The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-31
Ghe 9ailg Aeans.
Independent IN Eoergthima.
FITZ JOHN PORTER
Vain Appeals to the President for a Court a,
Inquiry-The Hon. Montgomery Blair's Be.
lief in Gen. Porter's Innocence.

lief in Gen. Porter's Innocence.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81 = Influential
friends of Gen. Porter, having been IN
able thus far to obtain the consent of the
President to appoint court of inquiry to
review the facts as now presented, have
decided to publish several important doom
ments bearing on Gen. Porter's case. with
a view to calling public attention anew to
the alleged wrong done him. Among the
documents are decisive expressions of onin-
ion in favor of Gen. Porter from many dis
tinguished Federal army officers, that of
Gen George H. Thomas being UNQUALIFIED.
ly in Gen. Porter's behalf Among the
opinions of prominent civil officers and
statesmen is letter from the Hon. Mont
gomery Blair, who was member of Pres
ident Lincoln's Cabinet at the time of Por-
ter s condemnation. 1t says:
Undoubtedly you are entitled to a hear
ing by the President, You are under a
sentence of disqualification which is still in
force and~course OF execution IF it were
an executed sentence, he might say it is
final in law and rid himself of it in that
way but, as the case is, conceive it to be
his clear duty, on an application to the
pardoning power with show of probable
cause, to look into it, and, if he finds the
sentence unjust, to issue his pardon. OF
course you do not want his pardon, and
would refuse to accept it unless he puts it
on the ground of your innocence, but your
application does not lie only to the pardon
ing power. Many precedents and positive
statute indicate more complete remedy in
such a case of gross injustice. The Presi-
dent may restore you with the consent of
the Senate. Undoubtedly it is his duty if
public justice requires it. 1t is not meIe
matter of Executive favor. | do not see
how he can refuse to declare his Judgment
Of your entire innocence if he will examine
the new evidence. 1t is evidence from the
side of the enemy which you could moi
procure during the war. It refutes utter
ly the conjectural findings of the court
martial. You are as much entitled to this
evidence as Bazaine was to the testimony
OF the German princes and generals.
| | do not say that this new evidence is
necessary to your vindication. / believe
with Judge Curtis and Mr.. Reverdy John.
son and Mr. Daniel Lord that you are en-
titled to a full and honorable acquittal on the
evidence at the trial; but the new evidence
will. when you get an honest hearing, have
the trial set aside as null and void. The
artifce of making staff officer sign thu
charges in lieu of the military commander
to evade the law which only allows cour
to be appointed and detailed by the Presi
dent in such case as yours, is fetch an(
continuance of no validity in law. The cour
detailed by Gen. Halleck for Mr. Stanton
was in law no court and there has been n,
trial, and there is no legal verdict or sen
tence against you. But this is not wha
you want. You want the truth brough
out and indicated You want an investi
cation on the merits of the evidence Tha
YOU will get it one day have not the leas
doubt. Public justice will yet come to tn
rescue.