New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-10
THE CASE OF FTTZ JOHN PORTER.

, CARD FROM EX-GOv. RANDOLPH OF NEW-JBRsEY.
TO the Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR Will you permit one of your habitual
readers the OF historical truth and fair play to
appeal from judgment you have OF late, more than
once incidentally. though decsively expressedf The
appeal presents think. the opinion Of loyal men Of
all parties and OF brave soldiers living and Dead Of all
ranks and services 1t is in behalf of Gen. Fz John
Porter
Once during the trial OF Marshal BazaDe, and once
since its termination have you pointed out what seems
to you an analogy between his case and Gen. Porters
Your expression Of this view that while Marshal
Bazane was condemned ''for breach Of military trust
and duty" because his feay to the Emperor In exile
was greater TO France in revolution Gen Porter
"a brave soldier you admit "and gallant man,, was
deemed guilty OF kindred wrong in being more "loyal
to his friend Gen. Mcclellan than to his actual COM
mander and Government; to be still more precise be
had made il matter OF either boast confession that he
WAS mot loyal to John Pope"
Permit me to point out in general way, the obvious
differences between the you have collated. which,
in my view are so marked to prove that except in
the particulars of both being brave soldiers tried by
cout-martial. and adjudged guilty. there s no single
point of resemblance But that 1t would turn aside my
Immediate aim. think could show that the French
court was constituted fairer principles than that
which condemned the American soldier. Certain Is IT..
no witness or interested party among Bszaine's
drunkard, with passions inhsmed, and judgment and
memory slOuded.
The Bazaine trial WAS not held till the over,
aud its excitements and passions 10 great measure
cooled 1t scrutiny Of those who by law made
his peers aud accused had the benefit, with all the
beraty OF French military law not merely OF the es
timony of German generals well az French ones but
that testimony the forw Of letters sud certincates
This as you are aware. denied 70 Gen. Porter. or
rather il was matter OF impossbity for him, the war
continuing more than years after the court met to
nrocure such testimony. The sentence was approved
Ian % 1863 OF the three chief adyersares whom, at
the second Manassas. Gen. Porter 40 CALAMITY con-
,ronted one was dead at Charlottesville, and the
others Lee and Long street. were In arms TIL the spring o.
1865 II is poor tribute 10 the Hotstanton court
ta TO say that even judgment could hardly have been
what IL Uas had Gems Robert +. Lee and James Long
street testified under OATH by letter. as did Prince
Charles for Bazaine what it is now known they could
have done Certain 1T that M Lincolns gentle ma
te and right mindedness would have, under such CIT
cunstances prevented him from approving the nnding
There Gen Porters possession. conclusive evidence
that 10 was, but for his assassination MT Lincoln
would have reopened the case Surely. now "heh
owing to the nacton of those In whom the prerogauve
OF mercIul justice Ia vested Gen. Porter has notninR
but popular sympathy rely on the Confederate test
mOny Is not only competent and credible but most I'M
pressive. Permit me for moment TO refer to It, and
this without meaning open the whole subject, with
| the details Of which the public Is familiar.
Dvested OF formal phraseoogy the allegation against
Gen. Porter quitting the question Of imputed motives
for the present asde) that the ssth 3Oth Of
August lSs2ta Manassas, our army was defeated In
consequence OF his failure TO push into action and
attack portion aud small portion easily disposed OF,
of the Confederate army immediately In trout. II 1t
had nconcnsve proof that the confronting force
was not portion but the whole OF the enemys army. IL
must be conceded that order OF attack would have
been given and If given under misoonoepton would
have properly been disregarded There was
! proof before tho court ~ this, tho test-
! Inony OF the heroic Re iolds. who sloeps
at Of Morel Of 0Iln aud OF MarsbalL az