Knoxville Daily Chronicle

The Senate will probably occupy most of the present week in the debate upon the report of Senator Morton's committee to declare vacant the seat of Senator Caldwell, of Kansas. When the debate began, it was very evident that a majority of the Senate would not agree to the report. Some of the democratic Senators argued that the report conflicted with the right of the State to representation. It seems probable now that Caldwell will lose his seat. The debate of Saturday brought out some of the strong men of the Senate, all of whom favored either expulsion or the report of the Committee. Caldwell used money to secure his election to the Senate and he ought to be expelled. It is time honest Senators and Congressmen understood that the people are tired of technical quibbles, behind which corrupt men seek to screen themselves in their unholy work. Congress has not heretofore hesitated to exert questionable powers when it seemed the safety of the country demanded it and Senators may rest assured that even if technical or minor legal objections are in the way in the Caldwell case the people will endorse them in disregarding them in such an emergency as that now presented. We say emergency, for it is patent to every observing mind that some summary and severe measures are necessary to purge our halls of legislation, State and National, of bad men and the Senate of the United States ought to begin the work in the Caldwell case.