The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1879-04-24
4 December, and that none of the Senatorial

of December. and that none of the Senatorial
rumors had yst reached us, or, at least, had new
er attracted our attention-we were seated, one
Sunday night, in our home, engaged in wri ting
wisdom for the Chief when there was "an alarm
at the door, Upon opening it, We found gen.
tleman who had long been q warm personal
friend-and political, too, as far as Republican
ism was conce.ned-but be was an ardent Lane
man, and We know that he sustained intimate
and confidential relations with the "Grim Chief
TAIN" However, We did not think of Lane, on
seeing our friend, but were pleased to have .
visit from him, although marvelling somewhat
at the present visit, it was the FIRST of the
kind We had ever received from him at our
home. The conversation, for some length of
time, was upon general topics. Finally our Wis.,
itor remarked:
"What fool you are to work you do, when
you might have a better thing"
| We replied that it was the only kind of work
we understood, and could see no outcome but to
work out.
Said he, "You might Just as well have this In
dian Agency mp here ss not You can get it, if
You want it.'
We answered that we had tried that once, and
failed, and were we'll of that complaint; but
that if We did want it, Major Burbank had too
much hacking at headquarters to make it worth
while trying.
"But," said our friend, "Bnrbank is after some
thing else and if he can get it, be will give mp
this place, and you can get it, just as well as
not
We asked him to explain.
"Well," said he, "you know that Burbank has
had difficulties with the Indians, and he doesn't
feel safe among them. He has been anxious,
for some time, to secure Paymastership in the
army, like his brother Ed. There is q position
vacant, and it is at Lanes disposal. Now, if you
wish, Burbank can be appointed to that Office,
and You can step into his place."
"But," said we, shat Agency has been made
q Nebraska appointment, and some one from
that Territory will claim it."
"Oh, Lane can get anything he wants from
Lincoln, and that can be made Kansas ap-
pointment, if necessary"
"But," We argued, "what good would that do
us.f We have never been q supporter of Lane,
and he has friends enough of his own that are
hungry for Office, and watching for something
to turn up"
81 am authorized to say" said he, "that Lane
has no feeling against you, but wants to be
friendly with you and if you are smart now is
your opportunity"
"What will be expected Of ~
well, who are you in favor of for United
States Senator! You know there is not another
man in the State that can fill the place as we'll
as Lane does"
"But We shall not have vote for Senator.
Our time will be out before an election occurs,
and the Legislature elected next Fall will have
the choosing of q Senator"
ayes, you will have a vote "A Senator will be
elected this Winter"
"Whose plan is that ~
"Lane'sn
"But it is not the right time.'
at is just as right as any other time You
know Lanes power at Washington, and if he
wants this, he will have it, and it will be made
right. You had better think over what have
said to you."
From that time on, we heard Senatorial rum
blings, which is evidence that other agents had
been at work in other quarters. Not till aboat
the time the Legislature convened, did the cry
against an election 60 mp from Lanes friends.
They had felt all over the ground, and found it
not safe. Upon arriving at Topeka, and COM
pairing notes, we found at least half dozen diff
ferent Senators who had been approached by
Lanes agents, the same as we had. The election
of Robert G. Elliott from Douglas County, in
place of Thorp, an anti-Lane man, who had been
murdered by QuantrelIs gang, had given Lane |
encouragement. All things pointed in the same |
direction. |
By reference to the files of the Chief, We find |
that our first mention of the Senatorial scheme |
was in the issue of December 3lst, 1863. The |
tone of the article agrees with what we have |
hitherto stated. 1t shows that the preva- |
lent opinion was, that Lane had been at work |
fixing mp an election, but in such Q way that he |
could get the benefit of it if be had a majority |
in the Legislature, but if not, that he could |
throw the blame Of the business upon Carney, |
and denounce it as a fraud.
The reference to Mr.. Sternberg does not mend |
the matter. While bribery was charged upon |
Carney and his friends, all the outward signs |
indicated that it was on the other side. Stern
berg was soon afterwards appointed Revenue
Assessor, and it was generally believed that he
had been bought. From that time forward, he
became one of Lanes most servile tools. Nc
Grew, who opposed the "Fraud," was nominated
and elected Lieutenant Governor on the Lane |
ticket. A Senator from this County was ap-
pointed Agent of the Kickapoo Indians, but
kicked ont after the next Falls election, to
make room for one with whom Lane had con-
tracted a subsequent political debt. A number
of Others received appointments. We have no
doubt that another Senator from this County
could have secured the Agency of the Iowas and
Sacs, had he so desired, and would probably
have been kicked ont, after the election.
This is what we know about the Senatorial
election of 1864.
II The Democratic papers are publishing an
account of what they call an affecting scene, de.
scribinu Tildsn Mt the halsda nf annllanf d.. |