The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-02-02
ONGRESSIONA
HOUSE..

HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, D. c. February L.
Wolford spoke IN support of the Por
ter bill. Criticising Horr's speech, he
said the gentleman from Michigan
assumed that ex-COnfedelates were
interested in this case and from self.
respect they should take no part In
the debate in the Senate. The gen.
tlemau would have had more respect
fer the ex-Confederates if, like him
self, he had been at the front. He
| hadthought the ex-COnfederates were
here a. members of the American
! Congress with the right and duty to
vote on every question, and he hoped
no man who had served in the Con-
federate army had got so mao over
the light that after 70 years he could
not do an act of justice to a man who
had fought against him. He hoped
no man would get up and say, Il
| can't vote on this bill; I am in
terested; I AN still mad"
Milliken inquired whether he was
to understand the gentleman asked
the members to vote for the relief o
Porter as an act of Cancellation. II
asked on that ground he would vote
for the relief.
Walford replied that he asked it
on the highest grounds ever pre-
scented. He demanded 1t as an act of
justice to q long injured man. ZAP
plause on the Democratic side.) Wal
ford passed on in review OF the case,
and was frequently applo uded by
members who collected around him
in the center aisle, but his remarks
were at times 80 low As to be maud
lille.
Calkins began his argument in OPP
position to the bill by the state
ment that he knew there was
no doubt about its passage.
The book was to be opened where
the page was turned down 20 years
ago, but those who opposed that
action would not adopt the means
which they believed General Porter
used on the 9th aud Goth of August,
and refuse to fire q shot st the enemy;
but on the contrary, they would
adopt the more gallant conduct of the
brave soldiers, sailors and marines
on board the Cumberland. When
she was swept fore and aft, and vas
sinking, they fired their guns at the
enemy, manned the yard arms and
gave three cheers for their country.
Applause on the Republican side.
This measure ought to be called q
vindication, but he denied it. More
than four millions of voters of the
country would deny it. Speaking of
the Grant letter. he said he knew
Grant we'll, and had received his
early military experience under that
leader. He honored and loved Grant
as q brave soldier, but when that
soldier came out in favor of this bill
he could only say that none Of his
officers ever dared disobey a like or
der Of his. lApplause on the Repub-
lican side.1 Members were asked
by this bill to say. in the language
of the gentleman from New York.
(Slocum) that Abraham Lincoln, Ed
win NJ. stanton aud General Hallock
conspired together and organized a
court to convict Fitz Jonn Porter,
and the gentleman undertook to at
tack the name of VIM. T. Sherman
to help him out. If these scenes are
to be re- enacted here there might
come q time when the bugle's blast
of the Grand Army of the Republic
By the side of their camp fires would
ask General Sherman to come out OF
his retirement aud lead them again to
victory a. he did before. (Applause
IN the Republican side.) The House
was asked to write where James A.
Garfield - years ago wrote guilty
the words mot guilty" and to
march to the sacred dust of Abraham |
Lincoln, and where he wrote "ap-
proved to write the word IRE
versed." The House might wri'e
those words if it desired, but the PEG.
pie would reverse its writing and
spit upon it and spur. it. applause
the Republican sidel
Phelps spoke in favor Of the bill. !
and in regard to General CARTEL s
connection with the matter, read the
joint resolution introduced by him
for the appointment Of q board OF
review, and stated that be had pri-
vate letters from that gentleman |
which he could twist into an approx
al Of this bill As other gentlemen
mad twisted their private
into disspprovsl Of i,
Porter had his faults, but be was not
Of treason. II the members
had forgot that wound received in
Mexico, let them not forget the 18th
Of August. 1862, when he got an Or
der that was sent in time. when the
Fifth Army Corps went into battle
with Porter at its head, and when
they marched Into the laws of desIh
and into the gate Of hell That was
magnificent. and that also was war.
. Applause on the Democratic side.
For the Fifth Army Corps, that was
every vote: 70. that corps
left 900 men on the field:
that magnificent corps. which
was sud is aud always would be the
stesd'aSt and unrsulteling friend Of
Porter-give him back TO them.
The leader OF the Confederacy Went
the steps Of the capitol threat
'ning 10 return and destroy it. but
ne failed in his attempt. and We, he
walked in freedom. Men who were
oenned up in AnderSouville and Lib
~ still lived. and officers trained a.
" est Point whose treason needed 10
nve>tlgatlon, were sitting in this
'Eshber. Should Porter be the only
7ictin": L this Congress look ST his
proofs and do him justice. He had
suihority from Porter 70 go fur
her. but speaking for himself b.
would say. Ii you cannot do him
ustice, lie, Us give him money. snd
sking him from the side Of Judas
nd Arnold, place him by the side
those who fought with
i'm. who loved snd hon I
red him aud place him BY the .
lde Of Sykes aud Getty sud Terry :
nd Sehoneld and Grant. Applause
q the Democratic side.
Boucelle said As 3 duty % his s.s,e
Nd fhe n,a,p ns,S ~ rra C;.h -