The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-01-20
FITz JOHN PORTER.

ElTZ JOHN PORTER.
ossss.l Portsr's Appeal. ms on BsAS>l
-60sseral Grants .Rsesnt Lister - til
rFesident.
TIE following correspondence, o. general In
terest, has recently been ma1s public:
GENERAL P0RTI1's ArPBlLTo THE PnusDHwr
NEW YORK, December2a, 1881.
To the President, Warrington, D. c.:
SIN: Irespectfpily represent that, in Janu-
airy. 1883, by coUU-martial, l wss most unjustly
declared guilty Of charges against me, and sen
fenced to 30 Shiered and forever disquali-
Ned from holding any Office of trust or prOft
under the Government Of the United States"
From the PRONUNCIATION of the verdict Of that
court have protested my innocence Of all
sentence. and, presenting sustaining evidence,
have from time to time urged q rehearing In
1873 the President, in order to be fully informed
Of the facts Of the case and to BIO enabled to act
adv15edly upon ny application for relief, ap-
pointed Q board Of army officers to examine into
the merits Of the case, and report what action,
Il any, in their opinion, Justice required
Board, after thorough examination into the
facts OF the case, vindicated me in every re-
spect and reported that, in their opinion, Jus
tice required at the hands of the President
such action as may be necessary to annul and
set aside the findings and sentence of the court
martial, and restore me- to the positions OF
which that sentence deprived .me-snch resto.
ration to take effect from the date Of dismissal
from the service. And I now respectfully and
urgently represent that the sentence is q
continuing sentence, and SO long as 1t exists 1t
+ within df the reach and under the
and burdensome originally, and lasting
through many years, it is, for strong
er reasons, q subject for consideration
proved to have been founded in error and to
be unjust; and respectfully ask you, II con-
WINGED of the justice Of the recommendation
the findings and Sentence Of the court mi f
and nominate me to the Senate for the restOrar
ton Of my rank in the army under the act Of
Congress of 1888, allowing that mode Of redress
And this ask not merely In Justice to me and
those most dear to me, but in justice to the
army TO which belonged, and which has ever
hOnored and trusted me. Very respectfully
yours, FITZ JOHN PORTER.
GENERAL GRANT TO PRESIDENT ARTHUR.
new York, December Y, 1851
The President, Washington, ID. c.:
DEAR SIR: At the request of General Fitz
John Porter have recently reviewed his trial
and the testimony furnished before the
to the subject three full days Of careful read
ing and consideration, and much thought in
the intervening time. The reading OF the
whole Of this record has thoroughly convinced
doing q gallant and efficient soldier very great
injustice, in thought, and sometimes In speech.
feel it incumbent upon me now to do what
him and from his family the stain upon
his good name. Il feel this more incum-
bent upon me than I should if i had been Q
did; but as General l had it possibly in my
power to have obtained for him the hearing
which he only got at later day; and, as Presi-
nSv,1u ho6f kov 10 uvy
ed that hearing. In justification for my in
justice to General Porter, can only state that,
shortly after the war closed, his defense was
nection with Z sketch Of the fieid where bis
Ofenses were said to have been committed.
which now see. since perfect maps have been
made BY the Engineers Department OF the
the position Of the two armies. l have read
it in connection with the statements
made on the other side against General
little prejudice in the case, although General
Porter was q man whom personally knew and
liked before; but l got an impression, with
many others, that there was ahalf-hearted sup.
port of General Pope in his campaigns and
that General Porter, while possibly not more
guilty than others, happened to be placed in q
position where he could be made responsible
for his indifference, and that the punishment
was not q severe one for such an Offense. I
am now convinced he rendered faithful, EN-
cient and Intelligent service, and the fact that
No WIS F0C81n6O III COmmauU VI u COTps 1OE
months after his offenses were said to have
been committed is in his favor.
What would ask in General Porters behalf
from you is, that, if you can possibly give the
lime, you give the subject the same study and
thought have given it, and then act rs your
judgment may dictate. But, feeling you will
not have time for such investigation flor 1t
would take several days time) would ask
that the whole matter be laid before the At
tOrney- General for his examination andOpin-
ion.
an officer who has suffered for nineteen years
q punishment that never should be inflicted
upon any but the most guilty, am very truly
yours, US. GRANT.