The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-19
General H. W. SlOcum's Strong and Eloquent
Statement of Reasons for Asking
Favorable Verdict.
Messrs. Steele and Calkins Make VigOr-
GUS Speeches Against the Bill.
After Extended Debate the House AdjOurns
Without Reaching a VOte-The De-
bate To Be Continued To-day.
ponrEE,s SIDE OF THE QUESTION.
A Strong and Eloquent Statement of TIL
Case by General SIOcun.

Case by General SlOcuin.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S-The House of Repre-
sentatives to-day, in committee of the whole,
took up the bill for restoration of Fitz John
Porter to his rank in the army. General Slo-
cum spoke in support of the bill. After stating
the finding of the court martial and compliment
ing the integrity of the gentlemen comprising
that body, he said:
81 shall content myself with calling attention
to q few circumstances which | think should
have great weight. The condition of our coun-
try at the time General Porter was brought to
trial is well known The General who organized
the Army of the Potomac, and under whom
that army had long served, bad recently been
removed from his command. A large portion
OF that army were attached to their old com
mander. His successor was a stranger to them
1t required great skill ON the part of the new
commander to win the confidence and esteem of
his command That skill unfortunately was not
exercised. The army suffered a great reverse
under its new leader. A feeling of gloom and
Officers and soldiers, we'll as civilians were
divided in sentiment. Every one had his own
convictions to the cause of our disasters.
''The selection at that time of court-martial
from among the general officers assembled in
Washington, which would be free from prejudice
on question involving the responsibility for
these disasters. was an utter impOssiblity. |
doubt if court of competent civilians, which
would have been entirely unbiased could then
have been selected ,.a 81. ...t
"In this hour of excitement Fitz John Porter
was placed on trial on charges involving this
question of responsibility The court was Sc
lected by General Halleck, virtually one of Por-
tors aecusers cast no dispersion upon the
court Under the circumstances however the
result was a foregone conclusion. Porter was
convicted. He had no appeal The review of
his case was made by those who ordered the
court He was not permitted to appear in per
son or by counsel before the reviewing officers.
who were the military advisers of the President
Under these circumstances an officer who had
served his country with great distinction for
seventeen years. was deprived of that which was
dearer to him than life itseIf-his hard-earned
reputation
General Porter had won two brevets for gal
lantry on the battle-felds of Mexico. He had
served with distinction in the civil war in every
battle in which the Army of the Potomac had
been engaged. Up to the hour of his arrest
there was not stain on his escutcheon. In this
time of intense excitement when the passions of
mon usurped the place of reason, his brilliant
reputation was no shield for him For twenty
long years he has suffered as few men-even the
worst criminals--have ever been condemned to
-D,sa;as these years many men, distin-
guished in all vocations of life, have appealed to
the government in his behalf Those making
the appeals were not confined to one political
party, or to one State or section OF our country
The appeals came from all classes-from soldiers
and ciyilians-from the East and the West
ssThe FIRST official acttendins towards irstice in
This matter was the order snno;nt;nc hosrd r.
;..t;ot IL 80 - = FL LIS ai ;oS ~
II n,ereIy Granted TO General Porter the riobt Of
apDeal2a RIGHT which if fine case had been tried
before a civil court in anv State of the Union.
would have been granted by the laws of the
State. If General Porter had been a Marty IN n
suit in the State of New York. involving the
sum of $50 and had believed that iniustice had
been done him, he would have been entitled to
an appeal 70 tne supreme court. II ne nad
! court of the State, But having been tried in an
hour Of intense excltement--in the very hot
from The vev nature of t%;n,s co,,iJ no+ o f
from prsjudice-he could only secure the right
Of appeal after fifteen years Of suffering and
LIZ; n 40 ~, Io, LIZ uou ue H
AZ ,nstter of Tsb ~as Sneiiyy ee,,+o VI mn. M,
aS;4 - D,e 55e.l - 10 ni 10y g au'eI' oiie
ootl " eSe boiig ygSfs ~ SUI
S;on+ed NJ "t J;otod ~ n,S W. ~
L;mhast ,,aod of n,a;eo - A. - o,; oa
,tor a,,tbo,tvP co. v,,I o,' % ,,o,
occasion on which he is charged with crime The
result of tba ,Sno4raf3J ;9Vst;+; ~ ti
hoard of distingnisbed offcars seiectad Lv tbo
Presdant IN review tbis case 10 s1,rn,ad ' IN
these words. " -
m,n., s.,e, ,
Ipr.ers Itnu, suooralhate ana mtelngent con
feat which would otbervvee have res,,itn5 tbot d
from the enemy more speedy concentTation + :
We believe not one among all the gallant soldiers on
that bloody field less deserving of such condemna-
ton than he
''In the recent letter of General Grant review
ing this case he concludes bv assuring General
Porter AS long as / have voice 4 shall he
raised in your support without reference to its
effect upon me or others Your restoration to
the army simply would regard as an inadequate
and unjust PREPARATION
,yvIo,yr,, ,,,-,,, ~, ,-
>. nv, NJ" oi A'iDNNoA'
mere Is one piece OF evidence IN this case to
which allusion has seldom been made which, in
nv Judgment outweiphs the on;niop of .Geperal
Go -, t,,. IL &c A., -.
ui@ii' VI INC innings VI .io ooaro' IL outweighs
all the arguments Of politicians or soldiers who
were not on the ground. I allude to the evil
soroo &c .,,o of,oor. .,,a uo,,;o,,, 90 ro,,4o..
0o =. '-0 0'''o0,' anu eoiu'er' VI o.'er ooni-
mand-the men who were with him In all the
operations under Pope. These men are the