The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-02
Washington.

washington.
,.o,pH. or NEW JERSEY. OPENS
ssSAfos nA, on rus ruz JOHN PORTER
THh cov,sxog RANDOLPH GIVES roRTSR
CASE, ~, ssxn-oyF v-iNTEREsTiNG Mill
nv NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. fhNsoNAL news
e,,s--JupGE FIELD AND thS phois.oN or
n"s sreeExg COURT IN TUE h'hs 'ASS'
&c, &C. ,,..s.,a.,,,,
,r,aroS, March 1.-The fact that
- randolph, OF New JERSEY, chair
!, tbe Committee on Military Affairs,
r ~ ,o.day to open the debate in the Fi,z
v,Sn Porter case attracted large attend
80 tho Senate galleries. Ladies occu-
- NOT only the seats usually assigned
- hut some OF those in the gentiemen's
~, The son and daughter OF the
n..,,,h Minister were in the diplomatic
D "''s,r and a large Number Of the old
sr;nDd. Of General Porter were in place
a.rlv 10 hear his viudication. / have rare
= t,own senator this session TO lie &C
rorded A more attentive hearing. General
sherman sat on the Republican side OF the
s,D,,e chamber, aud General Joseph e.
Iohrs,on on the Democratic side. The
,noeeb wss not only strong one, but was
,smneraie In tone and very handsomely de-
Evercd. The speaker was warmly con-
Graduated at the close OF his remarks.
GENERAL poRrER's MILITARY CAREER.
In commencing his speech, Senator Ran
doloh gave an account OF General Porter's
Gallant conduct during the Mexican war,
and anuded TO the fact that by assuming re-
.nopsibility at st. Louis in 1861 he saved
Missouri to the cause OF the Union. He
told bow brayely Porter and his Fifth army
CORPS fought at Malvern Hill and Galnes's
Mil and Hanover Courthouse, and secuted
tbe idea that its officers, including Meade,
RsynoId, Sykes, Mccall, Warren, and But
70. field. and bis men, consisting OF regulars
and volunteers from Massachusetts,, Maine.
PenDsylsania, and Michigan, would have
permitted the dastardly and reasonable
conduct on the part Of their commander OF
which be was found guilty by court-mar-
lial upon the testimony Of Pope and Nc
DoweIl. Ill guilty of treason and cow
srdice in The face OF the enemy, as alleged,
there never were crimes so a'rocious WIS.,
ted" said Senator Randolph, with so mild
punishment as dismissal from the service.
II guilty Of treason, he should have been
shot down by his own men, according TO
The usages OF war and the demands OF JUS
tice."
his PERSISTENT DEMANDS FOR A BEHEARING.
Senator Randolph, In support OF his as
sertion that Porter was innocent, called at
tention to tue persisle nce with which he has
demanded for seventeen long, anxious
years rehearing OF his case. First, he APP
ptaled to President Lincoln. who, Senator
Randolph says he knows OF his personal
knowledge, intended to grant his request.
10 this application General Porter was
backed by Edward Everett. Henry Wilson,
Lafayette Foster, Robert Z. Winthrop. ana
ex.Pfesidenis Fillmore and Pierce. The
Senator told, too, bow he applied to General
Grant, TO whom he appealed as a soldier,
saving he would be willing TO trust bis case
10 bis judgment; and how he wrote 10
General Sherman, saying that be could
safely leave his vindication to board oil
officers like him. When he appealed 10
President HAYES for Dew hearing, in the
agony Of bis suspense he said, Z" II | dc
not make it plain have been wronged
alone am the sufferer"
The VERDICT OF sCHoFIELD, TERRY, AND
GETTY.
OF the Board appointed by Preslden
Hayes in response OF this appeal, Senator
Randolph spoke in the high terms which, al
soldiers and as citizens, they merit. Scho
field, he said, not only gained renown IN
war, but distinguished himself as military
Governor OF Virginia, as Secretary OF war,
and as commander at West Point. Terry,
before he became famous as general, had
won position as a lawyer; and Getty, be
said, is brave. intelligent, and sensitive OF
the honor OF the profession of which he is
a conspicuous ornament. These were the
men who examined all the facts and cir
eumstances OF his case, and after 81 doing
not OILY found him not guilty, but declared
that by his conduct be saved the Union
army from disaster.
THE ERROR OF THE C0URT-MARTIAL.
Senator Randolph said the court martial
condemnlng Porter was led TO believe that
les than one half OF the Confederate
forces were on the field OF battle on
the 10Th Of Augustine day OF Por'
ters alleged misconduc.-,hat Pope's en-
tire army, exclusive Of Porter's corps,
was engaged 10 severe and doubt
iul contest; that flank attack by Porter
on Jackson's force would have insured his
defeat and capture; that Porter was in a
position two miles in advance OF the place
be actually occupied; that Mcdowell or
dered Porter TO attack the force 10 front OF
MIN; and that Porter dsobeyed that order
and allowed large body OF the enemy to
piss him unmoiested, going to Jackson's
assistance, reiresting himself to Manassas
Junction.
THE TRUE history OF THE CASE.
III Is undeniably established" said Sem
ator Randolph, "that Lees army, compris-
ing oil Of Jsckson's force and all OF Long
streets, save one small division, was on the
ned on the 29Ih. and ready for battle hours
oe'ore the scattered forces OF Pope were
prepared; that Poriel's corps alone. OF the
'''' wing Of Pope's army, was in position
anu ready; that the remainder Of the Union
army were scattered over territory not
'e's 'han nine miles in length, In corps, d.