one Hso, we must not shrink
OF the doctrine upon which the resOlutiC ID
based would arm the majority with dangerous
abuse That may be so but what will be the con-
sequence IT, under the circumstance now sur
rounding us. that doctrine be not adopted and
acted upon? Look around you. Rumors OF cor
ruption in Senatorial elections heard from diff
ferent parts OF the country; some groundess, no
doubt. others serious IN appearance. in two cases
Senators have been arrested after their election.
He was far from desiring to PREJUDICE any OF
he said we discern tendency Of most e ALARMING
nature, which fear IL by no means confined to
enc State. He had followed the advice OF the
the testimony. He continued. He IL what l
find. Mr. Caldwell was a man unknown IN the
service; he had no fame there was no evidence
OF uncommon abi,ity drawing upon him the
Of e people but sse was as
for high office; around him was band of political
managers, whose whole political wisdom consists
in the low tricks OF the trade and the appliances OF
corruption. Behind that group looms up one of
these great moneyed corporations whose power is
SO nS Which our ens
S %as $1,000 oas as a '0e cs%peHe
10 fNt hio 1AVvrV
in the Legislature like so many head OF cattle. So
armed aud surrounded he steps upon the scene;
money, In the election. The presence OF the temp
tatOn stimulates at once every vicious appetite.
One man whs has vote sees that another Is paid
for his. The frequency OF the practice blants the
individual conscience.
THE LEGISLATURE is TRANSFORMED INTO MARKET,
Caldwell is elected Senator. That is what read
In this testimony. Not mere isolated case OF in
and supporter, but an organized system of bribery,
q Bacchanalan riot OF corruption. 1t is clear TO
my mind that Mr.. Caldwell would never have
been elected but for the money used The money
elected him. 1t Is clear case OF purchase, by cash
down, OF seat in the Senate. II jurymaD, this
would be my verdict. The debate has only strength
ened my conviction. do not ask to be believed
upon my mere assertion. Read Tor yourselves. 1t
IL VIII certainly net stand alone If this passes
with IMMUNITY. What SHALL be done under such
circumstances What Is the duty OF those who
have formed their Judgment on the facts as have
and | know there are many here Shall we
say that although the testimony convinces us
that here seat in the Senate has been purchased
with money yet that seat shall be held by the pur
chaser II 1t had been acquired by free and hon.
est electionY Shall we declare that when man
buys seat in the Senate and pays for 1t 1t Is his
property, and that, according to article s OF the
amendment to the constitution no private prop
just compensation Shall We even encourage
such scandaOus practices by letting It be known
that we shall DO nothing to prevent their success
tons already existing by assuring to the pur-
chasers of the seat IN the Senate full security
sequences OF such indulgenceP To-day we
may still be strong enough to vndicate the purity
OF elections and the moral basis of representative
and power But you stimulate the vicious ten
dency we see here, and how long will 1t be before
chasers as to make struggle against them hope
less
THIS is NOT MERE DARK FANCY.
Tne country Is ringing with tne cry Of corruption
which seek to serve private interests by cor
rupting. use OF money, Never before has the
for this work. The civil war, with its fluctuations
OF values and It's tempting Opportunities for
the rapid acquisition Of wealth has left
q greed stimulated toinordlate activity. There is
a morbid desire to get rich. and to indulge in ex-
q growing unscrupulousness in the use OF means.
But more than that-more than ever before has the
legitimate circle and more than ever before has
the public Treasury been pressed into the service
OF private interests.
PICTURE OF CORRUPTION.
Do we not see and understand what is going on
around usP What is it that attracts to the capital
iators and their agents who So assduousy lay
siege to the judgment and also to the cOnscences
Of those ,,, who are to give to the country Its
these halls with the atmosphere of temptations
What is it that brings forth such melancholy,
such deplOrable exhibitions as the American peO-
pie have Deen beholding this Winter, and which we
would have been but too glad to hide;rom the eyes
Of the world abroadS 1t is that policy which uses
the power Of this great government for
the benefit OF favored interests; that policy
which takes money out OF the pockets OF the
tth that policy which in every country where IL
prevailed has poisoned the very fountain OF
legislation DO you think that the consequences
can be different here Arc not your great railroad
kings and mOnoposts boasting that they
buy whole State Legislatures to do their bidding9
Have we not seen some Of them sta king around
in this very Capitol like the sovereign lords OF
creatiOn2 Are not some of them Wanting them
selves already that they have made and can
make profitable investments in Congressman and
United States SenatOrsS Have we not OBJ
served the charming catholicty OF their operations
and the breadth OF their cosmOpOitanism, as shown
before the Credit Mober Committee OF the House,
when DR.. Durant said that he did not care whether
the man he supported for election was republican
or a democrat, provided he was good man And
now If you let them know that man who has pur-
chased his seat here. or for whom 1t has been pur
chased, with money, will be secure in the enjoy
ment Of the property so bought ask you, will
not their enterprise be limited only by their de-
siress And Will not their rapacious desires,
from which the country has already suffered so
much pecuniarily and morally, grew with their
opportunities AS long such evils are per-
mitt "'"cise their influence they will spread
witt tagi0n, and nothing but the
can check them. such
Is : and feels it.
Everybeu, must not
be surprised ".
THE vOie
comes up to MS with ell
lanmity OF Congress III
The senator from Wisconsin &.
rather contemporary OF TIA.
hear II, and calls 1t the clam
Let us see what kind OF m.
Scnator then read extracts from