KANSAS. 



395 



ter. I have had the unpleasant and unenviable sensa- 

 tion of handling the pitch that deflleth, but my feel- 

 ings were secondary to the common weal. In fact, 

 they were not taken into the account. In a solemn 

 exigency and forlorn hope of this character, I con- 

 sider it any man's highest honor, in however ques- 

 tionable a guise his service comes, to man the breach, 

 and. if such a cause needed its atoning victim, I would 

 gladly offer myself as a sacrifice. 



I promised, in consideration of $8,000 in hand paid, 

 to vote for Samuel C. Pomeroy, and I here and now 

 redeem that pledge, by voting for him for a term in 

 the penitentiary, not exceeding twenty years. 



In concluding his remarks, Senator York 

 said : 



I demand, Mr. President and gentlemen, that the 

 actions of Samuel C. Pomeroy m this contest be 

 thoroughly examined, and that the corruption mone^r 

 that lies upon the table bo the instrument of retri- 

 bution in prosecuting that investigation. I further 

 demand that this body give to-day such an expres- 

 sion of their sentiment in this matter that the 

 regeneracy of our glorious young commonwealth 

 m:iy be proclaimed throughout the land, and that 

 K ui-us may stand erect and free among the States 

 of the Union, pure among the purest, and honored 

 throughout the world. The statements I have made, 

 gentlemen, are but partial and incomplete. The hour 

 or two that I passed in the den of infamy in the 

 Teflft House let in upon my mind such a flood of en- 

 lightenment as to the detestable practices of tho 

 Kansas politician that I have no words in which to 

 express the knowledge that I gained of the depth 

 of degradation that a pure republican government 

 has reached. The disclosures there made implicate 

 some of the most prominent and respectable men 

 in Kansas. I learned from Mr. Pomeroy's lips that 

 his spies and emissaries were working in our cau- 

 cuses to sell us out. Thase disclosures I will not 

 now make. They are sufficient to satisfy me that 

 tho most conscienceless and infamous betrayer of a 

 solemn trust reposed in him by the will of tho 

 people is Samuel C. Pomeroy. I have been actuated 

 by no motive personal or vindictive in my action 

 here to-day. I have not made the fight on Mr. 

 Pomerov in Mr. Ingalls's interest, or in Mr. Lowe's 

 or Mr. Harvey's interest, but in behalf of the out- 

 razed and long-suffering people of this common- 

 wealth, and in the furtherance of the solemn oath 

 I took when I entered these halls as a represent- 

 ative of the people. As to the truth of what I have 

 tuted, I stand in the presence of this august and 

 honorable body of representatives of the sovereignty 

 of the people, and before tho Almighty Ruler of tho 

 universe, and solemnly declare and affirm that every 

 word I hare spoken is God's truth, and nothing but 

 the truth. 



The delivery of this speech was followed by 

 a scene rarely witnessed in a legislative hall. 

 A ballot was at once taken, which resulted in 

 the election of Mr. Ingalls, not a single vote 

 being cast for Mr. Pomeroy. Daring the same 

 day Senator Pomeroy was arrested on a charge 

 of bribery, and gave $5,000 bonds for his 

 fntnre appearance for examination. He was 

 subsequently placed under $20,000 bonds. 

 The action against him was pending at the 

 close of the year. Colonel York was also ar- 

 rested, at the instance of one of Mr. Pomeroy's 

 friends, for receiving a bribe, but the charge 

 was soon abandoned. On the same evening 

 an immense meeting was held in Topeka, at 

 which the following resolution was adopted : 



Raoteerl, By this meeting that the hearty thanks 

 of the people of Kansas are due to Colonel A. M. 



York, the distinguished Senator from Montgomery 

 County, for his courageous and self-sacrificing course 

 in exposing to the Legislature the nefarious system 

 of corruption which has so long disgraced our State. 

 We regard his action as patriotic in the highest de- 

 gree, as requiring the rarest order of moral courage, 

 and as not only justified but imperiously demanded 

 by the exigencies of the case. His cause is ours, and 

 we will stand by him and protect him to the end. 



On the second day after this remarkable 

 occurrence, Mr. Pomeroy addressed the fol- 

 lowing letter to the editor of the Atchison 

 Champion : 



TOPEKA, January 81, 1873. 



DEAK SIB : When you left Topeka, I told you I 

 would employ my first leisure in detailing to you, 

 for the public, the precise nature of the malicious 

 conspiracy organized for my defeat, but since the 

 parties to this conspiracy have summoned me before 

 the court, to answer to their charges, this is to say 

 that, before the judicial tribunal, I, too t am desirous 

 and anxious to appear and have a full investigation 

 and a verdict rendered. I only ask a suspension of 

 public judgment until a fair hearing can be had in 

 the courts. That verdict will decide who has com- 

 mitted crime, and the measure of the guilt. 



Very truly yours, S. C. POMEROY. 



Tho extraordinary letter referred to in the 

 speech above given was as follows : 



[Strictly confidential.] 



WASHINGTON, D. C., July 22<f. 



W. W. Ross Mr DEAR SIB : Have you yet recom- 

 mended any one to sell goods to the 1'ottawatomies? 

 If not, I have a plan. Mr. J. R. Tappan, of New 

 York, will take hold and furnish a splendid lot of 

 goods, provided he gets the license to sell exclusive- 

 ly on the reserve at St. Mary's Mission. 



You can give the Indians u:i order for goods on 

 this store, and these orders are accepted when the 

 annuities are paid. This proceeding is recognized 

 here at the Department and is all right. 



I send inclosed the form of a letter for you to send 

 back to me to give Mr. Dole, but I don't deliver it 

 until Mr. Tappan and Edward Clark, of Lawrence 

 now figuring here in Indian matters, and who have 

 an agreement with each other about goods I say, I 

 don't deliver your recommendation until I have exe- 

 cuted to me a contract to have one-fourth of all the 

 profits paid to IK E. Gaylord. ns my share, and one- 

 fourth of all profits paid to Mr. (name him to 



me), for your share. You and I, through our two 

 friends, are to have one-half the profits, and Tappan 

 and Clark the other half, and Tappan to do all the 

 business, and we to have nothing to do, only to take 

 our share of profits at each payment. 



Now, if you will fix it up at that end of the line, I 

 will see the writings are all executed right to this 

 end, and we will he all right. Name the man to rep- 

 resent you, with Mr. Gaylord, who represents me. 



You will see from this letter what kind of a rec- 

 ommendation to give Mr. Tappan. But don't fail 

 to send it to me, as they must come to terms before 

 they get the license. Tappan is a grand fellow. It's 

 all right. Let me hear from you at once. 



Truly, S. C. POMEROY. 



P. S. I find upon reflection that you must send 

 these papers through Colonel Branch, at St. Joe. So 

 I will make the contract for myself and you at once, 

 and you return the application and recommendation 

 to Dole throunh Colonel Branch. 



Truly, 8. C. P. 



On the 4th of February, resolutions were 

 passed by the Legislature providing for an in- 

 vestigation of charges of bribery in the late 

 senatorial election, memorializing the U. S. 

 Senate to investigate the case of Senator Pom- 



