National Republican., 1883-01-04

efficiency all were interested. For himself,
with his knowledge on the character of the
court that convicted this man. Of the president
who approved its action, and Of the facts of
the case, If he felt any impulse to vote for this
bill to please anybody he would 80 across the
Potomac and kneol among the graves of the
boys who fell on the battlefield of Groveton
on that twenty-ninth of August, and would
there pray to God to forgive him. He would
appeal to the spirits Of Lincoln, who approved
the verdict of the court and Of Garfield, who
took part in rendering that verdict and always
believed It just, to restrain him from pcrpe.
trating such u wrong upon the nation and
upon its brave soldiers, living and dead.
Mr.. Sewell replied briefly to Mr.. Logan
He said that the verdict of the court martial
that convicted Gen Porter was based upon
the idea put forth by Gen Pope that there
was no force in Porter's front, that Lonlstreet
had not arrived at the time the order was
sent to Porter, and that If that order had been
obeycd Porter would have encountered no
obstacle until he struck Jackson's right flank.
The fact was, however, as shown by evidence
not then accessible, that LonEstrcct arrived
before Porter and Mcdowell, and was there
confronting them when they arrived. But
Gen. Pope, the commander of the army, did
not know this fact, as was evident from his
dispatch the evening before, stating that the
enomy was moving at q pace which would
bring their whole force upon the ground to-
morrow night or next day" Gen. Porter
did not know that Gen. Longstreet
was present, and that Gen. Pope did not know
it, and his action was governed by this knowl-
edge. The evidence in the case showed clearly
that Gen. Pope did not understand the situa-
tion. His whole campaign was directed
against one corps of the confederate force,
the one commanded by jackson, utterly ig-
noring the fact that Longstreet had passed
through Thoroughiarc gap, and was in front
of Porter and Mcdowell with $4,000 men.
Mr., Sewell read copiously from the testimony
aud documents in the case in support Of his
views and said in conclusion that IL was
hardly worth while to attempt to add any
thing to the deliberate statement of the adj
visory board in relation to the verdict against
Gen. Porter: "We believe that not one among
all the gallant soldiers on that bloody field
was less deserving of such condemnation than
ho." That was the view that would be ac-
cepted by the country.
Mr.. Mcpherson said this subject was not n
now one. IL was as old as his term in the
senate. and was likely to outlivc him. Twenty
years ago Gen. Porter, distinguished, capable,
and faithful soldier in the army of the United
States, who had fought many battles for his
country, and not one against her, was con-
demned rs n traitor From that time to this
Gen. Porter had steadily asked, not for money,
hut for justice, and his demand had been long
denied. But, thank heaven, said Mr. Nc
Pherson, new light Is breaking over that dark
and dismal sea which Gen. Porter has been
forced to sail. Military boards composed
of distinguished officers, not supposed TO
be his friends, have investigated the case
and Gen. Porter stands to-day without stain
in the estimation Of those who have been his
most bitter accusers. Gen. Grant, distn-
guished alike for ability and courage in war
and for the gallantry Of his heart aud mind
in peace, TO his everlasting honor bdit said,
uff
cause. l will not undertake. because have
not the physical strength, neither, indeed
have the inclination to-day to follow the
senator from Illinois (Mr. Logan in all his
wanderings after testimony by which, with
his construction of it, he might justify his
vote against the passage Of this bill.
leave the conclusions of that senator side
by side with the conclusions of the advi.
sorry board - board made up of distin.
guished military officers, some of whom de.
clared in advance that they were believers
in Porter's guilt, and that il would require
The strongest evidence to remove that belief
They reported unanimously to the president
in favor of his innocence, and it has become
the opinion of the people of the country that
Porter is an innocent man. Now, Mr. Presi.
dent this is enough. The records of this
country, unless corrected, will send down tC
his childrens children, and to their children
for all time, the deep damnation of theii
fathers shame. 1t was his country struck tho
cruel blow, and congress alone can heal the
wound. Therefore, believe it is the duty Of
the senate, by passing this bill, to go as far as
they can toward correcting the wrong done t.
Gen. Porter.
Mr.. Hawley said he intended to vote in ac-
cordance with the views presented by the
senator from Illinois (Mr. Logan. He hat
never had doubt as TO the right way to vote
in this case except for time after the report
nf fha Enbo oil rH JTn int
the members of that board. He had knowr
Gen. Terry for twenty-five years, and hat
served near him during the whole war; anC
he had risen now not to discuss the bill, bu
to deprecate an intimation made by Mr.
Logan in the first part of his speech, that tn,
board might possibly have been influenced by
improper motives, and that questions thel
in the army might have some
thing to do with their Judgment. II,
thought it should be put upon record tina
his friend, Gen. Terry, had earnestly begged
TO be excused from service upon that board
had told the secretary Of war that his judg
ment was made up; that he was against Por
ter, and therefore not fit man to go upon tin
board. If there be an honorable man in tn
world, said Mr.. Hawley, 1t is Gen. Terry; an,
that he came out of that investigation will
the recommendation he did was the onl,
thing that even staggered me in my iudgmen
OF the case, ana nave recovered from that
I am Obliged to differ with some of the deares
friends l have in the world, whose sincerit,
cannot for a moment question, but l an
equally certain that l am right, and that j
the misfortune.
Mr.. Hale moved that the bill be indefinitely
postponed.
Mr. Sewell called for the ayes and noe.
and the motion was lost by the following vot
yeas, 20; nays, 2S
YEAS.
Aldrich, Edmunds, Miller of CAL,
Blair, Frye, Mitchell,
Cameron OF Wis, Halo, Morrill,,
ChIlcott Hawey, PIatt
Conger, Hil Rollins,
Davis Of ILL.,, Lapham, Window.
Dawes, Logan,
NAYS.
Beck, Harris, Pendleton,
Brown, Jackson, Pugh,
Cameron of Pa, Johnston, Salisbury.
Coke, Jonas, of La, Sewell
Davis of W. Va Jones, of Fla, slater
Garland, Lamar Vance,