The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-01-24
THE FORTY.EIGHTn CONGRESS.
SENATE.


SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. lS.-The chair laid be.
fore the Senate message from the president
transmitting for the consideration Of congress
communication from the secretaries OF war
and navy on tho subject Of relief 10 the expe-
dition Of the Greeley party ank recommend
Ing immediate action rs the condition OF the
party Is most peTllouS; also the correspondence
relating TO executing the Chinese exclusion act.
Senator Miller, OF california, from commit
tee on foreign relation reported favorably on
the bill rel4tirg TO the execution of the supple
mental commercial treaty between the Ufiled
States and China. Placed on the calendar.
The BILL prohibits the Importation OF opium
from China and expectation 10 China.
All r executive the session doors We're re-
opened ana adjourned until Moneay
HOUSE.
Mr.. SlOcum asked the unanimous consent
that to-norrow's session br set apart for de-
objected.
BIr. Brumine offered resolution. referred 10
committee on foreign affairs instrucilng the
committee 10 maze inquiry whether any for
elgn minister accredited by the United States
ende-Nnrcd to HUiliy the elects uf the unani-
nous resolution Vi the House, by Representa-
tons rejecting on the honor and Integrity of
rs members. The above Is intended TO get at
the facts concerning the HeNitt-West affair
Mr.. Slocum moved 10 dispense with the
morning hour and, though general oppos ton
ON the Republican side tho motion secured the
itluIciit lNO-lulFCS, los 10 : =.
The House then nent into committee OF tho
whole ON the private lcndar, Mr.. Springer
In the chair.
The tirst was the bill Tor the relief Of Fitz
John Porter.
Mr.: Slocum spoke in support OF the bill. re
said II any gentleman desi ed a clear mud con-
else conception OF this case he could find II
IN the Few pointed and comprehensive SEN
fences uttered by Gen. Grant. lie drew n
picture OF the excitement " hicn existed at tho
time OF Porter's trial, ana without casting as
N al rod ftfar Cor.
gone conclusion. Up to the hour OF his arrest
there haI not been stain on Porter'S escutch-
con, but in time OF Intense excitement, when
me. S .passlo IS uSGrped reason, his brilliant
reputation was no shield For twenty long
years that man suffered as even the wors Grim
mails are compelled to suffer. but to-day Fitz
tion OF Congress would be, stood
before the world fully vindlcated.
No, not indicated, but awarded the highest
tiles OF the co untry. The same men that have
ruined Porter struck death blow at Sherman,
and he had seen at reunion OF the army Gen.
eral sherman refuse his hand to secretary of
war, because he had attempted 10 throw dis
grace upon him. II was his (Slocum's) firm be-
lief, had not the war closed as 1t has, Sher-
sda i name would q, nave been placed side by
speech was warmly applauded.
Mr.. Steele followed in opposition 10 Tho hill.
He was not surprised that The gentleman from
10 the sympathies OF tho House but did
not say the sentence of the court WAS not Just.
Nj. Steele proceeded 10 defend the person.
mel of the court-martial. asserting that IL was
satisfactory to Reveredy johnson, Porter'5
counsel. who admitted that Porter had fair
trial. He gave the history OF the orders of the
2Ith and 10Th OF August, which he declared
Porter Il terly failed TO obey. For all the good
it had done he might as well have taken his
corpse and gone 10 Washington. Gen. Porter
did not obey orders because he was afraid. He
did not accuse him OF that. ltwas not because
he declined 10 serve his country, but
more than his Country. General e Porter had
positive orders to cause him to push his army
against the right OF the enemy, and there was
no proof presented at the court martial 10
show that he did so, and General Mcdowell
said firmly, be believed II General Porter had
gone In as ordered, and as ordered by General
Pope the unicn victory would have been deci-
OF Porter, were engaged in the battle, and vet
he turi ed not hand to save his country. 1 hat
day Porter declined TO obey because he said IL
nave 10 fight. To which Mr.. Mcdowell re-
piled: That's what came here for"
Mr.. MaginniS inquired why. if Mellow ell
wanted TO fight, he did not do so.
Gir. Calkins replied that WAS Just what he
did not do. Both Of these gentlemen spoke
eiX S several other members jumping TO
moments and drowned tho voices OF The de,
bat rs.
the board Of review, but claimed they did
court and under the f sas Of fOq NeW 90rk
ferring to tho organization OF the board, he he
said that Senator Randolph bad Obtained a
ist Of the names Of persons selected and sent
il to Wizards liotel, which was submitted 10
The gentleman there He did not know whether
Il was satisfactory to ten. Seho1eld, who would
ike to get the nomination Of the presidency.
AZ Senator Randolph thought he carried PENN
sylvania and New Jersey in his breaches pocket
Mr.. RosecraDs inquired: What gentleman?
Mr.. Steele answered: ! say his friends un-
1erStOOd. the country understood and the gen.
tleman himself understood that Gen. Schofeld
would like to be tickled with nomination..
Mr.. Roserrans: understood no such thing
that Gen. Pope'S army would have been ami
hilated by 1000 men, had not Porter entered
the fight. Such reasoning-to increase the
It's extinctiOn-iS absurd. Dur ng his trial
g -ntleman, who Is now q worthy and efficient
officer of this house, heard Porter say
not being loyal to Pope. Well 1t was not be-
ing loyal to commanding officer, 1t was being
loyal to my country, when that officer was |
hoped the gentleman on the other side would |
not be led away by political bias. His gallant |
friend from New York knew there was no man !
IS Porter III the Army of the West, but when |
he officers of that army received orders they |
)beyeG them. He believed his fiiends who |
fought on the other side were In that kind of |
III army; mat lney were III an army command
I'd by men who, when they received an order, |
would obey it, even 20 death.
Mr. Lym9n, In speaking In support Of the |
Dill, transformed the floor Of the House into a |
teld Of battle and argued In view Of the posi- |
ion of the forces; Porter was justified in modi-
ying the first order he received, for he did |
rot disobey it, If there was one principle in |
military law better established than another, |
{ was the r le.of instantaneous obedience. He |
lad certain notifications and these mo ifica- |
ions took place when the officers who were sub |
ordinate were out Of view Of the commander. |
But even admitting that Porter disobeyed the |
rider, such disobeyance was followed by no |
Dad consequences, deserving no more than /
'eprimand by word of mouth The famous |
,rder No. As !, of August %, was impossible IN |
Is execution, and even had II not been re-
,eved rendered 1t impossible. The court martial /
Ounded decision on one side of the evidence,
while the board OF review spsnt six months ex-
lmining not only the evidence before the |
original court but q mass Of new evidence, and |
lie hoped the gentleman would see clearly TO
Ollow the wide and magnanimous course OF /
GENERALS Schofield and Terry.
The committee rose nd the House agreea TO |
lold session tomorrow to debate only on the
fitZ John Porter bill.
Adjourned,