The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-01-29
General Fitz John Porter.

cer-iike conduct that he has been cashiered
and dismissed from the service. 1t is a terri
BILE lesson to military men, and it is hoped Its
influence may not be lost in securing better
discipline in the army. Private soldiers should
never be taken out and shot down like dogs
for insubordinaton nor should they be ex
pected to become implicit in their obedience
to orders, SO long as officers high in rank are
not brought up to the same rigid and exact
rule of obedience.
The Argus has taken upon itself to pro-
nounce the decision in Porter's case unau-
= thorized by the testimony, unjust, and the re-
suit of conspiracy to cruelty worthy Off
Ger. Here is its language
We could not credit the report brought us
on Friday that Gen. FitZ John Porter had
been convicted by the court martial, and CASH
tered and dismissed from the service. There
was no evidence to convict. On the contrary,
it completely exonerated him. Hence we
could not believe that such an outrage had
been perpetrated. Blu alas! it is too true
The Washington Star confirms the report, and
makes it certain that the cause of the Union
and the Constitution has again been crucifed
in the person of one of its bravest officers,
noblest generals and most devoted patriots
his ardent love of country on half of
battle-felds in the present war, and whose
name will be surrounded with bright halo In
history when those who have put their iron
heel upon him will be remembered only to be
cursed.
This is a pretty serious charge We say
nothing of the modesty of the thing-of the
editor of the Argus, in his easy chair, with a
- 4; 4 L.
than nine of our ablest generals, who CON-
posed the court that has patiently listened to
the testimony, weighed the arguments, and
pronounced the sentence. The Argus would
convey the impression that Gen. Porter,
democratic commander, has been borne down
by a fanatical court, by men opposed to him,
by personal enemies. What are the facts?
l. Gen. Porter never took the slightest ex-
ceptions TO the constitution of the court, nor
did his able counsel, Hon. Rcverdy johnson,
of Baltimore.
2. Several of the members of the court were
of his own political party. Gen. Hunter,
Southerner by BIRTH a lifelong Democrat, was
president Of the court. Gen. Prentiss, the
gallant officer who was taken prisoner at Shi-
lob, another democrat, was member of the
board. Gen. Casey-father of Capt Casey of
Fort Gorges - also a democrat, is another
member. Generals Ricketts,, Garfield, Bulord
and Morris are well known for their military
achievements, but we are ignorant of their po-
ltical proclivities. Gen. Hitchcock is widely
known, and his reputation as gentleman, as
an earnest, honest man, and as a christian,
needs no bolstering against such attacks ms that
in the Argus. Gen. King is, we believe, re-
publican, but we not aware that he has
been possessed of any prejudice against Gen.
Porter.
8. The Judge Advocate in this trial-the
prosecuting officer for the governments al
so democrat. and is no less man than the
high-minded, patriotic, whoe-souled Holt,
Hon. Joseph Holt, of Kentucky, who is one
of the purest public men living.
We have neither time, space nor inclination
to pursue this matter at great length, and
would not have alluded to it but for the at
tempt to malign honorable commanders, who
have long and patiently examined into the
case, with no other motive than to do justice
to Gen. Porter while regarding the interests
Oh Tue country ana Oh tDe service.
To show how pretentious and immodest are
the remarks Of the Argus, that "there was no
evidence to convict that "on the contrary,
1t completely exonerated him." We make a
few extracts from the review of the case made
by Mr.. Holt, for the eye OF the President, with
out whose approval the finding of the Court
would be void. The following is a portion of
one of Porter's dispatches TO Gen. Burnside,
dated Brislow, 18th, 1862, 9.3S A. NJ" in
troduced by himself:
hope for the best. My lucky star is always
up about my birthday, the Bis and hope Nc
Clean' is up also. You will hear of us soon
by way of Alexandria To officer, from
Bristow, q A. NJ. 10Th, he telegraphs: Heintzel-
man and Reno are at Centreville, where they
marched yesterday. Pope went TO Centrevle
with the last two body guard, at the time
not knowing where was the enemy, and when
Sigel was fighting within eight miles of him and
in sight. Comment is unnecessary. | hope
Mes at work, and we will soon get ordered out
of this. 1t would seem from proper statements
of the enemy, that he was wandering around
loose, but expect they know what they are do
ing, which is more than any one here or any
where else knows.
Upon the above expressions Judge Holt
thus comments:
"The precise import of these remarkable
words. in their connection, cannot be mistaken,
nor can it tail to be observed how harshly they
jar upon the properties of military life. II may
be safely affirmed that they express, on the part
OF the accused, an intense scorn and contempt
for the strategy and movements of the Army of
Virginia, WEAKNESS and disgust for his associ-
alton with it, added to a bitter fling at his com
manding General, as found in the extraordinary
declaration, that he had taken two divisions of
his army body guard to Centreyille The
words, as quoted, disclose also a looking by the
accused not TO Gen. Pope, but to Gen. McCel-
Ian as his guide, and reliance upon his exer
tons and influence to relieve him from his con-
nectiop with the Army of Virginia, and an ex-
pectation, if not hope. that they would all
soon arrive at Alexandria. This, il is true
would involve the discontinue of that army,
but 1t would also involve the discredit of its
commander, and would restore the accused to
his former position under Gen. Mcclellan. Such
must have been the anticipation, and such GER
tainly was the result
The testimony shows the spirit of the accus-
ed toward Gen. Pope, who was his superior Of
fcer. Gen. Pope was warned by Gen. Rob-
erts and Lieutenant Colonel Smith. and
Others, that the accused 'would fail him. ,,
Lieut.. Colonel Smith hadthe most favorable
opinion of Gen. Porter and yet during an inter
view with him on the 2Sth of August was fully
satisfied that he would fail Gen. Pope. He
subsequently, told Gen. Pope so, and added
$50 certain am that FGtz John Porter is a