New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-18
WASHINGTON.
THE KU-KLUx NORTHUMBERLAND TEs-
TIaONY EIICITED-IHPORTANT REVELATIONS
IN THE HGARRAHAN CLAIM-INTERESTING
DEBATES IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS
EFFECT OF THE WEST POINT RESOLUTIONS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUHBi

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRlBCNEI
WASHINGTON Friday, Feb. II, 1871.
The special Comm ttee on Southern 0utrages are occu
pied daily for two hours in taking testimony relative to
affairs in North Carolina. The operations Of the KuKlux
in that State and other matters involving the safety OF
freedmen elections and personal liberty, viii occupy
the Committees attention until the close Of the session.
allowing only time sufficient TO make report This Is
necessary is claimed that the testimony taken in
wolves the validity Of the present legislature and con-
sequeDy the United States senatorshp to which has
elected Gov Vance The Committee still refuse TO give
any Of the testimony to the public The ground for this
reeence is the safety Of those who testify Members OF
the Committee say that the testimony Is generally Of
startling character and will warrant and demand strin
gent repressive legislation.
Tomorrow is assigned TO the consideration OF the re-
ports of the House judiciary Committee the McGar-
rahan claim. synopsis OF the report OF the majority
has already been published in THE TRIBUNE. The
minority consists Of four members OF the Committee:
Messrs. Bingham, Butler (Masa) Cook, and Eldridge.
Gen. Butler does not with the other three In the
fun extent Of their conclusions. They hold that
McGarrahan has good title to the land claimed
by him. Gen. Butler subscribes 10 but one part
of their report namely, that concerning the patent
alleged to have been signed and recorded during the Adj
mnistratOn OF President Lincoln The statement on this
point is substantially follows On the 18th OF March, 1862
patent made and engrossed copy was signed by
President Lncons Secretary in charge Of that business
the record marked and examined" The date was filled
in and the signature also recorded The testimony
shows that the records OF the patents were never marked
"cxamned" until compared with the original and found
correct and perfect This record remained intact and
unchallenged until within two years, when counsel for
the NewIdra Company drew pencil lines across the faee
Of the record and with pencil wrote across the words
"NOt signed" It remained in this condition until IL and
the original patent called for by the Judiciary
Committee In the Of the exanation. Upon the
production OF what claimed TO be the original parch'
it appeared to have been signed or dated,
This patent written out five separate sheets OF
parchment, stitched together with ribbon On examin-
alton it appeared that last sheet OF the original doe
ument on which the date and signature had been
taken off, and another sheet substituted on which was
neither date nor signature Through the four original
sheets the holes made by the former Stitching the
new sheet having been attached by independent sew
ing. When in April last the Chairman OF the Judiciary
Committee called for certified copy OF the record it
appeared there Secretary Cox ordered to he written on
the same words This patent has been signed
executed and is Of validity, and the record Is can
celed - thus claimed, assuming 10 certify to fact
seven years Old OF which he could have no knowledge,
and TO alter the record The minority OF the Committee,
therefore report resolutions requiring that the patent
shall again recorded stood on the 4h ofMarch 1863
that McGarrahan be conceded all the rights which
such record would give him. and that the President he
authorized to take whatever steps he may deem expe
Gen Butler still holds the opinion announced last Fall,
that neither McGarTahan the New Idra Company
hiss valid title but that the title Is I'm the United States
but he concurs with this portion of the minority report
because he holds il to be dangerous 10 admit that an
executive officer may order permit the alteration OF
tho records Of the Department for any purpose what
In the Senate to-day the credentials OF Mr. Eli sauls
bury OF Delaware the Temperance member OF that fam
iy presented. The Naval Appropriation bin was
reported. Howe made personal explanation as to
the action of the Committee the Rod River Cotton
Claim, commented on by of the New-YOrk journals
az an outrage lie said that he had very conclusive
reasons TO produce 10 show the claim unsupported by
Justice. Mr. Davis, who is member OF the COMMITTEE.
EXPRESSED his utter contempt for the newspapers or for
ANYTHING they might large proportion ~ the prO-
ceeds OF the cotton found it's way prize money into
the pockets OF Admiral Porter and the officers under him.
Mr. Howe thought that the claimants had no case
AGAINST them but Mr.. Davis said that Admiral
Porter and his subordnates were plunderers;
that they had right 10 this money and that he would
vote to take IL from them The Legislative and Execu
tive Appropriation bill taken up, and Mr. sawyer
moved an amendment, repeating provision attached to
the Same bill last year, prohibiting the prosecution Of
any sut I'm the Court Of Claims by virtue OF Presiden
al pardon and laying down the rule that the possession
OF such pardon to be taken conclusive evidence OF
disoyalty discussion sprang up, in which the whole
history OF the Rebellion was reviewed. thus reVVng the
discussions
famous Tn all that was said to-day, pro con- there
yos nothing in addition to what urged
when the same subject was discussed whole
day and evening In the Senate last year
Mr. Blair charged THE NEwYoRK TRIBUNE with admit.
ting the right Of secession in 1861 and this charge was at
once dlsproved by Mr. Fcnton. Mr. Sawyers amendment
was rejected Mr. Trumbul then renewed the last part
OF the amendment repeating the clause making the pos
session of pardon conclusive evidence OF dlsoyalty. IL
WAS affirmed by Mr.. Sawyer that many thousands Of
pcope in the South had taken the oath prescribed in the
amnesty proclamaOns OF the President, who were per-
fecty loyal This amendment adopted on the cast
ing vote OF tho VicePresdent, there being Is
i'm the affirmative and rs in the negative.
There wero several Senators in the Chamber who did
vote at ALL Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Cole
tnualy reminded the Senate that but few more days
remained OF this Congress- and OF tho important
appropriation bills passed, there was no cessation
of the attempt fasten extraneous matters upon the
hill Mr. Pomeroy moved as amendment his bill TO
suppress drinking houses and tipping shops In the Dis
trio OF Columbia which he said was very appropriate to
carnival times and about half an hour was consumed
on ths The Senate at about O'Clock adjourned, ap-
parenty as far from passing the bill as ever.
The House went into Committee OF the Whole to-day,
almost Immediately after tho reading Of the Journal on
the Army Appropriation bill reported by Mr. Dckey OF
general debate on the bill being limited
70 half an hour Mr.. Niback made O speech, which he
had probably prepared 70 denver on wednesday, "heh
the Enforcement law under consideration. IL was
repetition OF the protests often made by the Demo
Gratis against attempt made TO secure honest elections
Mr. Niback was well answered by Mr.. Sargent, who
showed tho necessity OF laws OF this kind especially In
New York Reference TO election frauds in NewYork
brought Mr. Brooks to his feet, who said that he was
about to do what he had done before, oppose an
entire Appropriation BILL and he was forced TO
do this because the army had been used for
tho purpose Of controlling elections. He added
that there were greater frauds committed in the House,