The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-14
FORTY CONGRESS.
Nenate Proeeedinqs Yesterdar.

Mr.. Harrison, from the Committee OF
[ Territories, reported favoraby and ba,
placed on the calendar the bill for Oh,
admission OF Dakota.
Mr.. Plumb submitted a Joint resolution
which was referred TO the Committee O,
Agriculture, appropriating S25, 900. 10 b,
made Immediately available under the di
I rection OF the Commissioner OF Agricul
ture for the suppression OF the foot ant
mouth-diseaSe among cattle IN Kansas
Within few minutes after It's reference
Mr.. Plumb, from the committee, reported
the Joint resolution favorably, and asked
it, immediate consideration.
Mr.. sherman objected TO the resolution
He said: "As believe that the object Of
that resolution will be best ACCOMPLISHED
by the Passage OF the House bill (pleuro.
pneumonia billy, / will object for The
present, and hope that the House bill will
be taken up and passed us quickly as pos
sible."
The resolution accordingly went over
Mr.. Plumb gave notice that he would cal
the resolution tomorrow.
MIR. Sewell called up the Fitz-John-Por.
ter bill before the morning hour had pro-
ceeded beyond 1890 O'Clock.
Mir. Miller, Of New York. said the Senate
had yesterday put aside important public
business to take up this bill for private re-
lief. He moved to lay Mr.. Sewell's motion
on the table, but withdrew his motion in
order 10 expedite business, and permitted
n vote to be taken on Mr.. Sewell's motion.
The Semitic agreed to take up the bill
Mr.. Henderson then took the floor.
Many eminent men, he said, had conSid-
cred this case. He could, therefore, not
expect to add anything to the information
OF the Senate on the subject. Through
war and through peace the claimant bad
insisted that he had been harshy treated.
II aman ut sea were struggling with waves.
how was il possible for those who looked
on not TO feel an interest in his fate? Let
an observer of the contest before the Sen
ate he ever so Indifferent, he could not
avoid feeling an interest in the subject
Nothing would give HIM (AIr. Mander-
sony more pleasure than to be able to
say TO the man most interested in the bill
before the Senate, You have been greatly
wrOnged. Take your full Teparation." II
he could do that he would not stop with
the halfway reparatiOn Of this bill. He
would give him the full rightng OF his
wrongs. We might not be able to restore
him wears that were past, but high hOnorS
and emolumentS should be bis. Mr.. Man
derSon understood the claim to he that on
a full examination no fault could he found
with the conduct Of General FitZ John
Porter. He had not examined until re-
Gently the report and proceedings OF the
court-martial that tried General Porter.
He had read General Grants paper in the
North american ReUielc, and that, with
other reading, had aroused in him SYM
patty and interest in the case. He felt
that it was his duty then to examine
the matter thoroughly, and he was
sorry to be compelled TO say that
from the examination he had given
the case, whether this be a case OF judicial
review or an exercise Of clemency, he felt
bound to vote mo" on this bill. The
bill asks that Congress should set aside
the verdict OF the cOurt-martial to review
and set aside the decision OF one Of the
highest of tribunals most dangerous
precedent. II had become the fashion lin
these piping times OF peace TO sheer at a
court-martial, yet that body was more
nearly ga Jury OF his peers" than the
accused man could possibly have under
any other circumstances, for its members
were his brother officers. No less aperSon
than the President OF the United States
was the final court OF appeals. And who
was it that had reviewed the findings and
decision OF Fitz John Portery 1t had
been the honest, clear-headed. judicial
minded. merciful man-Abraham Lincoln.
This bill was a restraint upon the proper
independence OF the Executive. II the
ease should come to the Senate as an origI-
nal proposition on the finding of the court
martial. ana Congress should take to itself
To review the record and let the prisoner
go, the advocates of this bill would stand
aghast. Mir. Henderson had for twenty
wears as q lawyer seen cases go to courts OF
appeal, and sometimes his clients cases
bad gone against him. II the precedent
was to be set here Of a review by Congress
of the work OF other departments OF the
Government, why should he not bring be-
fore Congress the cases of those unfortu-
nate clients. that Congress may set aside
the verdict OF the jury and decision OF the
Court OF Appeals 2 He could not see upon
what grounds the case should be re-
opened. Mr.. Henderson was loudly APP
plauded when he completed his remarks.
Mr.. Logan then addressed the Senate.
In 1865, be said, when the ministering an
gels OF this country had ceased TO smooth
the brow OF many soldier, who. OF all
those that had been administering the laws
TO nut down the re- ellion, could believe
that the power OF the law would be in
Vokcd in aid Of such a measure as that be-
fore this Senate? Travelling back to 1860
we found that forty-fiye DAYS were con-
sumed by a cOurt-martial in the trial OF an
individual who, by its decision, was dis
charged from the army Of the United
States. Part Of that court-martial were
learned in civil law; all Of them were con-
yersant with military law. What is the
trial now going on! Is il trial OF FitZ
John Porter? No; it is a trial, at the
graves OF those that are dead, on charge
that the men who had tried this man had
distorted facts. Fitz John Porter had, al
ter all these years, become the prosecutor.
II was trial not OF the living, but OF the
dead. Ii was a trial, at this late day, OF
Abraham Lincoln, rather than OF FltZ
John Porter.
Without desiring" said Mr.. Logan,
facing the Democratic side OF the chamber,
" 10 criticise the vote of any one, l hope |
NAV be pardoned for making one remark.
IL is perfectly natural that those who have
been engaged in rebellion against Gov
eminent like this, when they failed OF great
success. and have themselves been par
doned by the Government, that they should
without examination of the evidence In the
case feel a sympathy for those who during
the war had been dismissed The service OF
the United States. Whyy Because they
would naturally sympathize with them'
and say, Il have been forgiven. and there
fore | forgive everybody else" In the
course Of his remarks Mr.. Logan charged,
and defied contradiction, that Fitz J0hn
Porter was the cause OF the loss OF the hrst
battle Of Bull Run. loud applause In the
gallery, instantly depressed by the presl-
ding offlcer-Mr. Frye in the chair-who
announced that under no circumstances