Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-03
CAPITAL GLEANINGS.
GEN. FITz JOHN PORTER INDICATED.
Report Of the Board Of lnquiy-DemO-
cratic Senatorial Cagcus-Nomin-
ations and Combinations.
Gen. Fitz John Porter INDICATED.

Gen. Fitz John Porter Vindicated.
WASHINGTON, April 2.-The report OF
the board OF officers in the case OF Fitz
John Porter, says: New evidence in
addition to the old, has placed beyond
question many important facts, before
the subject .of dispute, in respect to
With radically erroneous opinions were
entertained By Gen. POrter's accusers,
and doubtless by the court-martial that
prOnount ed him guilty. The result has
been to establish beyond reasonable
doubt all facts essential to the formation
Of a sound and correct judgment upon
the merits OF the case, concerning the
charge of which Gen. Porter was found
guilty, of not having moved his COM
mand on the night Of August "a,
1862, in obedience 10 an order
from General Pope. The board
reports that it was manifest physical
impossibiiitv 10 march over that road
that night; that nothing would have
been gained by the attempt, and that 1t
would have been wiser OF General Por
ter had he delayed the attempt still
longer than hc did; that lac exercised
vcrv' ordinary discretion as Il corps
commander, and that it was his plain
duty TO so exercise 1t.
With reference 10 the famous 40
order" the board find that it was not
received by Porter before $50 p. NJ. on
the 20th OF August; that the officer who
wrote the dispatch only began to write
it at 4:30: that the messenger who took
il could not have travelled over the route
which they assert they had taken II
their own testimony be true; that one
of the witnesses concerning TINS order
had gwen inconsistent statements and
other witnesses had confessed to the
board that he had deliberately made
false statements in regard to the true
route taken while carrying the
dispatch; and as 20 still an
other witness on this point, his
testimony as to the early delivery OF
the dispatches was so completelybroE
down that no weight whatever was at
tached To it; on the other hand, the tes-
timOny as To the time of the delivery OF
the 430 order. OF such officers as General
Sykes, Colonies Locke and Monteith,
and several other witnesses, all 20 To
prove the order was not dvlivCrrd until
about sundOwn, and this testimony has
been ,singularly confirmed by the pro-
ductiOn, for the first time, OF a dispatch
from Porter to Mcdowell, dated at p.
W., OF the day in question, the terms OF
which show that Porter could not then
have been in possession OF the 4:3O or
der, for when the 80 order was received,
Porter ordered an attack, but darkness
came on Tusing the words OF the report.
The order was based upon conditions
manifcstly erroneous, and directed
what was impossible TO bc done, and
that Porter wisely ordered any further
preparations 10 cease. The report, CON
cluding this part of its investigation,
SAYS: When darkness had come ON, the
rear of McDonald's column of weary
troops was passing by the rear Of POr-
ter's column, still several miles from
their destined place on the field; the
Union army was not even
vet ready tor battle. Por.
tcr's duty during the afternoon of
August 10Th was TOO plain and simple
10 admit of discussion, and the board are
unable to find anything i'll it subject To-
criticism, much less deserving Of cen
sure or condemnation.
Democratic Senatorial Caucus.
WASHINGTON, April The Demo
cratic Senators, in caucus, ratified the
report Of the committee recently ap-
pointed 10 designate the employees OF the
senate for retention II was agreed
that the Senate should permanently re-
tain Captain Isaac Bassett as Assistant
DOOrkccppr and the venerable VIM.
John, well known as the keeper OF the
main door Ol the senate chamber, both
Of whom have been in Nh" service Of the
senate Tor forty years or more; and also
AMI smith, superintendent of the doc
umcnt room, together with two OF the
acting assistant doorkccpcrS, ~ho are
Nripplcl Union soldiers. lt was also
agreed that the changes in the force Of
the clerical EMPLOYEES shall be made
gradually during the present month,
and i'm such q manner as "a avoid any
inconvenience a. much rs possible. 1t
was suggested in caucus that several oi
the NEST experienced clerks should bc
included i'm the list ut employees eX-
pres~v designated for retention, but
after some discussion the majority de-
cidrd that the Secretary O, the Senate
should exercise his own judgment and
discretion concerning the personnel ol
hi, office. and a similar decision WIS
made hv the caucus in regard Ia the
urupOsiti,ns 10 ada to the list the names
ui certain specially useful and faithful
members ol the force Ot Ncryeant-at-
arms. No action was taken on the
question Of permitting general lesisla-
ton during the present session, hut th"
sentiment appeared to b" strongly m
favor Of restricting legislative business
To- the passage II appropriation bills
Confrmations.
WNsHI~GToS. April The Senate
confirmed 4. d. White, 81 New York,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Pirniputvutlarv to Germany; {. \. L.
gin, Minister 20 the Central American
States J. II. Stewart, al -. Paul, sur
veyor-Gcncral for the district Of Mime
suta. 4. 4. Nur,pG. l :. Marshal Tor
the northern districtoi Texas.
Nominations.
The President nominated David /.
CUrbin, of south Carolina. Chief Justice
ui H." supreme Court al Utah; Thomas
:. WadsVorth, OF Illinois. Receiver Of
Public Moneys al Ia Mes.ill, New McXi-
CO.
RkEISSBU RG.
Burglars Confession.
PAREER,BuR0, April l.-Wsybright,
the alleged accompIire Of Bowyrrs, thr