The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-01-13
THE PORTER CASE AGAIN.

tefesl, cfratitg SO DIVIDED anu stTohe ncnsi-
meht and SO Professionally sought To he re-
versed AS that which cashiered General Fitz-
John Porter and forever disqualified him fI"m
holding any office Of trust or profit under the
government of the United States. This sen
tence was passed January 10, 1868. and ap-
proved by President Lincoln January %,
1868. Brigadier-General James A. GaIti"ld
was one 1T the court. Reverdy Johnson de-
Tended Porter. After many efforts in the
same directioL military commission met In
1878, by order of the President, TO relnyesti-
gate the case aud after full hea Ing unani-
mousiy reported in favor Of Porter's restoia-
ton To the army from the date of his dis
missal. This involved the payment 10 him
Of about 100000 back pay. A bill TO that
effect was introduced in the Senate soon AT
ter, and on March 2, 3, 4, and b, 1850, Sch
aior john A. Logan made his memorable
speech Oh the question and the bill was de-
feated. Among those who entertained
strong opinions adverse to Porter was Gen
eral Grant who, as President. declined To re-
open The case. After lapse of nearly Two
years Porter again apneals tn President Ar
thur In terms almost Identical with those In
which he applied before, asking removal Of
his sentence aud restoration To the service,
aud the most remarkable incident of the APP
plication Is It's accompaniment o: letter
from General Grant say Ing he had been i'll
error IN his Judgment Of Porter and recon-
mending President Arthur To have the case
reinvestigated. Thus, ghost of the rebel
lion that was believed was down forever has
reappe: red In a more formidable form than
ever. The President has power, aud exclu-
sive power, to annul the action of the court
mari ial by pardoniug Porter. After that, res
toration 10 rank must he made by nomina-
ton Of the President and confirmation by the
Senate, while the voting of back pay involves
the approval Of the House, Senate aud Presi-
dent. Owing TO the fact that Grants name
Is before Congress for measure that will
require support which Porter's friends could
give. his conversion TO Pouer's Interest Is
open to animadyersions Of which his enemies
have been quick to avail themselves. We
believe, however, that IL is one of the strong
est evidences of Grants integrity in the mat
ter aud his honest change Of sentiment, that
al all important crisis in his own case he
risks all In atoning All error aud writing a
letter that may ALLEVIATE his strongest friends
and especially Logan, who Is the author of
the Grant measure. II is his avowed opinion
that he has done Porter wrong and seeks,
80 far as he is concerned, 10 make speedy
rpparation. The human heart inspires no
nober impulse than confession Of error and
afonement of wrong, and Grant Is enti-
tied TO all the credit Of such All act until 1t
js ma lie evident the motive was dIterior aud
selfish. We believe Grant is honest-and
mist AIKEN. Porter was a splendid General.
We had the honor to serve in his corps IN
frunt If Richmond aud even subalterns can
read the signs Of well handled commands.
But we believe Porter was too deeply de-
voted to Mcclellan to give Pope that jealous
cooperate SO essential In the campaign he
made to enable McClellan's army tn leave the
Pepiusnla and rrunite the Union forces In
front of Washington. Pope's campaign as
planned al Washington. IL was Intended as
a daring piece of bravaio aisi Pope has sinee
rested ander the obl"quy of buster and ex-
pressions that really emanated from his SUI
peror officers. He had all important and
perilous work To do In an exigency that
tire atened great evil TO the Union. In those
latter August days when he had been joined
by the bulk Of the Peninsnlar army aud vic
tory was In his grasp, when Ina d fought
battle was In progress, Porters corps Of H.
900 or 15, 200 veterans were Within easy dis
lance Of the field. They were not put In the
action nota outstanding the most positive
and urgent orders IF Pope to thai effect, and
Pope's army was overwhelmed with disaster.
Even the commission that recommended
Porer's reinst atement condemned him for
having made indefensible remarks about
Pope, and Pope's aid on the field returned
from Porter and told Pope then and there
Porter weuld fail him, as he did. Porter's
defense was that there were obstacles IN the
way, but the sum Of the evidence brought
out IN all the investigations 50 far appears To
lead to but one conclusicn: that the great
obsi acie was Porter's indsposition TO over
come the lesser ones aud fight bis command
under Pope as he would have done under
Mcclellan. If General Grant has been led
TO othe. conclusions the country will be glad
to hear his reasons therefor aid If they prove
correct make all atonemen possible to Poi
ter; but IL will not carelessly reverse ver-
dict reached after thorough investigation OF
condone detection on the field merely be.
cause time has elapsed and powerful politi.
cal influences are invoked.