National Republican., 1880-03-04
CURRENT CAPITAL TOPICS.
Another Day of Fitz-Iohn Porter in
The Senate.
Senator Logan Continues His specoh-Hc
Will Finish To-day-Obsequies in tho
House - A Ponca Chiefs Plain
Story-Grand Army and tho
/ sixty-Surgeon Bill-Star
Service In the South.
Proceedings In Congress.

number of adverse reports were made to
the Senate yesterday from the Judiciary, and
the bills were indefinitely postponed.
Several bills were introduced and referred,
and number Of petitions were presented.
Mr. Carpenter submitted resolution in
struoting the Committee on the Judiciary to
inquire whether Congress has right TO make
the Indian Territory n separate Judicial dis
trict and to organize a court or courts therein,
aud IL so, what jurisdiction ought to be con-
rerrcd upon said courts, and to report by bill
or otherwise. Objected to by Mr.. Garland
and laid over
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
of business on the calendar. The bill for the
rclicfo certain actual settlers on the Kansas
Trust and Diminished Reserve lands in Kan
sas was passed, as was the bill restoring to the
public domain part of the Fort Ripley mill
tary reservation in Minnesota.
The morning hour having expired tho
Senate took up as unfinished business the
Fitz-John Porter bill, and Mr.. Logan resumed
his remarks from the preceding day. He
challenged Mr.. Randolph to produce proof OF
the charge made by him that General Nc
Dowel had before the court-martial reported
to the War Department his knowledge Of the
force in front of him and at the court-martial
sworn he did not know 1t. lie then resumed
his argument of Tuesday, citing large num-
Der of decisions and other authorities to show
judicial decision final in its nature. In the course
of his remarks he said that Porter was osten'
| sbly seeking the removal of o stain on his
honor, but when he asks that he puts his hand
behind him and says 100000 will correct II
better than merely restoration of my honor
lie contended that the only power possessed
by the President when judicial decision had
been given was to grant II pardon. 1t was al
| he could do in this case. He had been told
that Porter had never asked u pardon from
the President. 1t WAS truo pardon did moi
carry with IL $4,000.
Mr.. Herman said originally the President
if he had seen fit, could have annulled the sen
tenco. He wanted now to give him II chamc,
to reverse 1t OH the report OF a board ofiuquir,
that finds the sentence was erroneous.
Mr. Logan said there was no power to gram
a new trial; but If there was, could any power o
the Government grant new trial after th
President approved the sentence that wOul'
have authority to bring the man before it?
| Mr.. Herman replied that in his judgmen
there was in the legislative authority of tn
Government power to authorize n man VIII
asked it to be roheard and retired.
Mr.. Logan reiterated there was no powe
that could retry the man. The original court
. martial had power to shoot or to acqui
Would the Seuator claim that auy power coul
be given to retry the case aud sentence him t
be shot?
At $3.50 o'clock Mr.. Logan, having finishe
his citations of authority, yielded to a motto
for an executive session, announcing that Il
day he would conclude his remarks with
general review of the case.
, After short time in executive session, I'll
Senate adjourned to to-day.
In the House Mr.. Wood, of New York, er
; deavored to obtain n suspension OF the morl
ing hour in order to proceed at once to I'll
, consideration of the funding bill, but tn
motion was defeated without n division, an
; the House resumed the consideration of til
, bill regulating the removal of causes lroi
State to Federal courts
At the conclusion of the morning hou
, without action on the BILL the House took u
the Senate resolutions upon the death of ii
late Senator Houston, of Alabama, and Nft
eulogistc speeches by several members Il
resolutions were adopted and the House ~
, journed.