The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-05-16
GENERAL PORTER PARDONED.
The President RENTS that Part OF
His PunishInsnt Making Him
Ineligible for Office.

WASHINGTON, May 6.-In reply to
Gen. Fiz John Porters application of
April II for the remission OF the portion
Of the sentence of his court martial now
being executed, the President has issued
the following order and has thus remov
ed the only legal obstacle to Congress
sional action, aud exhausted all his pow.
ers in the case under existing laws:
Chester A. Arthur, President of the United
States, to all to whom these presents may
come greeting:
Wbei cas-, on the 10th day of January,
1863, Fitz John Porter, then Major Cen
eral of Volunteers in the military service
OF the United States, and also Colonel Of
the Fifteenth Regiment of Infantry and
Brevet Brigadier General in the United
States Army, was by general court
martial, for certain offenses of which be
had been thereby convicted, sentenced
"to he cashiered and to be forever dis
qualified from holding any office Of trust
or profit under the Government OF the
United States,' and
Whereas, on the 21st day of January,
1853, that sentence was duly confirmed
by the President of the United States
and by his order of the same date car
ried into execution; and
Whereas, so much of that sentence as
forever disqualified the said Fitz John
Porter from holding Office imposed upon
HIM continuing penalty and is still be-
ing executed; and
Whereas, Doubts have since arisen
concerning the guilt Of the said Fig
John Porter of the offenses whereof he
was convicted by the said court martial,
founded upon the result Of an investiga-
tion ordered on the 18th day OF April,
1878, by the President Of the United
States, which are deemed by me to be oi
sufficient gravity 10 warrant the remis-
sion of that part OF said sentence which
has not been completely executed; Now,
therefore, know ye that |, Chester A. Ar.
thur, President of the United States, by
virtue OF the power vested in me by the
Constitution of the United States and in
consideration OF the premises, do hereby
grant to the said Fnz John Porter full
remission of the hereinbefofe mentioned
penalty.
In witness whereof / have hereunto
signed my name and caused the seal OF
the United States to be affixed. Done
at the City of Washington this 4'h day
of May, A. D. 1882, and of the indie
pendence of the United States, the one
hundredth and six.
RI q CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
u ~ President.
FREDERICK T. FRE51NaHUYsES.
Secretary OF State.
The following is Gen. Porters accept.
ance:
WASHINGTON, May 5. 1882
Hon. Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, Secretary
of State:
SIR: respectfully ask you to express
to the President my ackno owledgement o.
the receipt, through you, and my appre.
citation of the order renting the con-
tinuous portion of the sentence imposed
upon me by court martial
am very respectfully yours, DC,
FITz JOHN PORTER
Gen Porter's memorial to Congress
recites and embraces the documentary
history of the case, and asks that Con-
gress will take the necessary action to
carry out at once the recommendation Of
the advisory board of army officers or
dered by the PresideuE and to restore
him to the positions Of which be was
deprived by the sentence Of the court
martial.