National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-20
SECRETARY CHANDLER.
fConfSnusd fren Ffrsf Pace.l

that during that gloomy, eventful Sunday which
succeeded the last battle on Saturday the 3oth Of
oveirun and overcome with tn statements that IN
army would not fight"
mean It should fight, who could not in the ext.
gency Of the moment be displaced. The President
was able afterwsrd to relieve Mcclellan and
have seen justice to General Pope awarded also.
IITsmains for me, while live, to do my portion
There is one other point to which wish to al
lude. During this very trial, during the very
tendency OF the trial, Fitz John Porter said in
the presence Of my informant, who Is man that
ployment OF Congress, ana Whoie word would
take as foon as would moot men's-though told
him would not use his name, but I will give his
AFTER the utterance was made-Fitz John Porter
said in his presence, 81 was not true to Pope, and
there l. no use in denying IT,
II he was not true to Pope whom was he true to?
Being true to Pope was being true 70 the coun-
tus ~ P Psg ssn tS 20 t sne
rnc fight Of the 30th Of August with all the blood
and all the horrors Of that bitter day; "not true
thousands Of slain and its other thousands
MANNED; snot true to Pope" meant the first bat
tie Of fredericksburg, with Its twenty thousand
the battles OF the Wilderness and Cold Harbor
and all the dreadful battles that followed. Had
FitI John Porter been true to his Government,
of August, and on the 3oth the rebels could
scarcely have offered any resistance to our VIC
hundred thousand slain and two thousand mil.
lions Of additional dollars expended.
Sir, I wish to put this on the record for all
time, that 1t may remain. LetlFitZ John Porter
thank God that he yet lives, and that he was
not living at that time under military Govern
nsa fS HIS bpCPs IN the @ nseT
the whole conduct Of the campaign. He asked,
what is that ?" Said I, THAT you ever allowed
Considering that Chandler and Porter were
both natives Of the same State this language
may appear little rough, but We have given the
new Secretary in the course which he at least
believed to be right Messrs. Wade and Chand-
prosecution of war; and did more than any other
constantly in the minds Of the people. " '''N'
Mr.. Chandler early in the war became con-
WINGED of the unftness of Mcclellan for the chief
command. He pursued this idea with all the
energy and vigor which characteriEes all his
cility In the Senate in fearful Arraignment.
Having prepared his speech, he presented It's
facts. with his arraignment Of Mcclellan, to
friend, and submitted the question as to his duty
under all the circumstances. His friend observed:
beyond question, these facts ought to be laid
satisfy but sSsg Win Create ofm that e VIII HI
sweep either you or Mcclellan from public life,
and IL is more than probable that you wiz be the
NiCtAul. uc ScuhIOI IcDly was wholly IN CQar-
acter. He said: ST did not ask your opinion Of
the consequences, but what is my duty" To this
1t was replied: "The speech ought to be made,
and no one else will make IT," He answered:
1.-The speech will be made this evening; come and
hear It," The speech was made. It was listened
to with most profound attention. Its effect upon
the war and the sentiment Of the country is now
In history, and need not be repeated here.
Senator Chandler was firmly convinced, from
evidence taken BY the Committee on the Conduct
Of the War, that
MANY OTHER OFFICERS BESIDES PORTER
in the Army Of the Potomac lost their zeal with
the absence Of their fayorite commands. He felt
assured that Burnside and Hooker were unfaith-
fully supported or their efforts might have been
victorious. He may have been mistaken, but at
all events he deemed the matter one OF 80 great
Importance that he called upon the Secretary of
W ar and requested him to have Q list made out
OF the incompetent, suspected and insuDordinate
otheers Of the Army Of the Potomac, to be fur
nished to Gen. Grant, SO that he would be able
to place them where they could do the least harm
In the service. This Secretary Stanton promised
should be done. A few days afterWard Senator
Chandler called again at the War Department
and inquired Of the Secretary II that list had been
made out and sent TO Gen. Grant, He replied,
"Notyet." When Senator Chandler Immediately
said will make out the list myself and send It to
Grant, and he did so, Maj. Gen. Q. O. Washburn
being the bearer.
The services Of Mr.. Chandler in the Senate
since the war and his fidelity to the Republican
party and Its principles, pure and simple, are so
we'll known that It is not necessary to 90 into de-
tail now concerning them. He Is sound on all the
questions now agitating the country, including
our Southern policy and q return to specie. pay
ments.