Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-03-27
The Senate and Fitz John Porter.

IL has been great query with many
Republicans and more especially with
the great body of old soldiers, how
enough Republican members of the
United States Senate were influenced to
give their support to the Fitz John Por-
ter bill. The vote of Senator Jones, of
Nevada, was undoubtedly secured by
Gen. Grant, who, since his retirement
from the executive mansion, has taken
wonderful interest in having Porter
reinstated to his former standing in the
army; but while he had the power to
grant Porter pardon, he thought the
findings of the court martial Just and
proper The relations existing between
Senator Jones and Gen. Grant are such
rs to leave no doubt but that the ex-
President,in a great measure, influenced
the vote of the Nevada Senator.
Senator Don Cameron, of Pennsvl-
vania, though paired, was in favor of
the bill, because. it is said, that the lavish
hospitaiities of Porter at Washington,
had won Dons good nature. Don
Cameron, it is well to remark, is another
wonderful admirer of Gen Grant and
his opinions. The dispatches credit
Senator Cameron, of this state, as hav-
ing paired in favor of the bill, with a
Senator from the South. This report is
undoubtedly erroneous. and the dis
patches may have got the Senators
names transposed 1t is hard to believe
that Senator Cameron, knowing the
feelings of his soldier and civilian con-
stituency, would have voted in favor OF
the bill-a pair in its favor amounting
to vote. The other Senator from Wis
consin paired, also, but it is known that
he would have voted against the bill
But perhaps the most singular vote
in favor of Porter was that cast by
Senator Sabin, of Minnesota. Being a
new member, he was flooded with petit
tions signed by the members of the
Grand Army of the Republic, in his own
State, asking and urging him to work
and vote against the measure. To all
this he turned deaf ear to the plea of
his people at home, and gave his vote
in favor of Porter The old soldiers of
Minnesota knew right well what they
were pleading for. They know, at least
those who were in that battle, what the
result of Porter's disobedience was.
They, as well as all other soldiers who
participated in that engagement, believe
that had Porter promptly aided Pope
there would not have been defeat of
the Union army, and that it might then
and there have proved a grand turning
point in the early closing of the war.
They know and feel the deep disgrace
they experienced from a defeat, which
was solely charged, at the time to Por-
ter's disobedience. These are the men
Senator Sabin ignored, and it is hard
to account for his position.
However, out of all this there comes
the cheering news that President Ar
thur will interpose his vetoing power
when the bill gets into his hands. He
is reported by the dispatches. as saying
that he considers the executive pardon
''restoring Porter to citizenship is as big
"a boon us ought to be conferred upon
"him. He does not think the evidence
''proyes him guiltless by any means, al
Though it has modified his offense suffi-
''cent to show that the original sentence
'was excessive in its severity That
PORTER allowed his jealousy and ill
"feeling against Pope to prevent his
''hearty cooperation with the latter,
''however, he regards us too plain to be
'oyercome by the evidence which has
"been submitted, and his respect for the
Original court martial, for the opinion
''of Lincoln, and for the large majority
''of his own party friends in Congress,
''who have so ably though vainly OPP
"posed the passage of the bin, will in
"duce him to withhold his approval"
Should President Arthur carry out his
intention. as fOreshadowed in that dis
patch he will not only receive the plau-
dts of members of his own party, but
tn sc of thousands OF others who believe
that Porter's oifense was lightly pun
ished, and that the sentence of the court
martial was Just and well timed.