Weekly Phoenix herald. [volume] (Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Territory [Ariz.]) 1882-1896, 1882-12-08

FITzJoHN PORTER will be re-
stated with full pay IS an officer Of
the army from the time he was dis
honorsbly discharged subsequent tc
the second battle of Bull Run, in
August, 1862. At the time of his
discharge he was given most ex-
haus;ive trial lasting over six weeks
before a court-martial of his fellow
officers. He had IL e most able COIN
sci, and it is presumable that nothing
was left undone to secure him ir
hearing. Certainly action IN the
matter was not hasty. The court
| martial found him gully as charged.
| with disobedience of orders on the
fie d of battle. During the most of
a whole day Fiiz-Iohn Porter lay
with his forces within sight end
hearing of the battle, and though
ordered to join and attempt to save
his fellow soldiers from defeat, he
failed for some reason to make
single move. For this act or failure
to act he was court-martialed, his
pay cut off, and dishonorably dis
charged from the army. His dere
l1ction possibly cost the nation mill
lions Of money and hundreds of thou
sands of the lives of the brave sons
of both northern and southern States.
Seventeen years roll around and this
man Fitz-J ohm Porter gets hearing
before court of two or three officers,
constituted, no one knows exactly
how or by what authority, except
possibly the parties immediately in
terested. The court pronounces him
wronged man. Influence is sought;
it is obtained. Demands are made
again and again Of Congress to re-
store him to his former rank with
full pay from the day Of his sentence.
The matter is agitated; it is written
up; it is talked up; it is brought up |
in every conceivable form. Con-
gressmen have been implored, threat
cned, begged, and we are ashamed to
say we believe bought, to lend their
and assistance to this
man Fitz-Jo Ohm Porter. Gen. Grlnt
goes fatty against what was his own
position with regard to the matter;
.urns squarely about in the position
ne took and maintained for eighteen
rears. His lead carried others with
him. To-day the influence and coin
brought to bear is sufficient to rein
tate Fitz-John Porter, and without
loubt the next Congress will do the
OBJ. Does it make any difference
lows 1t does. 1t establishes a pre-
edsat. 1t filches the treasery. 1t 4
makes military law mere matter of
orm-a farce. 1t disgraces the
ignity Of our military in the eyes !
( the nation. 1t declares that politics {
an run our military; can reverse its
cts. 1t subjects indirectly each and
very officer OF the army to the power
political piracy. If politics can +
make officers it can break them by I
ne same methods. Above every
ling else the decision of court-mar '
al should be immoveable. If not,
lie power of discipline is at once -
roken. The moral of the army Is n
estroyed. Porter may have been a Il
rave man; he was no doubt an able l.
fcer; he was not a good soldier
&c who would stake the lives OF 7
ousanis, If not hundreds of thou Il
Inds of his fellow soldiers; he who s
ould almost stake the life of the |
ltion to destroy fellow officer t
5ainst whom he holds prejudice n
: jealousy, deserves what Fitz a
ohn Porter got-and what he should Il
,ep while he lives-disholor.
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