Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-06-01
He should Have Justice.

Perhaps OF all Republican outrages
those which have been heaped upon the
shoulders of Gen. Fitz-John Porter are
entitled to bad pre-eminence. That
able and patriotic officer, under cover of
the heated passions and blind partizan-
ship of the war, was made the scape-
goat for the laundering braggart and
ass, Major-General John w. Pope, Of
headquarters in the saddle, no bases of
supply or lines of retreat" notoriety.
Instead of dismissing that egregious
nincompoop, Pope, from the army, on
account of his useless and criminal sac
rifce of thousands of precious lives,
when the sting of defeat was sharpest,
Republicans remembered that Gen.
Fitz-Jo ohm Porter had been devoted
friend of Mcclellan, and his immola-
ton was at once resolved upon. The lie
was devised and stuck to with true war
time Republican persistence that Gen.
Fitz-J Ohm Porter had willfully disobeyed
the orders of his superior officer, with
the express view of defeating the
Union army. A court martial was
packed with the enemies of Mcclellan
and Porter for the single purpose of
finding the latter guilty. He was con-
demned to death, but even that brazen
tribunal faltered at the last moment,
and recommended him to mercy. He was
accordingly dishonorably dismissed
from the army, and debarred forever
from holding any Office of trust or profit
under the government of the United
States. There never was clearer case
of martyrdom at the instance of partizan
malice since the world began. For
twenty long years Fitz-John Porter has
been supplicant for justice at the
doors of Congress and the Executive
mapsion. Though often repulsed, con-
fident in the justice of his cause, he
persevered, with lions courage and
the fortitude of soldier, until at last
he forced the President, in very shame,
to call revisory court martial which,
upon full examination into all the mer-
its of the question, and the development
of q great mass of exculpatory testi-
mony, finally rendered verdict ex-
honorating Porter from any shadow of
stain. Such men as Generals Grant and
Terry, and many of the most distin-
guished of the Union Generals, have
united in proclaiming Porter's innocence
of all the charges which had been
brought against him. Nevertheless, the
best Republican President, who him
self ouly officiated as Quartermaster-
General of the New York militia, would
do in the line of reparation, was to issue
an order relieving Porter from that
clause of his sentence which forever dis
abled him from holding any office Of
trust or profit under the government of
the United States. He asks for Justice,
for restoration to the rank from which
le was unjustly dismissed, for some
little compensation for the blasting OF
the best years of his life; and, presto Q
howl goes up from most of the Republi-
can press, which intimidates Arthur
and may prevent Congress from doing
Porter justice. In aiming to do the
right thing by this gallant and meritor-
ious officer, and in repairing to some
little extent the appalling injustice of
which Porter was made the victim, the
Republican press would have the people
believe that great wrong is contem-
plated. The day for such an arrant
travesty of common sense ought to be
over by this time, and it is heartily to
be hoped that Congress will reflect
honor upon itself and upon the Ameri-
can people by rendering to General
Porter the ameade honorable.