Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-03-07
TELEGRAPHIC.
XLVI. CONGRESS.
SENATE
WASHINGTON, March. 6.

w
The vice president laid before the
senate a communication from the Sec
retary of the interior transmitting
copy of letter from the com missioner
OF pensions, submitting revised estl-
mate of the deficiencies for the army
and navy pensions for the fiscal year
ending June 30th, 1880. The secretary
earnestly recommends an appropria-
ton in accordance with the estimates.
Referred.
Senator Wallace PENN presented
petition of the Philadelphia board OF
trade praying that United States mails
may be carried in American built
ships.
The bill confirming the title of Chas.
Olivior du ClOseit TO certain lands in
Louisiana was passed.
The morning hour having expirej,
the senate resumed consideration OF
the bill for the relief of Fitz John
Porter.
Senator Carpenter wisconsin, ad.
addressed the senate. He argued
that congress had no authority
to annul the sentence of the court
martial or to authorize the appoint
ment to the army in spite of
the sentence or to grant new
trial to man who had been out OF the
army seventeen years. The president
could pardon Porter, but it was un-
necessary to pass the bill to, tell
him so. Senator Carpenter said the
whole tendency of our time seemed to
be towards a centralZation of power
In congress. The boundaries between
and the limitation of the various de.
partments of the government estab-
lished by the constitution are contin-
ually disregarded.
Senator Carpenter tWisconsin) con-
cluded as follows: "If Porter should 60
down upon the avenue and kill man
to-day, he would be hanged. 1t is
life for life upon this administration
OF justice. What shall be done with
man who, by his criminal conduct
sacrifices the lives of 20 600 sOJie RS?
The battle ordered WAS necessary
In consequence of his neglect Of duty,
cost US 20, 900 lives. Upon this ad-
measurement, If Porter had 20 600
lives they were all forfeited to the
state. The people of my own state,
know, felt it keenly. The loss fell
heavily upon us. What was called
the ''iron brigade'' in the army of
the Potomac, made up Of three Wis
consin regiments and one Indiana
regiment, as brave a body of men as
ever were on q battlefield--a body of
men who, for bravery and soldier'y
bearing and conduct, would not suffer
by comparison with the Old Guard Of
Napoleon, in one of the fights in that
neighborhood lost in one hour and
five minutes l 9l0 men, killed and
wounded. Every train of cars that
penetrated the interior states for
months afterwards came freighted
with the remains OF our
slaughtered soldiers. they were piled
up In pine boxes around our depols
like merchandise, and sleep now in
green graves that dot every hill aud
every green valley in Wisconsin,. Our
people will not soon forget Ftz john
Porter. They will never forgive
him. They would not soon forget
me, aud never forgive me, if L
should stand as their representative
and vote TO put FItz John Porter back
where he would have been If he had
not fallen and pay him all that he
would have had if he had remained in
the service and served his country
faithfully. Queer things are being doue
these times. This thing may be done
by the senate, but it Will not be done
by my vote. / should regard 1t as a
disgraceful act for congress to do. Not
wilhstanding, Mr.. President, Gods
will be done.
1t may be that even this last travesty
upon justice is necessary. They tell
Us that whom the gods would de-
stroy they first make mad" 1t may
be, although it seems impossible, that
the democrats are not mad enough yet
to insure their total destruction. This
last act may be needed TO convince the
American people that to insure prop.
er discrimination between virtue and
vice, to fix proper punish ment upon
disloyalty and to hold rebellion in
check, we need in the white house
once more the steady hand, cool head,
AMI patriotic heart Of U. s. Grant.
[Great applause 4.
Senator BayArd (Del) obtained the
floor, but yielded to motion to go
into executive session, which was
carried, aud when the doors were re-
opened, the senate adjourned until
Monday.
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