Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-02-02
T0RfY-BICnfn CONGRESS.
First Session.
HOUSE.

WAsHixerox. Feb. l.
The sneaker laid before tie House letter
from the Attorney General asking for the in
crease of the clerical force in the depart
ment of justice referred.
Nr. Dockery of Missouri. introduced
bill prohibiting the removal of employees
of the House. except for cause. during the
vacation of Congress; referred he tnen
offered 4 resolution amending the rules 90 -
10 make q similar provision; referred.
Or motion Of Mr. Randall of Pennsylvania,
further conference, asked by the Senate on
the Greely relief bill was agreed to and Kan
dali a.d Calkin. we're appointed as conferees.
The speaker appointed Messrs. Holman
and RYAN as conferees ON the part OF the
House on the bill appropriating $50 OOO Tor
the support Of destitute fndians in Montana:
The morning hour having been dispensed
with. the House at ii IS went into commit
tee of the whole, Mr. Springer Of illlaos In
the chair. on the Fitz John Porter bill, the
general debate being limited to tnree nours
and forty-fve minutes.
Mr. Wolford Of Kentucky. resumed his
argument begun last Saturday in support of
Fitz John Porter bill.
He said he had thought that ex-confeder-
ates were here as members OF the American
Congress w.th the right and duty to vote on
every question He understood his confed-
crate friends were here loving the flag and
loving the country, that they were here say
ing today and forever that they had left be-
hind the bitter feelings engendered by the
war Were men forever to stand and quar-
rel over old issues? Let Congress go for
ward and say it is ready to do justice to a
wronged and injured man.
AIR. MiiIiken of Maine, inquired whether
he understood that the gentleman asked the
t, vnf.. for the rplipf Of Porter
an act of cOnciliation to his confederate
friends. If he asked in that ground he would
vote for the relief
Mr. Wolford replied be asked it on the
highest grounds ever presented. He de-
manded it was only an act of justice and pro-
posed to demonstrate it was an act of justice
to long injured man. applause on the
democratic side.
Mr.. Calkins of Indiana began an argument
opposing the bill by a s:atem mt that he knew
no doubt about its passage, but those who
were opposed to the act would not adopt the
means which Porter used on the 9th and 29th
of August and refuse to FIRE shot at the
enemy, but on the contrary would adopt
the more gallant conduct of the brave sol
diers, sailors and marines on board the
"Cumberland' when she was swept fore and
aft and was sinking. They fired their guns,
manned the yard arms and gave three cheers
for their country. (Applause on the repub-
liean side.) Those who opposed this bill
would go down, but as they went they would
90 down gallantly. They would fight till
the last moment and discharge the last shot
in the locker. This measure might be called
vindication, but he denied and 100000
voters of the country would deny it. Re-
ferring to Grants letter, Mr.. Calkins said
that he knew Grant and received early mill
olar hal 10 L0nv
how Grants soldiers had implicitly obeyed
him and how their prompt obedience served
to give him the honors he now enjoyed. He
honored and loved Grant as q brave soldier.
but when that soldier came out in favor Of
this bill he could say that none Of his officers
ever dared to disobey like order of his.
applause on the republican side The men,
bers were asked by this bill to say in the
language of the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Slocum) that Abraham Lincoln and
Edwin NJ. Stanton and Gen. Halleck con-
spired together to organize court to con-
Wet Porter and the gentleman undertook to
attack the name of w. T, Sherman to help
out. The House was asked to write where
james A. Garfield % years ago wrote
guilty" the words mot guilty." and march
to the sacred dust of Abraham Lincoln, the
man who saved the country from destruction,
and where he wrote "approved' write the
word reversed" The House might write
the word if it desired, but the people would
reverse its writing and spit upod it and spurn
it. (Applsuse on the democratic side
Mr.. Phelps of New Jersey made an elab-
crate speech in defence of Porter. He said
Porter had faults and grievOus ones, but he
was not guilty of treason. If he had COM
mtted faults had he not been punished? If
members forget that wound in Mexico. let
60 - of An hos
he got an order that was sent in time, when
the fifth army corps went into battle with
Porter at their head. when they marched into
the jaws of death, into the gates of hell, that
was magnificent, that also was war (Ap-
pause on the democratic side) for the fifth
corps. Officers trained at West Point, whose
treason need no investigation, we're sitting in
this chamber. Should Porter be the only
victim? Should he be the sacrifice of the
nation?
Mr. Boutelle of Maine, said as duty to
his State and the members of the fifth army
corps who resided in that State, he wished to
enter his protest against the passage of the
bill He denied it was the desire of the men
who had fought under Porter that he be re-
stored to the army and asserted as a refuta-
ton of that claim, that he this morning re-
ceived letter of gallant cavalryman who
carried Porter's flag as orderly, stating that
the sentiment among all the corps was al
most universal astonishment and indignation
at the inaction of their general on the 10Th of
August.
Then a number of short speeches we're
made, all but two being in opposition to the
bill.
Mr.. Steele of Indiana, moved to strike out
the name Fitz John Porter and insert the
word II. Burnett; rejected.
Mr.. Calkins of Indiana, offered = substi.
tute providing for the convening of 4 new
court martial to review the case; lost.
Mr. Converse of Ohio. offered an amend
ment, making Fitz John Porter's retirement
compulsory: agreed to by the committee,
but the action was afterward reversed by the
House.
The committee then rose and the bill or
dered engrossed and read the third time.