The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER !


senator LOgan'S speech on the flu
John Porter case. For four or five
hours on three successive days the
earnest Illinois Senator held his au-
diences until compelled from sheer
exhaustion to conclude. Of course
much of his speech was a repetition
of the oft related details of the fight
of those three August days at Bull
Run in 1862, but General Logan
showed that he is familiar as no one
else on the floor of Congress is with
the inner and true history of that oc-
casiOn down to the minutest detail of
all the movements of troops connect
ed with it. That Senator Logan is
thoroughly honest in his conviction
that Porter deserved his punishment
is as evident as that he convinced
most of his hearers that he is right,
General Grants change of mind to
the contrary Notwithstanding, 'The
bill, however, will pass the Senate,
though defeat probably awaits it in
sae House. A baldheaded gentleman,
with gray side whiskers, occupied a
sea- in the private gallery during
Senator Logan's speech, next to Mrs.
Logan. He took very lively in
terest in what was said, burying his
face in his hands several times and
dropping his chin upon his breast
frequently. Word was passed around
that the gentleman was none other
than Fitz John Porter, and he be-
came the cynosure of many eyes. The
discovery was made later that it was
a case of mistaken identity. Every
time gray-haired or baldheaded
man with mutton-chop whiskers put
in an appearance, however, during
the remainder of the day he was re-
garded with curiosity by the crowd.
So far as is known, Porter kept away
from the Senate chamber.
Not very much is said about the
Star-route trial now in progress, be-
cause as yet there has been no speci-
ally exciting episode, and the evil
dence being taken at this stage is of a
routine character. Nothing can be
arrived at as to the probable result of
the trial except a judgment based on
general principles and a putting of
this and that together. 1 sat for an
hour yesterday studying the proceed
ings and the jurors. AS the twelve
men in the jury box, supposed to be
good and true citizens, are to be the
final judges of both the law and the
facts in this important trial, public
interest naturally turns to them.
They are, with but few exceptions,
men of very moderate intelligence,
and some of them evidently far be-
low mediocrity. Eight of the jurors
are white and four are colored, the
colored jurors having been accepted
from the regular panel, while four of
the white are talesmen, summoned
to the ungracious task by Marshal
McMichael. The jury as a whole,
looks to be quite below the average,
and it lacks what is usually notice
able in juries-several apparently in
telligent and controlling minds. 1t
may seem harsh to PREJUDICE the new
Star-route jury, but 1 must record
that to me they do not appear to be
men suited to the work-men capable
of trying such a case where all the
of money, influence and
legal accumen are to be employed to
defeat justice.
To me it seems that under all the
we must look for little
less than miracle to compass a con-
viction of Dorsey and Brady. The
Star route combination Families
in this city. 1t has its
fingers and toes in the departments,
in the hotels, and its feelers extend
to BARRIERS, coachmen, servants. boot
blacks and every channel where men
of any grade can be made useful. The
jurors, all of whom are in
Strengthened circumstances. and one
Of whom earns precarious living by
lay labor, Will be reached and tempt
I'd in a hundred ways, and when
such men, who had meyer owned $500
IN their lives, and who have no great
amount of reputation to lose, can be
empted with tens of thousands, is it |
to expect any conviction
They may prove stronger than the |
wealth they never dreamed of possess
'ing, or they may be intimidated by
he fear of punishment; but it will be
marvel, indeed, if a jury with little
Intelligence to guide them and little
character to lose, as a rule, shall be
lble to maintain the majesty of JUS
ice in her own sanctuary.
JUNIUs.
Points for Farmers.
Without sheep English farmers
Ould not keen nm the fnrtiIity Of