The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-03-19
An Inglorious Attempt to- Re-
ward Treachery.

The movement to white-wash Fit
John Porter into patriot, has met
with most signal and deserved over.
throw. Those papers which have
advocated Porter's restoration tn
purity and S75, 900 for services never
rendered, have found the business end
of a bee in the operation. 1t was an
attempt TO reward INSTRUMENTATION
and treachery. by the Southern Brig
adiers now in control of Congress.
But fortunately, the whole case re-
ceived Il thorough ventilation. both
as TO its legal aspects, and the facts
Of history. Gen. Logan's four-days
speech. demonstrated beyond all con-
troversy, that the late Board of Re
view, were misled. and they in turn
misguided the President. Logans
array of facts impeached the Board
of Review of the Gravest errors. and
demonstrated the correctness of the
findings of the original Court Martial.
The facts are now manifest that Fit2
John Porter committed treason
against his government on the battle
field. and like jefferson Davis, it is
his pride that he has never petition
ed for pardon. He was tried seven
teen years ago, by a regular Court
Martial, clothed with all constitutions
al power. composed OF men diStin-
guished for their patriotism, their
ability, and we may add, their
| mercy. They sat at time when all
J the facts were fresh i'll mems minds,
when witnesses were living, and the
very ground was yet wet with the
! blood OF the slain. The land was
| searched for testimony, and the testi-
mony damned Porter with the brand
of eternal infamv. Orders were is
sued to him in the crisis Of battle
\ which he tlatly disobeyed. The court
found him guilty, and the testimony
well sustained the court. The great
Lincoln. who always leaned 10 mer-
| cy IS side, himself reviewed the findings
of the court, and with the same hanu
| that wrote the Proclamation of En-
ancipation. he wrote beneath the
| word guilty. the ineffaceahle words.
| approved. 4. Lincoln" Amy civil
lied government on earth, but ours.
would have shot Porter TO death as
the merited reward of his crimes.
BY the misguided mercy OF his gov
ernment, he still lives, though CO.
900 men are asleep in their graves.
whose death a;teStS the enOrmity OF
| his crime. The Democrats. as was to
be expected, have in The meantime,
taken care of this traitor. They made
him Commissioner of Public Works
in New York City, with salary of
$4,000 year. He therefore came
before Congress with plethoriC
purse, and rs the Democrats have
taken care Of him in New York City,
he expects the Confederate Briga-
diers not TO be unmindful that his
treachery gave them their most i'm.
portant victory Of the war. The
restoration of Porter would abolish
all distinction between loyalty and
treason, and sap the army Of every
patriotic impulse. Do not loyal men
and Republicans see in all there des-
perate purposes OF the Democracy
the most grave and scrions reasons
why they should never be per.
mitted TO get control of the govern.
ment! Ifthey would vote reward .tC
this arch traitor with SIS GOO. and a
Colonels Commission. they would
with equal justice and celebrity, vote
to pension every injured rebel that
fought in the confederate ranks
More and more intelligent patriot,
are being convinced that there is no
safety but in Republican ascendancy