The New York herald., 1869-02-18
Report Of ths, Senate Judiciary Commit
tee ION the Legality Of the
Amnesty PfOelamat,on. .a
Discussion in tie Senate on the New
Constitutional Amendment.
The National Banking Law De-
feated in the House.
Debate on the Army ApprO-
priatiOn Bill.


M o tao wAsHrNoroN, Feb. H. 1892
Another Contumacious Witness-A New York
OniciaI Before the Investigating Committee.
There is trouble brewing here between County
Clerk Loew, Of your city and the special committee
investigating the New York election frauds Mr..
Loew has, 1t seems, been thrice summoned to pro-
duce in Washington for the benefit OF the committee
an the naturalization applications in his custody
that were made on the 21st and Esd Of October last
is con trary to State law passed In 1888. for the
County Clerk TO remove at all from his ofice any Of
u the court records without authority from the
Judges and for this reason Mr. Loew has refused to
comply, and II In danger Of being held for contempt
Of the House Of Representatives. When last d.
rected to produce the records In question Mr. Loew
made written statement to the Judges Of the New
York Supreme Court explaining the nature Of the
case and asking n. for instructions. The
court unanimously Il advised him that he
had no authority to comply with the request Of the
committee, that the records of his office could not
be removed without authority OF the court and that
II he should remove them he would violate the law
OF the State. Mr. Loew had already, before this de-
cison OF the court allowed all facilities to the COM
mittee, had permitted them to read or have copied
all papers they wished, and the committee had, In
TACT, obtained liberal data memoranda and copies
Of naturalization paprrs from the County Clerks
Office. Mr.. Loew was before the committee to-day,
IN obedience to very peremptory summons from
Judge Lawrence chairman OF the committee, and
made calm statement of the difficulty in which he
was placed He was willing to obllge the committee
In any way consistent with his duty, but he posi-
lively refused to violate the order Of the Supreme
Court OF his State by producing the original natu-
ralzation papers in his custody. The papers
could be copied by any perso authorized to do SO
by the committee, and every other facility would be
Afforded the committee; but in this little matter he
was sorry he could not 0blge Congress. SO the case
stands at present. The committee appear deter
mined to insist upon their right to have the papers
produced, and Mr. Loew seems equally resolved not
to obey a command which would put him in antago-
nism with the judges OF the court Of which he is
clerk and which would render him liable to indct-
ment for q misdemeauor and removal from ofice
Mr.. Loew s not permitted to return to New York for
the present. t
Tho Corcoran Ciaim-Excifing Session OF a
sN Senate COMMITTEES. M
The Senate Committee on the District Of Columbia
held meeting this morning, which lasted for several
hours and was more than usually interesting. The
entire proceedings were devoted to the case OF Mr.
w. w. Corcoran, the banker, who preferred to Con-
gress CLAIM for the restoration Of valuable build
ing OF his seized by the at the outbreak
termaster's Department Of the army. The claim was
referred to the District OF Columbia Committee and
while pending there q negro, named Brener, for
merly waiter In the Russian Minister'S family,
turned up to furnish evidence OF character which,
II true, might be well calculated to damage the
cess Of the claim. He told the Committee he over
heard Senator Bayard exclaim at Baron Stoeckl's
dinner table at the outbreak Of the that he would
give $1o 900 TO see Lincoln sanguinary
declaration, which was backed up by Mr.. Corcoran,
who the attentiue darkey testified as saying that he
would give ten times the amount to promote the
same end Senator Bayard being informed Of the
character OF the negros testimony appeared to-day
before the committee and made lengthy address.
He denied point blank in the start that he had ever
made any such remark In reference TO Mr. Lincold
as had been attributed to him out OF the depths OF
the negro's vivid Imagination. For Mr. Lincoln per-
sonaly he had always entertained the kndest possi-
BILE feeling, but even II ne had not he should GER
tainly have been incapable Of setting price upon
his head and melting the commission OF such crime
as be was made to say as Offering q reward to see
accomplished. In addition TO all this so far as G
was personally concerned, he should not have
deemed himself called upon to notice
statement 30 absurd but that 10 reflected upon the
Russian Minister, who was personal friend OF his
and who would have felt seriously compromised had
he permitted such remark TO be made at his table
conserving the head OF the government to which he
asaccredted. Mr.. Corcoran testified that he never
uttered or thought OF uttering the shocking sentN
ment put down TO his charge. Had he felt capable
OF using such language, the committee would hardly
think him so devoid OF prudence as TO make In 80
public manner, In the presence OF servants and
strangers. q remark which was sure 10 be repeated
and which would have instantly consigned him to
Fort Lafayette In answer to the questions Of Sena
tors Nye and Sumner, as TO the sympathies Of Mr.
Corcoran during the war, the latter replied that they
were with the South, but that he had
never committed any overt act or trea-
son, but had all along preserved a faith.
ful allegiance 10 the federal government
which he believed had the first claim upon him as
citizen OF the District OF Columbia. Senator Sumner
inquired to the character OF the company in which
Mr.. Corcoran mingled during his rambes In Europe,
whether he did not prefer that OF sccessionlsts TO
any other. Mr.. corcoran denied having been actu-
atod by any especial predictions for secesh COM
parry. II was true he had associated with eminent
sousherners, Including slldeIl and Others Mr.
sldefs secretary OF legation being his son.in.law
and the rest being intimate acquaintance OF his at
home. he saw no valid reason why he should
break on in foreign country friendships formed
long years ago. Senator Nye inquired n ne had not
bohnobbel with George SAUNDERS. Mr.. Corsoran
replied thar he had not. lie knew saun-
ders, but had never associated with him
here and felt no especial desire to do go
when abroad. Mr.. Corceran though promptly re-
spending TO these questions did not deem them ex-
acuy relevant TO the investigation before the com.
mittee DR.. Miller, OF this CITY, the family physician
OF the Russian MInfter, testified that he had often
diued with Baron stoeckl, and had met at table
senator Bayard, but had never observed the pre-.
sencc Of Mr.. Corcoran. From his general acqualn-
tance with Senator Bayard and appreciation OF his
character he was quite satisfied that gentleman never
uttered any such remark as the negro waiter put
INTO his mouth. The recusant witness Dohncr,
formerly steward In the household OF the Russian
Minister, and who, from high sense Of honor,
refused to retail TO the committee at the last
meeting the chitchat OF guests at the
dinner table which might have fallen on his ears
was given until to-day to ponder over his contu-
maciousncss. lie was asked again II he was willing
al nf tnp