The National tribune., 1883-01-04
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
A Very UneFentful Holiday Week in
Both Houses.
GEN. FITz JOHN PORTER.
Mr.. Logan's Speech Against
the Bill for His Relief.


consideration Of the bankruptcy bill was fixed
Tor Jan. 10th.
Upon motion of Mr. Edmunds VT the bill
reported by him from the Committee on the
Judiciary to prevent officers or employees of the
United States from collecting from or paying 10
each other money for political objects was taken
UP.
Mr.. Beck (Ky.) offered as g substitute the
bill introduced by him on the 18th OF Deem
her for the same general object, but prohibiting
Government officers and employees from con-
tributing money for political purposes to any
person, whether q Government officer or en-
plOvee or not.
Mr. Edmunds opposed the amendment as pro-
posing an improper interference with the rights
OF citizens, and one which be believed TO be
beyond the power of Congress
Mr.. Beck said the only remedy for the
evil would be the prohibition OF all political
contributions by OIicehOlders TO any person
whatever
Mr.. Beck's sub - tute was rejected by party
vote, the Republicans voting III the negative.
Mr. Pugh (AlaJ offered an amendment ex-
tending the prohibitions of the bill to national
banks and railroad companies chartered by the
| United States, their officers and employees.
Reiected-yeas II, nays 81
Mr. Morgan (Ala.) proposed to amend the
fourth section of the bill as to forbid contTi-
buttons by oficeholders for political purposes
exclusive jurisdiction.
Mr. Edmouds (Vt) said that included the
District Of Columbia and all the Territories
Mr. Morgan said his amendment was designed
to cover the Territories and especially to cover
the District Of Columbia, because the evil
against which the bill was directed was more
marked there than in any other place. That
was the central point from which these eXpe-
ditions against the peace and welfare Of the
country were conducted.
After debate, Mr.. Morgan's amendment was
rejected-ayes IS, noes y.
At 1.55 the bill to prohibit the solicitation or
payment Of political contributions by the Gov
ernment employees was passed as 1t came from
the committee
Mr.. Sowell IN. j. moved to take up the Fitz-
John Porter bill.
Mr.. Sherman (O.) appealed to Mr. SewelI to
give way in order that q vote might be had on
the bonded whisky bill. but Mr.. SeWel de-
clined until the Porter bill should have been
taken up. The Senate then, by vote Of p 20
u, took up the latter bill
Mr.. SewelI was willing that the bill should
be informally laid aside to permit Mr. Sherman
to call up the whisky bil but unanimous con-
sent was required and several Senators objected
So the Senate proceeded with the Porter BILL
aad Mr.. SeWell spoke in favor of the bill. At
the conclusion Of Mr.. Sewells remarks the
Senate went into executive session, and when
inc uOUIS were TCOilCuCd duJOulnGu.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate on Friday, the 29th ult, on
motion of lIr. Groome MD the bill appro-
priating $4,000 for the erection of a monument
10 Baron de kalb at Annapolis, Maryland, was
taken up and passed.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar (lIass) the bin to
provide for the performance Of the duties Of
President of the United States in case OF the
inability or the removal by death, or other
wise, of the President or Vice-President, was
taken up but after brief remarks by Mr.. Gar
land (Ark.) and Edmunds (Vt1 was laid over.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
OF the bill for the relief Of Gen Fiz John Porter
aud Mr.. Logan tIll.) spoke at length in opposi-
tiOn to the bill. He claimed that the ScOfeid
board which reviewed the Porter case was
without authority of law, and defended the
act of General Pope in not appearing before
1t. In reading the report of this board he
found it difficult TO tell whether they were
trying Porter or General Pope but it showed
clearly that they had not read the record. In
fact, 10 man familiar with the case could avoid
the conclusion that the board paid no atten-
tion to the evidence, or that they perverted
and distorted 1T IN every possible way. He
denied that President Lincoln had ever re-
pented OF having approved the action of the
court-martial, or that General Garfield repented
his action as q member of the cUurt-martial.
Mr. Logan then argued at length to prove that
Porter did not try to obey the order of General
Pope He charged upon Porter the RESPONSE
blity of the defeat OF Mcdowell at the first
battle of Manassas, declaring that it was
through Portor's advice that Patterson was
dissuaded from attacking General Joe Johnston
oin the Valley of Virginia. He claimed it ght
be said with truth that Porter caused the loss
OF both the battles at Bull Run Just because
the Union army in each case was commanded
by Western man. He characterized POrters
failure to obey POpe's order to march TO Bur
tons Station at one o'clock in the morning as q
clear case Of wiliiul disObedience. he criti-
Cised General Grants article in favor of Porter
as not stating the facts III the case. He pre-
ferred TO believe the sworn statement of men
who were on the ground to the opinion of Gen
era Grant
Mr. Logans argument was listened TO at
tentiyely throughout by the Senate and by
the audience, who filed every seat in the gal
leries. At four o'clock he yielded for a motion
to 20 into executive session. Soon after the
doors were rcopeued and the Senate adjourned
until Tuesday.
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, the I'd inst, the
PRESIDENT pro iemp0re laid before the Senate
the amendment Of the House Of Representa-
tives to the bill IS 335) TO extend the time for
filing claims for horses and equipments lost by
officers and enlisted men in the service of the
United States and for other purposes, which
was, in lines and Il, to strike out two and
insert Zone"
Mr. CoclEELL, (NTo.) That is the same bill
which was introduced by me, and was reported
by me laVorably by the direction Of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, and passed the
Senate.
UHderth act of18t9 nolimitation was placed
upon the filing Of claims for horses lost by sol
dieTs or for horses or wagons belonging to civil
iGn7 ANA impressed into the service. In I.76a
limitation was placed upon such claims when
presented by soldiers, but not by civilians, and
this bill simply extends the time for both sol
dieTsand civilians for one yearas passed by the
House-as passed by the Senate it was two
years; and then bars the claims of both civil
ians and soldiers | move concurrence IN the
amendment Of the House limiting the time to
one year.
The amendment was coucurred in.
Mr.. Logan Ull.) resumed his argument
against the passage of the Fitz-John Porter
bill.
He read a letter to show that Cen Grant,
while President, refused to grant Porter a new
trial, on the ground that no eXculpatory evi-
dence had been discovered. Alr. Logan then
argued at great length to show that there was
battle on the 29Gh Of August, 1862, despite the
claim OF the Schoheld board ofinquiry to the con-
trary. He quoted Confederate General Wilcox,
now an officer of the Senate TO prove that
majority OF Longstreets troops were in battle
ON the 29th. Mr. Logan read and discussed in
sides, referring to military maps and citing the
TO- TH4RF, Of f., . 1