Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-16
WASHING TON NEWS AND GOSSIP

= THx CoSruNACIoUs WITNESS After the
Stars report of the proceedings of the House
was sent to press yesterday, Mr.. Stanton, of
Ohio, again brought to the notice Of the body
the refusal of j. w. Wolcott, the confidential
clerk of the firm of Lawrence, Stone 4 Co., to
disclose what he did with the $50, 200 of the
alleged sS7 900 bribery fund, which, it is proved
before the Investigating Committee, passed
through his hands. He has sworn that 1t was
neither used to bride any member or members
Of Congress, or to influence the legislation OF
the National Legislature, directly or indirectly
Further than that he refuses to testify, under
the advice of counsel, contending that Con-
gress cannot lawfully compel him to tell what
he actually did with the money, after he has
thus purged himself from the imputstion of
having used it directly or indirectly to in
huence the passage Of any measure or measures
by Congress. The question to which his con-
tumacy gives rise is grave one. So long as
there is ground for believing that any portion of
the money may possibly have been used to cor.
rupt or illegitimstely to influence the action of
Congress, 1t certainly is the duty of the House
to leave none Of its rightful power unexercised
that may be necessary to clear up the point.
Yet, unless the power Of Congress in such
case is utterly without limit, it strikes us that
his unsatisfactory answer throws legal shield
around him, so far as protecting him against
bsing forced to make the desired disclosure, is
concerned.
Yet his evasive answer embraces proof sufi-
Gent to satisfy most persons that the money
passing through his hands was, indeed, used in
some way not to be justi6ed-in some improper
and grossly reprehensible way The question
arises, however, whether Congress has any lc.
gitimate interest in the subject. That's, after
he has purged himself, as far as his oath can do
that thing, Of the only charge COngr, o has any
business to NEEDLE with-whether the House
has just authority to inquire whether he wasted
the money in question at faro, in wine, or on
women or whether he has, cunning N ew Eng
lander-like, got it snugly invested in unattach-
able stocks The state Of the case (his) puzzles
our brain vastly; for while we recognize the
necessity. in the furtherance of common hon.
esty and justice, of getting at where the money
went, it certainly seems to US that for the
House to insist upon questioning this particu-
lar witness further, will be for it to exerc 81 an
extremely doubtful power, pregnant with evil
consequences to the rights of the citizen, if it
becomes a fixed precedent for future Congress
sional action.
OURJAPASESE RELATI0Ns.-The publication
in California of the fact that an application has
been made to the State Department to take
into its service, with IN eye to our future inter
course with Japan, the japanese young man,
Mr.. Joseph Heco, brought to the Atlantic side
by Senator Gwin, has caused the press of that
State again to TEEN with interesting articles
urging the Importance Of active measures on
the part of the Government of the United States
to extend our commercial relations with that
interesting country with as little delay as pos
sible. In California. the public know far more
of Japan, its resources, the prospects Of our fu-
ture intercourse with that country, and the
probable best means to that end, than is known
on this side; her California; 81 citizens having
far better opportunities for obtaining informa-
ton on Eastern questions of immediate interest
to our own land, than are common here We
are among those who believe that our ac-
QUESTION of California is surely to work an
entire revolution at least in the methods and
modes of the commercial intercourse of Western
Europe and North America with the East, if
not to give US Of the United States the eventual
control of that commercial GOlconda in due
time. We are, therefore, most anxious that no
stone should be left uDturned to commence the
work of driving the American CONNIE rcial open
ing wedge into Japan as soon as possible
We know this young nan, Mr. Heco, we'll
Though scarcely Of age, and but very few
years in our land, he is as creditab!e scholar
In English literature as nine tenths Of the
graduates OF American colleges We mean in
the acquisition of general knowledge, printed as
well as in belle lettre attainments We, there
fore, regard him as an extraordinary youth.
We know, too, that he is the only Japanese
now in this country IF there be another one in
the United States) capable of being made d.
Dramatically of service to the interests of Amer
lean commerce in that quarter. Under such
circumstances, it is not wonderful that we earn
estly second the so unanimous desire of the
California press that he be promptly taken into
the service of the State Department, and az
soon as possible be sent back to Japan to rep
resent our interests there in some suitable ca
pacity and position.
SENT TO JAIL.-In another article, to-day,
we discuss at some length the propriety of the
action Of the House yesterday in the case of
Wolcott, the contumacious witness in the al
legged 49, 900 tarif-law' bribery case Not to
make that too long, we prefer to consider the
conclusion in it to which the House arrived, in
another article, as follows. Viz Mr.. Stanton
reported from his investigating committee VOL
cottsreply, explained elsewhere in the Star to
day. with resolution that he be imprisoned in
the Jail Of this county until he disclose what he
had done with the portion of the money pass
ing through his hands, after having sworn that
1t was in no manner used to influence the legis-
lation Of Congress. After a speech of nearly
On hour from Mr.. S., who moved the previous
question upon it, the resolution was passed
without word spoken in reply, though quite
a number Of members voted in the NEGATIVE