The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-09-18
The Case OF Gen. Fit1 John Porter.

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HIS APrEAr. TO TIE PRESIDENT FOR NEW THAI.
The following ia The application OF Gen. Fit,
John Porter tf ho President aakng that his caa,
DO reopened, aud now Court Martial ordered:
r. NEW foRk, January IA, 1867.
~ sR ra,, peg ieaye to respeetfGy represent tha
rendered incapable ofsholding Office under thu
GoSernment Of the United states,n and that, ir
sentence, persistent sforts have been made te
h1 those arising from the unchanged crime oi
treason. Seventeen Jears Of mT life have hesu
covering tho activo cyents of tho Mexican var and
including the opening and most trying Jesra al the
Intruaoti at all times with ,lnties Of the ersates,
fespnnsiblltteH frequently performed at the peril
| or lie, can assert, without fear OF lenial that
mp 70 the period of the presentation OF the charges
no breath ol Huspieion had attached itsclf 10 ro-
putation which It had been, as il btil is nv Ifes
study to prcsortc unsnllird. I feel assured your
EaoellensS n WI appreciate the motive that Induces
me TO frankly say that. at no time from tho pre-
sentaton OF tho charges to the completion Of the
trial dill 1t occur to noe that with sucl record IN
could by any court be udjudged guilty Of Wifuiiy
negeettng tho interests Of that country in its hour
isn auV Vh2E&. h2E&. sEsputntion. his"rv on"
Conscious Of Innocence, feeling that, whatever
points, there would not and could not he any as to
my fsithfulness OF purpose. could not bring my
of speedy and honorable acquittal.
Il is possible may have committed an error,
both as to the Court and myself in thus assuming
| assured that Your EIcellencJ will appreciate The
motive that induces mo 10 nuke reference 10 the
events Of my life Willie in my. country's service.
The ylncirutlon OF my llnnnr alone cOmpels me to
do SO in this paper an in prrvinuH one road to
tha Court.
The verdict against me was found Januaiy, isGa,
at time Of most unusual excitement. Tho coun-
try was envroned with parils; distrust had seized
upon many minds; errors Of groat magnitude had
occurred; the press and the forum vicd with each
! other in responding to great and growing genti-
mont that an example should be had by which
fstthlessnees or ineompetcncy should be promptly
dealt NV with Ms not t. now Say with truth that i
to me-rnost inopportrno OF periods2
belieEe it e safe to 81! that mnch OF the eri-
lie light Of tho present full information upon the
vital, and at that tinD necessarily disputed points,
le either entirely changed or materially modified
| at that timo, totally inaccessible to either the
Court or myaelf is nov to be readily obtained and
| in n form and under circumstances brought to-
gether that admit Of no dispute. Competent anu
| dininterested peraons, including many of those
who deemed my trial and condemnation Just, now
| concur in the completeness nf the yndiqation
which thia unconscious toatimony" has given
Relying on the Justice OF my Government, feel
ing assured that with tho return OF peace calm
feelings would prayail, and knowing that from the
very nature OF tho case and the surroundings time
would, however, slowly to my inpatient honor,
prove tho best arbiter have borne in silence and
without complaint the burden Of that sentence.
| have taken the liberty Of inclosing herewith
| certain documents from ablD and intelligent
/ writers, which bear upon my ease.
IA II is uBeless to say moro than that they bear
unsolicited contribution so far as they go; and
believe tho time is at hand whom It ia my duty to
appeal to my Goyernmont for a revision OF my
| case, howeyor nearly such revision comes homo
| to me and all hold most aacred in my life.
| II is duty I owo also to the honored officers
who boro testimony in my behalf; TO my brave
command, whose history has been impsrishabIy
written, and to my country, that no stain OF in
Justice should be recorded against her.
My appeal ia to your EKcellency TO appoint a
court for the purpose of reconsidern5 Ne proceed
ings in my case, composed, as trtst IL may be
OF tho best talent and most approved patriotism IN
the army. "
have cyery reason to believe that with such q
court now instituted, and with the full testimony
now to be obtained, can obtain the full and
honorable acquittal know deserve, and which
shall ever seek nt the hands of my country.
With high respect,
am your obedient servant
FTTz JOHN PORTER.
This petition is endorsed by the Hons. Henry
Wilson, John Sherman, Ira HarrIa, Horace Greo-
ley, L. F. G.. Foster, N. P. Banks, and A. G
| Curtin. T. ~ ....... ~. ttSi