Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-02
A BIT OF HISTORY.
The Story OF the Senate's Investigation
OF Mr.. Payne's Seat.

In connection with the rejection BY the Sem
ate Of Murat Halstead's nomination to be min
lister to Germany brief recall Of the incidents
in the investigation Of the election OF Senator
Payne, the result of which was so severely com
mented Upon by Mr.. Halstead, will prove inter-
estiDg. Resolutions were passed by both
branches of the Ohio legislature that the senator
had purchased his seat by the corrupt use of
money and demanding that the United States
Senate should rigidly investigate the case. The
inquiry was made by the Senate committee on
privileges and elections, then composed of
Messrs. Pugh, salisbury, Vance and Eustis,
democrats, and Teller, Evsrts, Logan, Hoar
and Frye, republicans. The reports were sub
mitted, the hrst signed by Messrs. Pugh, Vance
salisbury and Eustis, all democrats, declar-
ing that there was nothing to justify
the continuance of the negotiations, as
no member of the committee. no witness. Rep
resentatiye or other person has expressed the
opinion or intimated any belief or suspicion
that Henry b. Bayne is or was connected in the
remotest degree by act or knowledge with any
thing that was or may have been wrong or
criminal or immoral in his election.
A special report signed by Messrs. Teller,
Evarts, and Logan also advised against the
continuance Of the investigation, because to
invalidate Mr.. Payne's election the evidence
should show that the fraud alleged to have
been committed embraced enough Of the yot-
ing electors to have changed the result, which
did not appear in this instance.
The third report signed by Senators Hoar
and Frye, opens with the statement that the
Senate is the only court which has or, under
the Constitution, possibly can have jurisdiction
OF this question. There can be no trial, inquiry.
or adjudication anywhere else to which this in
quiry Is not totally foreign and immaterial.
The courts in Ohio may exercise jurisdiction of
the offense OF bribery of or by an individual.
But the question whether the result of an cleo
ton OF a Senator was thereby changed can
never be before those courts. Either house of
the legislature may inquire as to the personal
turpltude OF Its own members. But the action
which may result from such investigation must
be precisely the same. whether other persons
were or were not corrupted and whether the
choice of Senator were or were not affected.
"As the Senate" the report goes on to say,
lis the only court that can properly try this
question, SO the charge is made. if not in the
only way it can be made, yet certainly in which
1t can be made with more authority. For the
Senate to refuse to listen to this complaint so
made would, it seems to US, be everywhere
taken to be declaration that it is indifferent
TO the question whether its seats are TO be in
the future the subject of bargain and sale or
may be presented by few millionaires as q
compliment to a friend.
No more fatal blow can be struck at the
Senate, or at the purity and permanence of re-
ment OF this precedent"
The report admits that the evidence thus far
produced is not sufficient to inculpate Senator
Payne, but contends that large and reputable
element in Ohio claims it has more evidence TO
produce, and protests that 1t should be allowed
to be presented. Then follows the arraign-
ment in detail, which the element referred to
claims to be able to support. and urges that
this was an opportunity for the Senate to set a
precedent for Furnishing the crime of bribery,
and closes with a resolution to investigate the
title of MIR. Payne to his seat, and to sit during
recess for that purpose. This resolution. how
ever, was lost and the investigation ceased.
This was on July 23 1886, and on the follow
ing day Mr.. Halstead commented in the Gin
cinnati Commercial on the result of the Senate s
action as follows: ''Itwas a sickening spectacle
and the only relief is found in the thought that
perhaps 1t has come in time to suggest to the
nation that an administration conducted by
such men will not be wanted by an honest
people. The black list entire is Cameron,
Chace, Cullom, Evarts, Ingalls,, Jones, Logan,
Miller, Plumb, Riddleberger. Sawyer, Sewell.
Teller, Van Wyck. To classify in a single SEN
tence, it is made up of millionaires, servants of
corporations, Logan men and corruptionists.
There was not vote cast that was actuated by
the slightest regard for the honor Of the Senate
or of purity of politics. Each man should be
burned in efigy on every cross-road in Ohio"