The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-01-13
AN OLD CASE REoPENEp.

way viii Us
AN OLD CASE REoPENED.
General Fitz-John Porter Asks Rchear-
ing and Grant IA Convert.
WAsHISeToN, January 5.-The following
CORRESPONDENCE has been submitted 10 the
President:
MoRRIsTowN, n. j., December %, 1881.
Vim. j. sepeH: DEAR SESAToR-You
have kindly offered your services in the mat
ter If my vindication. and am grateful TO
you for your outspoSen friendship. AS all
active participant In the struggle on the sec
ond Manassas field of action, as we'll as
Senator from my State, beg of you to pre-
sent to the President my appeal aud the &C
campaigning documents aud ask Of him IN
the name of long-delayed justice early COLI
sideration and earnest action on its merits.
With my appeal is letter from General
Grant to the President, aud have his assur-
ance of further personal appeal In the near
future, he feeling deeply interested In the
result, having through a misunderstanding
If the facts failed 10 act when the matter
was before him as General Of the Army and
as President of the United States. There
are also several petitions from officers of
high rank. and indeed from soldiers Of all
grades generally cognizant Of the events,
from New York City and otherc cities Of New
Yolk, from Maine, New Hampshire, Massa-
chusetis, Pennsylvania, and also from nu-
merous citizens of Philadelphia. Numerous
other petitions from officers and soldiers
from several States were presented at the
last session, aud there were many In the
hands of President Hayes when he appointed
ALI Advisory Board, including appeals from
the Legislatures of New Hampshire, New
Jersey, and Pennsylvania, aud also all argu-
ment. (See note following signatnre.) The
few Of these that / have been able to reco"er
| have appended TO my appeal, that 1t may
be seen how much longer a class of our citi-
zens have been ilI-treated in the administra-
ton Of this case and last, but not least, |
take that which under the circums' ances will
be sanctioned, the liberty Of sending pri-
vAe ictser to- ass fran General Terry, ~hasa
manly utterances are only equalIed by those
Of General Grant. F.-J. PORTER.
NoTE.-See pages 4S6 To 400 and 534 10
$40 of Volume Of the proceedings of the
ADVISORY Board, as published by the Senate.
LETTER To PRESIDENT ARTHUR.
NEW YORK, December %, 1881.
Mr.. President: SIR respectfully repre-
sent that in January, 1883, by court martial,
| vas most unjustly declared guilty of charges
against me aud sentencedto be cashiered aud
forever disqualified from holding any office
| # trust or profit under the Government of
the United States. From the PRONUNCIATION
Of the verdict Of that court have protested
my Innocence of all wrong done and asserted
the Injustice Of the sentence, and have pre-
scented sustaining evidence. | have from
| time to time asked reheariag. In 1878 the
| President, In order to be Informed of the
facts Of the case and TO be enabled TO act adj
visedly upon my application for relief. APP
pointed Board Of army officers to examine
into my case and report what action. If any,
| In their opinion, justice required should be
taken on my application. That Board, after
| q thorough examination into the facts Of the
case, vindicated me In every respec: and re-
/ ported that in their opinion justice required
at the hands of the President such action as
might be necessary TO annu and set aside
the findings and sentence of the court-mar-
tial aud restore me to the position of which
that sentence deprived me, the restoration to
take effect from the date of my dismissal
from the service !; aud | now respectfully
urge and represent that the sentence Is con-
tinuing to exist, and SO long as 1t exists 1t is
within the reach aud under the control Of
executive power; that, harsh and burden
some originally, and lasting through many
years, IL is for stronger reasons subject for
the consideration and action Of the Execu-
tive now that II is proved TO be founded on
error and to be unjust. | respectfully ask
you, If convinced of the justice Of The rec
concentration Of the Advisory Board, to an
null and SET aside the findings aud sentence Of
the court martial, and nominate me TO the
Senate for restoration to my rark In the
army, under the Act of Congress Of 1868. al
lowing that mode Of redress Of wrong COM
mitied by court marital; and this ask,
not merely In justice to me and those most
near to me, but in justice TO the army 10
which belonged, and which has ever be-
lieyed In me, and the Government which
honored and trusted me.
1 FITz john PORTER.