National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-28


Aher some further interruption Mr. lIorr said
In conclusion, want to say that 1t Is time people
stopped raking up these old matters and trying TO
reverse the decisions oftho war. But you say thht
you want TO vindicate Fitl.Juhn Porter. why,
Sir, the time has gone by when that can be done
This jury that is trying him to-day cannot do ~
DO you know that among the friends Of Porter
among the friends of this union through the north.
to acqut him by your votes would BIO the most
cruel thing you could do to his memory?
Mr. Slocum. Whose votes?
the other side, and received the benefits, of his
tardinoss, ifthore was any to receive. The men
who fought against us then arc here now, ana
have the right TO vote ON this natter do not
question the right But do say that as a matter
of good taste, YOU ought to let this thing alone;
yon ought TO stand aloof from IT, you had no part
Mr.. Gibson. VIII the gentleman permit me to
ask him question:
Mr.. Horr. Certainly.
MI. Gibson. Do you mean to say that, being nero
rs American representatives aud the question Is
presented 10 us. II does not become out duty to act
in accordance with our conscientious conVic'
tious2
Mr.. Horr That Is a fair question. say to the
gentleman that the rules oil this house permit
member here, IL any bill Is brought before II, and
he has much intcrestin II rs amounts to cents,
TO get up here and say to the house, my situation
Is such that ask to be excused from voting on
wosd be allowed o to Walk OF nd mot u vote
Now, do you think that you would not also be
excused from voting IL you should rise here IN
scenes were transacted my position was this:
was trying to destroy this government be-
cause ! thought T. ought to be DESTROYED q.
be right; my whole interest was against the boys
who were fighting with Porter, aud If he did not
do his duty got the benefit of It, The stake was
more than cents; II was the lives of good many
men who went down 10 death OH the twenty
ninth of August. was interested III II. think
my position then estOps me now from standing mn
before the American people aud deciding what
you men whom was fighting did"
MIR. Gibson. You have not answered my ques-
| nnn9
Mr.. Horr. think that is an answer Ask it
again.
you mean to say that as American representatives
! we ought not to discharge our duty by acting in
| accordance with our conscientious convictions?
Mr.. Horr. My dear sir, did answer that.
| Here the hammer fell.
| The chairman: The time of the gentleman from
| Michigan has expired.
Mr.. Slocum. move that the committee rise
Mr.. Blanchard. i move that the time Of the
gentleman from Michigan be extended.
| Mr.. Slocum. have no objection.
MIR. Horr. am very much obliged i did not
intend TO occupy one moment beyond my hour. |
think five minutes will be sufficient for what
The Chairman. Is there objection to extending
the time of the gentleman from Michigan? lCries
of "go on."l The chair hears no objection.
Mr. Horr. The gentleman from West Virginia
victions" He means this, us understand: If |
have clear idea about the way this ought to be
decided ought not to vote that way? Let me tell
you what is the trouble. The state of mind you
|
fair decision. [I,aughterl know you do not
think so, but Il is utterly impossible for you to
this Sass b snSPSiSs
son bavis was traitor and ought to be hanged
do you think l would be a iair juryman on that
question?
Mr. Gibson. doubt 1t.
Mr.. horr. You doubt it, don't you? Well,
would be just as good q juror on that question as
such case. Why? Because have expressed All
opinion on this subject good many times.
scientlous convictions upon i. =, Now, say
that your position--I am not finding fault witt
you-you understand meP
Mr.. Gibson. On, understand you.
Mr.. Horr say the state Of mind you are neces
sarily in precludes you from being proper juror
! You would not be permitted to sit-none OF you
on any jury upon u case involving $50, If you haC
been as much beforehand in that case u
, you have in this case. Laughter.
Yet you gentlemen come aud propose TO do
what? "Vindicate' Fitz. John Porter! was jus
saying that such ''vindication is impossible
When he disobeyed the order of his superior
when he refused under the sound Of the enemy
guns to 20 into battle to save his country, wheI
the court martial convened and tried him, Fitz
John Porter's record was made The bed he ther
to ''vindicate" him-simply, because you hav
not the power TO carry conviction TO the mind o
the civilized world that you are disintcresteC
} jurors: for you are not you cannot be.
Now want to say just one word in conclusion
/ am well aware that you intend To ppss this bill
/ am well aware that you have the power to d
S IL: but, with my convictions, cannot permit 1t
a pass without entering my solemn protest. | d
e protest in the name OF good discipline for tn
. future in the American army. 10 protest In tn
D name of the loyal men OF the north who sustaine
our armies, WHO stood by this government an
0 settled these questions once md supposed the
e had settled them forever. protest III the nun
of the one-armed, one-legped, MANNED wouude
} soldiers scattered all over the United States
i our army suffers for efficiency on account OF tn
4 numbers OH the retired list, let me suggest the
, scattered all over our country nre brave men VIII
. lost limbs, lost health, lost everything br
. their honor, whose names could be substitute
with propriety for that OF this man who was cou
: victed by as fair court as ever convened of NJ
doing his duty. In the name of those soldiers
n here and now protest Ay, in the name of III
thousands of boys" who died ON that twenty
!, ninth of August, when this man was lying in ii
shade, and whose spirits are now crying IL us frO
a the ground to do justice to them and their men
mory, protest against tho passage of this bill
Now, gentlemen of the committee before you vo
4 this measure through stop ana think. You al
= constantly telling us you want these question
= dro ped out of sight, that you want to have Il
country go on In its work of peace, in building II
o the great commercial interests of the country.
/. do we, and If you Will stop going back aud tryii
to undo the things which we honestly may
Il mistakenly, but honestly decided, we Will ste
!. talking to you about your other record. Unit
s jealous of those things. They cost Us blood, tho
= cost us treasure, yet we believe rs whole v
. were governed by men who Ind patriotic hear
Q and great brains, aud We are satisfied with the
: decision. Applause on the republican sidrl
= Mr.. WOliord took the floor in support of the hi
d but yielded to motion that the committee arts
s and the house at > o'clock adjourned.