Year: 1873




WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator Bog,
of Missouri, said that during his absenc,
yesterday memorial was presento.a, ,ron
certain members OF the Missouri Legisla
ture asking the Senate to investigate tht
charges ofimproper means, bribery and cor
ruption in the procurement of his election
He then proceeded to relate the circufn
stances under which be was elected. Ii
that contest Il WIS alleged money had beer
ueed, but at no time was he or his distin
guished competitor charged with usins
money. One man, however, without poll
teal distinction, but of large fortune, wa.
charged with having made up bis mind t.
buy bis seat. Immediately after his (Rogy's,
election a RESOLUTION was passed by the
House OF Representatives for the ap
continent of committee to in
quire whether money was improperly
used in the Senatorial election. After near.
ly one month the committee made a
lengthy report, in which it was said there
was no evidence, directly or indirectly; to
cr,minete the Senator eject (Bogy), and
fully exonerated him. The committee also
found that no member of the General As
sembly received money, directly or indi-
rectly, to influence his vote, At his in
stance the committee extended the investi-
cation and made snotEsf report, reafirm.
ing the FIRST report, and asked to be dis
charged. This matter, it was thought, was
ended, but it appeared some of the Repub-
lcans had presented memorial to the Sen
ate, asking for investigation. This memo
rial was in general terms. 1t did not say
anything could be proved. This was a
matter of great Importance. Here was a
State which had az bright a record and
whose escutcheon was as clear of stain as
any other State, and therefore he might
well claim as a right due to himself and
to the State that the Senate at once take up
the case. If he had any reputation for
anything above another it was that of be-
ing an honest man, and though he admitted
he was an ardent politician he had never
been charged with corruption. He did not
like to be held up before the country as a
man who had obtained his seat here by i'm
proper means. BE could not vote to expel
or retain any member of this body while
he himself was subject TO inves igstion.
Under these circumstance he should suspend
his functions on all such questions.


Bleeding Kansas.


The Senate then resumed the c9nsideTa-
ton of the Caldwell case.


Mr.. Norwood said the Senate had per-
feet and absolute power to declare void an
election procured by bribery and fraud,
and remit the matter to the State for a
new election.


Mr.. Thurman said the result of his ex
animation of the testimony was that the
election of Caldwell was thoroughly cor
rupt. He had ex smined much evidence in
bis time, and never had be seen evidence
SO conclusive and damning as this. He
found the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions unanimously reported the most
material facts.


Mr.. Carpenter replied that, as member
of the committee, he dissented from the
finding of the facts, but he had not time to
write dissenting report.


Mr.. Thurman did not deny what the
Senator said, but he found the facts in the
report upon which they were called 10 acs.
If they did not turn out man whose cleo
ton was procured by fraud or declare a
seat vacant until they Obtained stronger
testimony, the power to do so might as well
be stricken from the constitution. The
legal argument was, in narrow compass,
that the Senate has tbs power under the
constitution to judge of the election, quail
fications and returns of its members, and
therefore it could not be violation of State
rights to exercise the power conferred in
that instrument.


No further debate took place.


Mr.. Window offered a resolution that the
Committee on Transportation be author
lied to sit during recess AMI report to the
Senate on the subject of transportation be-
tween the interior and the seaboard, with
power to send for persons and papers, etc.


The Senate then went into Executive ses-
sion, and afterward adjourned.