Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-11
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Second Session.
The Senate.

WASHINGTON, March 4.-The Vice President
presented message from the President trans
uniting the agreement between the secretary OF
the interior and Ute Indians and recommending
its ratification. Referred.
WAR CLAIMS OF STATES.
Senator Thurman, from the committee on
Judiciary, reported adversely the bill to reim-
burse several States for interest paid on Wal
loans and for other purposes. Placed on the
calendar.
ELECTION SUPERVISORS.
Senator Davis, Ill, stated there was minor
ity report on the bill.
Senator Bayard, from the committee on ju-
dietary, reported favorably the House bill to
define the terms of office of chief supervisors of
elections. Placed on the calendar.
bill and memorial were introduced and re-
ferred, to amend section 4, 472 revised statutes,
concerning commerce and navigation and regu-
latiOn of steam vessels.
COURTS FOR THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
The motion made yesterday by Senator Thur.
man to refer the remembrance of Indian chiefs
against the passage of the bill to establish
a United States court iE the Indian Territory
was taken up, and Senator Vest opposed the
motion, saying the committee on territories,
who had reported the bill, included several
good lawyers, fully able to draw the bill, and
there was no reason to refer this any more than
any other bill to the committee on judiciary.
Senator Edmunds favored the motion, and
said it implied no dscuurtesy to the committee
on territories.
Senator Garland, chairman of the committee
on territories, thought the motion dlscourteOus
to that committee. The committee might al
well be abolished If the motion prevailed.
MONITORS.
Mr.. Whitthorn, chairman of the committee
on naval affairs, reported joint resolution for
the orga nization of board of officers of the
navy to report upon the practicability of COM
plotting the double turreted monitors Puritan,
Mouadnock, Amphitrite and Terror. Agreed to-
M'DoNALD CONTINUES.
Pending discussion the morning hour ex-
pired and consideration was resumed of the
bill for relief of Fitz John Porter, and Senator
Mcdonald continued his remarks III support of
the bill. He said the engagement in which the
celebrated Iron Brigade played SO conspicuous
from Wisconsin (Carpenter), did not occur on
the goth of August when these operations
were going on, but in fierce contest that took
place on the evening of the 2Sth between
Kings division of McDowelis corps when it
was finding its devious way from Gainesville to
Manassas Junction under orders received by its
commander at o clock on the 9th. It's COM
mander was the brave and gallant
John Gibbons, and its next
chief officer was the brave and gallant and dar-
ing Bragg, now an honored member of the
House from Wisconsin. These men have from
that day to this been warm friends of Fitz John
Porter.
bill omit to speak of Porter's conduct on the
30th. But the board do not forget to speak of
it. They say that the withdrawal of Porter's
army in order to obey an imperative order of
Pope to report to him in person Immediately
with his army was the beginning of the unfor
tuuate operations of that day. This corps,
which had been protecting the left flank of
Pope's army, was withdrawn from its impor-
tant position, leaving the left wing and flank
exposed to attack by greatly superior
force of the enemy. The board hold
that Porter had alternative but to
obey the order literally. If he had any alter
native he should have refustd to obey it. As
to Porter subsequent conduct on the 30th, it
was OF the bravest kind. JacksOn's report of
the days operations says: 1.-The federal in
fantry about 4 o clock in the morning, advanc-
ed in several lines. In few moments our en-
tire line was engaged in fierce and sauguina-
~ struggle with the enemy. As one line was
repulsed another took its place and pushed for
ward as if determined by force of numbers and
fury of the assault to drive from our posi-
TONS So impetuous and we'll sustained were
these onsets as to induce me to send to the
commanding general for achievements, but
the timely and gallant advance of Gen. Long
street on the right relieved my troops from the
pressure of overwhelming numbers and gave to
these brave men the chances of more equal
conflict"
This extract from Jackson's report had been
printed aud circulated by Mcdowell and Pope
as referring to the 29th and proving that there
L.AN1 H. FL -
ferret to the 30th, and Mcdowell on examina-
tion before the board of review, was reluctantly
brought to admit that Porter, himself, COM
manded the federal troops, whose fierce assaults
were spoken of in Jackson's report. After
that how could this man, Mcdowell. ever lift
his head again.
Senator Conkling-Do understand the SEN
ator to charge or impute to Gen. Mcdowell that
he knowingly circulated false reports, injuri-
GUS to Porter and then he reluctantly admitted
when he was forced to admit, that he had done
SO?
Senator McDonald-I do not say he circulated
it knowing it to be false, but do say that the
means of making the correction were at any
time at his command if he had done him mi US
tice by simply putting down the date disclos-
ing the fact that the extract referred to the
30th. He did not know bat it is ignorance for
which he is not excusable under the facts of
the case. and as for his reluctance to admit the
kdCb IcdOkuS uts SAaihiuebiou WILL SuPpoit NY
assertion.
Senator Logan-Does not the evidence clearly
disclose that Mcdowell didn't know that fact
till his attention was called to it in the exam-
nation.
Senator McDouald-He said he didn't know
until fifteen minutes before the examination
but it required all the skill of one of the most
skillful of examiners to get him to admit that
there was any difference between the published
statement and the facts.
Senator Conkling-I listened in the opening
of this debate to a very severe and injurious
insinuation cast upon Gen. Mcdowell, and
subsequent like insinuations have led me to
believe that this debate is largely directed
against Mcdowell and the part he played in
this affair. Now, venture to say that, in re-
gard to this circulated statement being false.
the Senator from Indiana is just as guilty as
Gen. Mcdowell, for it was as much his business
to know it was false as it was McDowelrs bust
ness. As to reluctance to admit his mistake
when he found it out, Conklins read from Nc
Dowelrs cross.examination before the board of
review, and said he thought no man could make
a more generous admission regarding Porter
than did Mcdowell.
Senator Mcdonald thought the admission
was brought out with difficulty. He went on
to quote the reports of the board that the re-
ports of the twentY-ninth and thirtieth have
been strangely COMPOUNDED with each other.
Gen. Porter was in effect condemned for not
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