Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-29
Il MARTYR TO PARTISANHHIP.
In Washington dispatches to the Chicago

lTEOLIIe We uuu Ine IOAOWAuS paragraph
Since the finding of the board of army Of
been the bitterest expressions on the part of
many Republicans, including Senators, mem
bers and old army officers, and the President
has had some very earnest discussions with
reference to it. The testimony and documents
laid before the board have been printed, and
number of maps, drawings and diagrams are
also printed with the book. 1t will at once re-
ceive the attention of the Senate and military
committee. In the meantime the President has
decided not to approve the findings of the
board, but has sent all the documents to the
judge advocate general, who will 60 over the
whole case again. which will require several
months. The case, as seen from here, seems to
have become one of politics, and not military
evidence.
No more glaring outrage has ever been
committed in the civilized world than that
related here in such a matter-of- fact manner.
Seventeen years ago Gen. Porter was con-
demned by partisan court on er parte-
perhaps perjured- evidence, to dismissal
from the army and to perpetual social ostra-
oism from class which he had long adorned.
It was time of fierce political animosities.
A man who was even suspected of direliction
of duty or of sympathy for the enemies of
the government was dealt with in the most
summary manner and made to feel that his
room was better than his company. Upon
the rendering of the findings of the court
martial Gen. Porter entered an energetic
protest against its injustice and demanded q
new hearing. Conscious of his own inno-
cence he could not understand why it should
be denied him, but nevertheless his appeal
was dismissed. Waiting till the war was
over and party feeling had somewhat sub
sided, he renewed his appeal again and again,
but each time it met with the same reception.
Finally his opportunities prevailed, and he
was accorded the opportunity of clearing his
name from the stigma cast upon it.
The testimony adduced at the recent cour,
of review is still fresh in the public mind
and needs no recapitulation at this time
Suffice it to say that every charge originally
preferred against him was proved to be false
that the witnesses for the prosecution con-
tradicted their own previous. testimony on
all material points and that the court was
satisfied that one if not two of the officers
who testified before the court martial had
perjured themselves. Not Only was it proved
that the charges were fa'se, but ii was fur
ther established that in every emergency
Gen. Porter had conducted himself in sol
dierly manner and had won the regard of all
with whom he was associated for hiA sagaci
ty, bravery and patriotism. With such 81
array of evidence, all of it unimpeachabl'
and disinterested, the court of review coult
do nothing besides what it did, render
unanimous judgment that the findings o
the first court martial we're erroneous an,
ought to be reversed. The men who CAV
this Judgment are officers whose honor o
whose impartiality no man will dare i'm
pugn. iss
Now, after the lapse of several months, "
receive the intelligence that .smany Republi
sans'' fhave expressed disapproval of tn
findings of the. court, and have prevaile
upon s.the Ple1lde7s 70 disapprove of them
What in the name of Heaven has partisan
ship got to do with such case 2 Is it
party question whether a man shall SUITE
unjustly or whether his good name shall b
upheld OF not Is any party question in
volved in purely judicial decision decis
ion that involves what is dearer to man tina,
lite-his honor So monstrous PROPOSE
ton was never before promulgated in a
intelligent and civilized community.
| We do not know, nor do We care, whethe
Gen. Porter is Democrat or Republican