The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-16
General Feeling that the Senator Should Ask
an Inquiry-The Action of Henry Clay
When His Honesty Was Questioned.
The Presidential Succession Bill Passes
the House Without Change.
Gen. Tom Browne States His Position on the
Silver Question: Spirited Session of
the Naval Affairs Committee.
SENATOR PAYNE.
What Henry Clay Did When His Integrity
Was Assailed.

What Henry Clay Did When His Integrity
Was Assailed.
| Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan 15-The letter of Colonel
Donavin, formerly aleadng Democratic editor of
Ohio, charging Senator Henry B. Payne, of that
State. with having secured his seat inthe Senate
by bribery, and giving the names of the senators
and representatives in the Ohio Legislature who
| received the bribes and also the amount paid
each one for his vote, caused great sensation in
political circles here. All day long yesterday
the Donavin letter was the subject of converse
tion among men of all parties here, and the con-
clusion was almost unanimous that Senator
Payne owed it to himself to the
State he partly represents in the Senate,
and, above ALL to that body itself, that
he should meet the charges made by rising in
his place in the Senate and demanding
a close scrutiny of the means resorted to to
secure his election to the Senate The prece-
dents of the past all in favor of his pursuing
such course Many such precedents might be
named, some of them involving men of the very
| highest standing before the country One of
the most notable cases was that of Henry Clay,
at that time the idol of the Wings. not only of
his own State but also Of the entire country.
One George Cramer. of Pennsylvania. charged
Mr.. Clay with selling his votes for the presi-
dency in the House of Representatives (the
election having been thrown into the Honse) to
John Quincy Adams in payment for his (AIr.
Clay's) being made Secretary of State of Mr.
Adams's Cabinet as he subsequently was Mr.
Clay promptly, and with burning words,
denounced the charges in his place in Congress
as false and sanderous, and demanded prompt
investigation of his conduct in connection with
the election Of Mr.. Adams by the House.
Now when man of such vast influence as
Mr. Clay felt called upon to take such course,
the quid nuncs of the capital fail to see how Mr.
Payne can afford to permit these specific and d.
rect charges of bribery to ran,aiE unnotieed, or
how he can refrain from rising in his place in
the Senate and demanding that he either
be vindicated, if he is innocent, or ex-
PEELED, if he is guilty. as charged. Men
of all parties are anxious to see what course
he will pursue 1t he asks for an investigation
it is said it will be granted, and it is asserted
that much more damaging testimony than was
given in Donavins letter will be brought out.
and thatthe end will be Mr. Payne's expulsion
and the election of Republican to succeed him
This matter has gone too far to remain unno-
ticed entirely by the Senate. It is known here
that there are other Ohio Democrats who know
all about the purchase of Senator Payne's seat
in the Senate-more, even than Donavin him
self does-who are ready to tell their story
whenever asked to do so by the United States
Senate