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 whitc-wash Fitz
John Porter into a patriot, has met
with most signal and deserved over.
throw. Those papers which have
advocated Porter's restoration to
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 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. Logan's
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 FitZ
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 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 al
the facts were fresh i'll mems minds,
when witnesses were living, and the
very ground was vet wet with the
blood Of the slain. The land was
searched for testimony, and the testi-
mony damned Porter with the brand
! of eternal infMnv. Orders were is
! sued to him in the crisis of battle
| which no tlatls disobeyed The court
| found him guilty, and the testimony
( well sustained the court. The great
| Lincoln. who always leaned 10 mer-
| cy's 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, \. Lincoln" Amy civil
liZed 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 enOrInity OF
| his crime. The Democrats, as was to
| be expested, 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 a 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 serions reasons
why they should never be per.
mitted to get control of the govern.
ment! lfthey would vote reward .tc
this arch traitor with SIS GOO. and a
Colonel's Commission. they would
| with equal justice and celebrity, vote
to pension every injured rebel tina;
fought in the confederate ranks
More and more intelligent patriots
are being convinced that there is nc
safety but in Republican aScendancy.