New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-22
XLIsT CONGRESS-2d SESSION.
SENATE. WASHINGTON. Feb. 81.

the requisite number Of States Referred TO the Judiciary
ABoLISHING THE FREEDMEN's BUREAU.
Mr. PATTERSON rep, n. H. from the Committee on
Retrenchmcnt reported, with amendments, the bill 20
abolish the Freedmens Bureau, and provide for the
The S provides that present duties Of The Feedmsu Bureau
relating 70 she osI. Of '1S Wan Department; to Be- selected BY the
President War Department also to take charge OF al property
. Ss,e SCeS Sppprse for the Popose, education which shall
@ trsn.ee to The Bureau EdGeson together with the clerical
force nos epiogd therein Of Education authorized to
eooPer,,c s any AVID all S'Ss, Da osae Of schools for
the education Of all classes ana may TAKE Ig R or acS pur
poses attempted be diverted fro" the original purpose
aud ueouon. - . ,s,,,rs
Mr. FENTON l:ep. y. W introduced hill Tor an
New'York and the scandinavian ports. Referred.
bill directs The to contract WIN zoe e
s srssu NesYok spd Copenhagen and other scandinavian
a5%, ro, ~ pSa,s 6ca Smenso
~ ,s',se. The S Ss ont Of Compensation for the service
4 TERRITORIAL. GOVERNMENT PoR AIAsKA
Mr HOWARD rep. Michl introduced OIL 10 es'ao'
fish a Territorial Government for Alaska
rTzJOnN PORTER.
Mr. CHANDLER Rep., MchD offered resolution re
luesug President TO communicate TO the Senate, if
in his possession in relation to the
itlIohn Porter He held in his hand appeal the
President OF the United States for the reGxamnatOn Of
the proceedings the rmarta in the of Major
Gen FtzIohn Porter and in answer TO the statements
history while the witnesses were yet living who would
the Conduct Of the War. IL his duty in Official
capacity Investigate the facts connected with the de-
i ca a Prcpdent neSS and Mr. Stanton rendered
more imperative and important the immediate iunll'
mcnt OF a pledge which he had voluntarily given to Cen
Pope seven wears ago that justice should be done to that
General and his campaign IN virginia, even thQugh ne
chandler should be compelled to urge II from his seat
IN the senate
He referred to the Perous condition OF the country
and the general apprehension OF disaster peryadng the
public mind upon the retirement OF cen McCleians
command TO the James River III August, 1852 and the
appointment OF Gen rope 10 the command WIN direc
lions TO Washington from attack aud 10 operate
fachnens from his force at Richmond At a
ton ia War ONCE about the time referred several
commanding the defenses OF Washington, of which
adopted To create as great division Of the enemy
As possible, means OF getting Mcclellan out OF
present difficulty, instructions given 10 Pope &C
cordug and the sole object OF that Generals campaign
was To help save the Army of Potomac His entire
force did not exceed $1,000 men, only $4,000 OF which could
point by of its being
scattered along from Acqua Creek to Harper's Ferry
and liable 10 be overwhelmed by superior force OF the
enemy.
GEN Pope succeeded in decevIng not only the enemy.
but the whole country, and even tho newspaper cor
respondents at Washington as to the extent OF ms forces
and by Of scouts adroy circulated stories that his
army amounted TO 10000 men, This the Rebels believed
and thereupOn rope drew upon himself me Wnoe lorce
OF the Rebel army which he fought night and day for
eleven days, adopting every eXpedient means OF
gaining time. that the Army of the Potomac might
with him. Ii az this time the alleged detection
OF occurred and the criminal refusal neglect Of
that officer TO obey the commands or ms superior ana
up his command TO the attack was, Mr.. Chandler
asserted fully proven by the kilograms and other evil
dence in the case. POrter's duty to march when
ordered and the difficulties or dangers of the march
given upon the trial. for moving his force forward
the enemy IN great force IN his 'front.' as
by clouds of dust In the direction OF Gaines
VILE. Gen Porter now claims TO have fresh evidence
80 ad he (Mr Chandler fresh evidence for the official
dispatches OF the Rebel Fitzhugh Lee explained
that the Of dust referred to caused by Jeb
10 their tails. galOpng down from Gainesville. Mr..
Chandler referred the high character OF the compost
mon of The court martial which tried and unanimously
convicted the accused after 45 days OF careful invcsga
zion He said some Of the members of the court were IN
favor OF the death penalty and that the
gulv reA
fear mat Lincoln, whose kindness OF heart well
known wOald not enforce it. He charged. upon the
statement OF his informant, who trustworthy gen
temsu nat while the trial was actually III progress.
F1z-JohuPorter used tins language: was not true
70 Pope .nd there is 10 use denying IT." lie claimed
that faessness 70 Pope meant tTtachety 10 th9 Coy
lowed period of the with all their dreful re
suits in some measure attributable to this
Mr. WILSON rep, Mass)-Mr President knew
FitzJmu Porter well at the commencement Of the
and regarded hum as an accomplished and able officer
knes many OF the men who served under hiln, and
IN thbest of the country He certainly rendered
ercstservces the country at Hanover Court House,
~ I,ness Mills, and especially at Malvern Hills All
Ynirrv men admit this. surprised and grieved at
fhearges against him for his action in the Pope
caTpaign. and l was not surprised that the court
Igftia on the evidence they had before Them should
yrng hun IN g guilty., and on that evidence today DO
mo- see now they could have done ANYTHING else do
no think the courn are liable to any blame from
ourselves or others, But their NerlcI was crushing 70
Go Porter. he felt and felt 1t deeply. He claimed
friends claimed mat ne maG PSfn hr sc
rion n the country, who had served under him were
lncn evidence had Dec'l discovered tha "oula
explain ms action and perhaps JUSTIFY H. that
N'ooold have i'm some way examination.
ioed with others upon this statement OF new evidence
Potter brought before Military Commission or court
martial. and to have reOpennS ana discrimination OF
courr.martlal With this evidence thought II he
rad been wrongly dealt with he had terribly suffered and
have this feeling SIR that any man who ever stood on
neu ~ az ms time aud in All coming time be
q lac has hseu
ward Porter and every other man who served his
country II am sure man has been WrOhged ana can
AID nm rghtipg him. | always To do il, whether
y, ue I'M ,i =, nov evidence had been discovered that
would change the result IN any degree justify Gen
Porter felt that his conduct previous 10 TINS alleged
heuse entitled him TO justice at the hands OF his cOun
nv Consequently / joined with some senators and
Others asking the rcOpenIng OF ms case nave under
stood that Gen Porter had desire to 20 back into the
army that what desired 10 he vndicated. too by
facts that neither he his friends desire whtewash
ing and that certainly do not desire tnOuSht the
matter Wa submitted to military men, gentlemen whose
names would be assurance OF just and patriotic deal
5ng that the previous decision OF the cCufmaral might
be sustained overturned upon all the facts that
Gen Porter would be condemned If guilty, and
which every man fought for his country the Re
beOn should always receive at the hands OF his country
would be glad 10 see the case thus tired upon ts merits
upon the facts not for the purpose OF conviction or
scquual or Of white"ashlng but Tor the purpose OF
doing a Justice 10 who held the commission OF
Major General in the army OF the United States. do
not however, press that matter here now. suppose
nothing be about II here. The Senator from
Michigan (Mr Chandler has stated the very strongly
Gen Porter but facts might be brought 10 light
which would operate very materially IN his favor upon
the Judgment OF ms country.
The subject then disposed Of by the Withdrawal OF
he resolution by Mr.. Chandler.
The yICEPREslDENT announced that he would be
motion OF Mr.. HAMLIN. tho Senator from Rhode
Island. Mr. Anthony, was deputed to preside Temporal
MY.
Senate then proceeded consider the bills reported
1Om the Committee on Commerce. when the following,
On motion Of Mr. CHANDLER were taken up and passed:
The Joint resolution 20 authorize the Secretary OF the
Treasury 70 issue American register TO the BARK lave