Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-28
FITZ JOHN PORTER.

Ano l. AAAs1SAoAPAAa AUHUGTeT OI Iu6 lfGI
inst. prints in full the argument of Hon
John G.. Bullitt, of counsel for Gen. Fitz
John Porter, before the advisory board OF
officers that recently completed the review OF
the proceedings of the court martial, which,
IN 1868, condemned Gen. Porter to dismissal
from the army because of disobedience OF
orders at the second battle of Manassas,
The findings of the board, as our readers
have been informed, have already been filed
with the war department, and, though not
yet made public, are understood to be full
exculpation of the accused, with recon-
mendation that he be restored to his rank in
the army The argument of Mr.. Bullitt is
al able and exhaustive review of the whole
testimony in the case, both that presented tc
the original court martial and that submitted
on the rehearing, coupled with powerful
plea in behalf Of justice to man who has
for sixteen years suffered undeserved dis
grace on perjured and &c parte testimony.
Gen. Porter was convicted at time when
public feeling was intensely exercised over
the second great defeat Of our army during
the war. He was accused by Gems. Pope and
Mcdowell of having neglected to obey an
order sent from Pope's headquarters at 4:3O
P. M. of the 10Th of August, 1862, to attack
the enemy. That order, it has been estab-
lished by the testimony of many veracious
wi theses of reputable Off
GERS who had the best facilities for knowing
the fact-did not reach Gen. Porter till after
sunset, when an attack would have been i'm
possible. One notable event of the hearing
was the utter confusion as to hours and
dates that seemed to prevail in the mind of
Gen. Mcdowell, who has all along been q
most ma lgnant prosecutor of Gen. Porter.
He could not recall the events of the day
with sufficient clearness to give any trust
worthy account of what occurred, and sew
eral times fatty contradicted the testimony
given by him before the first court martial.
He left very unfavorable impression upon
the minds of the members of the board.
Gen. Pope, too, refused absolutely to appear
before the board, thus tacitly admitting that
he was unable to substantiate the charges
he had made. ---
If the findings of the board of inquiry
should be found to be as they are reported,
there will be universal feeling of gratifca-
ton throughout the country. For sixteen
years Gen. Porter has been branded with
disgrace that even executive clemency could
not blot out. he has been persistent all
that time in the endeavor to have his case
reopened, but without success until Mr..
Hayes granted his request a, year ago-the
most creditable action of his administration.
He has been able to present his case in a
much better light than he had expected, and
has left no doubts in the minds of those
who heard or read the testimony of his com.
plete innocence of the grave charges upon
which he was so hastily condemned. Not
only that, but he has placed his principal
accusers, Gems. Pope and Mcdowell, in a
very unenviable light before the army and
the public, and some officers do not hesitate
to say that these gentlemen may yet be
called to answer to the charge of grossly
perverting the truth in their zeal to assist in
Porter's condemnation. The case will long
be remembered in our army as striking
example of the danger of too hasty judg-
ment on matters of such grave concern, es-
pecially judgment given at time when
public excitement is liable to influence it.