Omaha daily bee., 1882-12-30
raj Grants article vas that It di

Senator Mcpherson said General
Grant stated, rs one reason for favor.
Ing the pending bill, that q mounted
officer who brought the order to Gen.
era Porter was three hours upon the
road in daylight, owing to Its obstrut.
ted condition, and he asked Logan
whether this was or was not the time,
Senator Logan replied that if the
officer was 'bree hours on the way II
was probably because he was not in q
hurry, as the order did not require
General Porter to march till one, and
Captain Dsksy, who carried it, arrived
at $50 As to the statement referred
to by Mcpherson, that there were
2 600 wagons on the road, Logan said,
every army man knew II would be i'm
possible to put 1000 wagons upon
nine miles Of road.
Senator McPherson-U Upon n of
those Virginia roads 100 feet wide2
Senator Logan-Oh, then. it was q
bigger road than l thought IL was.
Senator McPhernon-I think the
senate ought to oorroot his arithmetic
q little.
Senator Logan-Now that is a
curious phase of thi, matter. 1t was
a big road for wagons and q little road
for men. Laughter. Senator Logan
said further the evidence of q certain
captain who marched his company o
long road that night to Bristow
station sho wed there was no obstruc.
ton on it.
McPherson-Do I understand the
senator from Illinois prefers to be-
lieve the testimony of this captain,
whom he does not name, rather than
the statement of General Grant. The
time Is not far gone when Grants
testimony was pretty good testimony
before thepeople of this country upon
any subject.
Senator Logan-Now, Mr.. Presi-
dent, the senator cant get me into any
quarrel with General Grant, and it
comes with very bad grace from the
senator to make the remark he does
make in reference to the matter. 1
have said nothing disrespeotful of
General Grant. 1 have only said he
Is mistaken in this case, and that the
evidence shows 1t, and when the SEN
ator asks whether | prefer to believe
somebody else rather than General
Grant, 1 answer I prefer to believe
the sworn statement CT men who
were on the ground.
McPherson-Gea. Grant AYERS that
Gen. Porter was entirely justified in
exercising his own judgment in this
matter, because the order shows he
was not to take part in any battle
when he arrived, but was only to
pursue a flying enemy.
Senator Logan-The great military
genius of the senator from New jersey
overwhelms me; Porter was not to
obey an order to move because he was
not required to fight but merely to
pursue an enemy. How could he
puraue an enemy If he was not there
to pursue him? Laughter How
could he pursue an enemy II he did
not move towards him, or did not
nov at alil As to Gen. Grants
letter, I have answered 1t in q letter
and leave the country to judge
who has the best foundation
as to his opinion. I will merely say
now that any senator VINO. will accept
the statement of a president, king or
captain, not based upon testimony
rather than his own judgment is q
man whose judgment does not operate
for itself, and if you wish to get his
judgment upon any subject you must
ask not him, but the man that makes
him think 80. I IN not that kind of
a man. II you want to know what I
believe ask me. If you want to know
what you believe ask Grant. Laugh
ter
Senator Logan's argument was
listened to attentively throughout by
the senate and by the audience who
filed every aeat in the galleries.
AT 4 o'clock, not having concluded
his speech, Senator Logan yielded to
a mJtion for an executive session.
When the doors reopened the senate
adjourned until Tuesday.