Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-01-05
WORK OF CONGRESS,
senator Logan ends his speech against
the Porter bilI-A Spat with ScNcu

senator Logan ends his speech against
the Porter bill-A SPat with SeucIi
by Telegraph to the Free Press AMI 7 mes.l
WAsuiNGroN, ID. G., Jan. 3.-ln the sen
ate to-day Mr.. Logan concluded his speech
against the Filz-John Porter bill, saying
that about the hour when Gen Pope was is.
suing TO Porter the order dated at 4;3O p. M,
to attack Immediately, Porter was writing Il
despatch announcing that he had determined
TO retire TO Manassas, and when 30 minutes
later he received the order to attack he did
not communicate it to his officers, but sup
pressed it.
Senator Scwell said that the evidence
showed that Porter did not receive the order
to attack until $50.
Senator Logan replied that Douglass Pope,
the officer who carried the order, testified
that lie delivered it at $50 O'Clock.
SENATOR Sewcll-Thc character of Doug
lass Pope for veracity is not very good.
Senator Logan-I knew douglass Pope
better than the Senator did. He is dead and
you may assll him, but his record is US good
as the Senator's.
Senator Scwcll--If had known that he
was dead would not have made the re-
mark.
Senator Logan-Wel. sir, you ought TO
know it. 1t was published far AVID wide
Douglass Pope was an honorable man Lo-
gan continued saying that the gentlemen en-
gagged in this plan for working out the res
toraton of Porter sent mau to Columbus,
Ohio and raid witness to come and see
them and tried to persuade him that he was
mistaken as TO the time when the order to
attack was delivered. Mr.. Logan claimed
that the force in front Of Porter was not
larger than his own.
In conclusion Senator Logan said; Why
is it that whenever this case came up the
Senate was divided ON political lines 1t
ought not TO be so because there was no poll
tics in the case 1t was merely question OF
reversing the verdict of the Court-martlal
upon a man convicted and sentenced at a
time when good many Senators on the 9TH
er side were holding court-martinls down
South. Could it be possible that these gen
tlemen and others of their parties would now
vote without reference 10 the facts or law
that the action Of that court SHOULD be re-
versed and this man put back into the army
merely because he belonged to their party
and Because they were prejulced against the
court that convicted him and the President
who approved the conviction? There was
no other ground on which they could give
or good policy for the gentlemen of the 9th
cr side TO undertake to reverse what Lad
been done here during the war according to
law and facts. They had better lc, the men
who proved dcrelCit on the Union side, and
who had been dealt with by the Government,
alone. They are of no service to yOu said
Logan and of none 10 US. They are If no
more service TO the country. If he
Logan( felt any impulse TO vote for the
bill; to please anybody he would
20 across the Potomac, kncc among The
graves Of the boys who fell on the battle field
Of Grove'on, that 29th Of August, and there
pray God to forgive him. lie would appeal
TO the spirits Of Lincoln, who approved the
verdict of the court, and of Garfield, who
tool; part in rendering the verdict and always
believed it Just, 10 restrain him from Icrpc-
tlating such a wrong upon the nation and its
brave soldiers living and dead.
Senators Sewell and Mcpherson supported
the BILL after which Senator Hale moved to
postpone it indefinitely. The motion was
lost, ayes 20, noes IS.
The bill was thcn reported in the Senate
and Senator HUar moved to postpone it one
week.
Senator's views Of the Porter ssi!i.
Senator llawley said that he intended to
by Logan.
Senator IIoar said that Logan raised new
questions in the case and time should be
given for the amination of evidence.
Senator Congcr said that third of the SEN
ators were not present to vote and to take
their share OF the responsibility for this Won
derful preceding Congcr maintained that
even the advisory board had not declared
Porter innocent, but had made for him the
plea usually made for the pardon of criminals
that he hal suffered enough.
Senators Mcpherson and Scwcl appealed
to MIR. lloar to withdraw his motion. He
declined.
Speech by Senator Brown.
Senator Brown of Georgia made an clo-
quent speech in favor of the bill in which lie
said AS TO the union soldiers and their
pensions which have been referred TO. have
this to say on behalf of the Democratic part
here, we have not thrown any Obstacles in
t he way Of acts of Congress voting them
hundred million dollars. We from the South,
we who were ''rcbels,' we who fought the
government when we believed we were
right, we who were conquered and sur
rendered Internationally, have come back }
our allegiance and have done it honestly,
determined to vie with you who are
Northern men and were in the Union
armies, in patriotism and in cvcrythi that
is neccss ary to build up the country and
make the United States Il or at nation, and so
accepting the situation we have not hesitatcd
to vote with no niggard hand pensions to the
soldiers OF your armies, when poor men in
our own section, who suffered as much, could
OF course have none. Therefore think, with
all due Difference, that the Senator from Hi
nois does us injustice when he attributes our
vote to in improper motive or to any DISPOSE
ton TO deal uniustly or make war upon any
Northern sentiment
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