The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-10

The President Grants all Remission of the
Continuous Portion of the Sentence of
the Court Martial Imposed Upon Fitz
John Porter.
WASHINGTON, May Elm reply to General Fitz
John Porter's application for remission of por-
ton OF the sentence of the Court Martial being ex-
ecuted. the President issued the following order,
and has thus removed the only legal obstacle 10
Congressional action, and exhausted all his
powers in the case under the existing laws:
Chester A. Arthur, President of the United States
of America:
To all to whom these presents may come, greet
ing:
Whereas. on the ID January 1868. Fitz John
Porter, Mayor General of Volunteers In the mil
itary service of the United States aud also
Colonel OF the Fifteenth REGIMENT infanty and
Brigadier General in the United States Army,
WSs, by general Court Martial, for certain of
lenses of which he had been thereby
convicted. sentenced ito be caShiered and 20
be forever disqualified from holding any Office
OF trust or profit under the Government of the
United States" and
Whereas, ON the Dist OF January. 1868, that SEN
tence was duly confirmed by the President Of the
United States and by his order of the same date
carried INFO execution, and
Whereas, so much OF that sentence as forever
disqualified said FitZ John Porter from holding
office. imposed upon him continuous penalty,
and is still being executed. and
Whereas. doubts have since arisen concerning
the guilt of said Fitz John Porter of the Ofenses
whereof he was convicted by said Court Martial
founded upon the result of the investigation or
dered on the 18th OF April, 1875 by the President
OF the United States, which are deemed b. me 10
be of suft lent gravity to warrant remission Of
that part OF said sentence which has not been
completely executed Now, therefore, know We
that l. Chester A. Arthur, President of the United
States by virtue of the power vested in me by the
Constitution OF the Emitted States. ard in coRsid-
Grafton of the premises do hereby grant to said
Fiiz John Porter full remission OF the herein be-
fore mentioned continuing penaay.
In witness whereof have hereunto signed my
name and caused the seal Of the GIFTED States to
be affixed.
Done a. the city of Washington this 9TH day of
May. A. ID. 1857. and of the independence OF the
United States one hundred and sixth.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
BY the President:
FREBERzcK T. FRELINGHUysEN.
Secretary of State.
The following Is General Porter's acceptance:
WAsHISGroS May 8.
Hen. Frederick 7. Frslinghuysen, Secretary Of
State:
ssa-I respectfuilv ask Won to. express to the
through you and my appreciation OF his order re-
mitbing the continuous portion of the sentence
imposed upon me by Court Martial in 1868.
am, very respectfully, yours ETC.,
FITZ JOHN PORTER.
General Porter's memorial 10 Congress recites
ana embraces the documentary history OF the
case and asks that Congress will take the neces.
sary acUion to once carry out the recona menda-
ton Of tie Advisory Board of Army officers. or
0tIeu Dy IItclututs hitN W tt,bOic Tie
positions of whick the sentence OF the Court
Martial deprived him.
WASHINGTON. May S.-Fitz John Porter has
addressed communication to Senator Sewell and
Representative Bragg in connection with his APP
peal 20 Congress for such legislation as viii
enable the President to renominate to 1.-THE pos
ton and rank fn the Army of the United States
OF which was so uDjustly deprived"
He says; II can not doubt the result Of this
appeal to Congress for special legislation. Four
tx Presidents of he United States after q care
full examination Of my case, have joined In my
Public men of all parties lawyers
and jurists of national fame, the press with large
accord, the historians-Eur0pean and National
military authorities at home