The New York herald., 1870-02-22
Fitz John Porter.

Inc appear OF tltZ JOnn TOTLeF 10 Tue IreSl-
dent of the United States for REORGANIZATION
of the proceedings Of the court martial in his
case was yesterday brought up in the Senate
by Mr. Chandler, who offered q resolution re-
questing the President to communicate to the
Senate any recent correspondence in his
possession on the subject Mr.. Chandler spoke
at considerable length denunciatory Of General
Porter, and was followed by Mr.. Wilson, who
urged the propriety of granting the asked-for
re-examinstion, after which the matter was
disposed Of by Mr.. Chandler withdrawing his
resolution. This question in its present shape
seems to be very easy Of solution. General
Porter commanded corps at the second battle
Of Bull Run, and was charged by General Pope
with wilful disobedience of orders and neglect
to attack the enemy, resulting in disaster to
the Union army, upon which charges he was
sentenced by cNirt martial to dismissal from
the army and disqualified forever to hold
any Office of trust or profit uL1er the
government of the United States. In his
appeal he represents that he is in possession
of important evidence, not before attainable,
which will vindicate him entirely from the ac-
cusations upon which he was sentenced, and
files with the petition interesting letters l(rom
general officers who were engaged on both
sides in the battle referred to in corroboration
of his statements. The application is also ac-
companied by recommendations by Senators
Wilson, Sherman, Harris and Foster, General
NJ ID nd cth eo~
the appointment of a commission to review the
case and ascertain whether or not Injustice has
been done.
Almost innumerable instances are on record
of the re-examination of court martial pro-
ceedings since the war, many of which resulted
in the vindication of the officers under SEN
tence and their restoration to command; and,
in view of the high rank held by General
Porter at the time OF his trial. his faithful and
distinguished services down to the date OF
bis alleged offence, the positive charac-
ter Of his statements in his appeal
and the recommendations for a review of his
case, it seems to be eminently fit and proper
that his application should be granted. Now
that the jealousies and animosities Of the war
have nearly if not quite all subsided, COM
mission of perfectly disinterested officers would
undoubtedly be able to thoroughly investigate
every circumstance involved in the case, and
their verdict would finally settle all doubts on
this much disputed question. II such COM
mission were TO confirm the sentence Of the
court martial it would serve to augment
the ignominy Of the alleged offence and be 9
conspicuous warning for the future; while, Il
the innocence of the accused were to be estab-
lished, it would not only make reparation for a
grievous wrong, but crafty the whole people,
who never knowingly acquiesce in the perpe-
tration of injustice. General Porter asserts
that he is able to prove that his conduct during
the second Bull Run campaign was entirely in
accordance with his duty as q soldier, and
there seems no good reason why his request
for an opportunity to prove his innocence,
urged as it is by distinguished statesmen
should be denied when there are so many pre-
cedents for the reinvestigation.