Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-07

fact: Was not Porter guilty? There are two reasons
why don't. In the first place, think 1t Is wholly
unnecessary. Because If we have no constitutional
power to pardon him what IL the same thing, relieve
him from that Judgment in any form OF proceeding
whatever-it is iminaterisl to us whether he was
guilty or not. In the next place that part OF the
logan much better than could do it Now have
no feeling against Porter on any account. was
with him year at the academy at West Point. and
always esteemed him gentleman till this affair oc-
Cured. The testimony, which have examined
pretty fully, convinced not that Porter was dis
loyal 20 the Union, not that he meant that
the South should succeed in breaking up
the government. but he was devoted
to Mcclellan. Mcclellan was the idol of his heart
and star of his hope. He wanted to see Mcclellan
succeed first. He wanted to see eur cause prosper,
but he wanted Mcclellan to lead lis to victory. He
was the man to whom Porter was attached, around
whom all the affections of his heart seemed to have
entwined themselves, and it was bitter as death to
him when Mcclellan was supplanted in comm nd and
succeeded BY a man for whom he seems to have had
great contempt. That the fault and fall Of Por-
ter. 1t was ambition, if not for himself for his
friend, like the ambition that drew. Satan
down. that drew Porter down. and SO far as our power
is concerned the analogy proceeds step farther for
when he fell he fell like Lucifer, never to rise again.
Look at the facts on which he was convicted, and
think testimony sustains tbs findings OF the court.
There was battle raging upon which the fate of this
nation might depend. Orders were issued to him
again and again, which he disregarded, which he
.,atly disobeyed. When finally, in obedience to
positive order TO core and report on the Datue ned
20 Pope in person, he did come. 1t was without one
of mis- brigGdes, and so tardiy as to showhe had
heart in the cause, no wish To obey
orders. Why, M. President. life depended
on that batte--not merely that of individuals. but
the life Of an army. the life of the nation, perhaps
II Porter should go down the avenue aud kill man
to-day he would be hanged-a life for life. Upon
this admeasurement of justice what shall We do with
a man who by his criminal copd&ct sacrificed the
lives of twenty Thousand soldiers ?1The battles
dered necessary in consequences Of his neglect of
duty cost us 90 100 lives Upon this admeasurement
II Porter had 10000 lives they all forfeited to the
State. The people from my own State, I know, felt
II keenly. The loss fell heavily upon US. What
was called the Iron Brigade in the arm
Of the Potomac, made up of three Wisconsin regi
ments and one Indiana resiment-as brave body of
men as ever were on battle fed-a body of men
who, for bravery and sodie-y bearing and conduct,
wouldn't suffer comparison with the old guard of
Napoleon, in one of the fights in that neighborhood
lost in one hour and five minutes nineteen hundred
and ten men killed and wounded. Every train Of
csar that penetrated the interior Of the States for
months afterwards came freighted with the sacred
remains of our slaughtered soldiers. They
o @ere piie depots up " like pA' merchandse
and sleep in green graves that dot every hill and
every green valley in Wisconsin. Our people will
not soon forget Fitz John Porter. They will never
forgive him. They would not soon forget me, and
never forgive me-, if should stand as their repre-
sentative vote to put Ftz John Porter back, where
he would have been il he had not fallen, and pay him
all that he would have had II he had remained in
service and served his country faithfully. Queer
things are being done these days. This thing may
be done by the Senate. I. will not be done by my
vote. 1 should regard it q disgraceful act for
Congress to do. Nevertheless, Mr.. president, Gods
will be done It may be that even this last travesty
on justice may be necessary. They tells us that
whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.
1t may be- although it seems impossible, that the
Democrats are not mad enough yet to insure their
total destruction. This last act msy be needed to
convince the American people that to proper
rrnjla WI fly Ia
proper punishment upon disloyalty aud hold rebel
lion in check, need in the White House once more
the steady hand cool head and the patriotic heart Of
U. S. Grant. Great applause.
Senator Bsyard obtained the door but yielded to a
motion for executive session, and when the doors
reopened the Senate adjourned till Monday