Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-19
FORTY-BIGHTn CONGRESS.
First Session.
SENATE.


The chair laid before the Senate message
from the President transmitting for the con-
eideration of Congress communications from
the secretary of war and the navy on the
subject of . relief expedition for Lieut..
Greedy and his party, and recommending I'M
mediate action, as the situation of the party
must be perilous; also q correspondence re-
lating to the excursion of the Chinese exclu-
sion act a. asked for by the Senate in res
olution of the It'll inst.
Mr.. Miller of California, from the commit
tee on foreign relations, reported bill re-
laring to the execution of the supplemental
commercial treaty of Nov, 1880, between
the United States and China, concerning the
opium trade; placed ON the calendar.
The Senate went into executive session
and Afterwards adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Slocum of New York, asked unsni-
nous consent that tomorrow's session be set
apart for debate only on the Fitz John Por-
ter case.
Mr.. Reed of Maine, objected.
Mr.. Brumm of Pennsylvania offered res
olution which was referred to the committee
on foreign affairs, instructinE that committee
to make inquiries as to whether any foreign
minister accredited to the United States has
endeavored to nulify the effects of the unan-
imous resolution of this House by represen-
tations rejecting on the honor and integrity
of its members.
Mr.. Slocum of New York moved to dis
pense with the morning hour, and though
there was general opposition on the repub-
lican side, the motion secured the requisite
two-thirds vote.
The House then at 12l5 went into COM
mittee of the whole on the private calendar,
the first bill being that for the relief of Fitz
John Porter.
After the majority and minority reports
of the committee were read, Mr.. Slocum pro-
ceeded to speak in favor of the bill. He
drew picture of the excitement which eX-
listed at Porter's trial, and without casting
aspersion on the court, declared the result
vas foregone conclusion. For 20 years
that man has suffered as even the worst Grim
inal seldom suffers, but today, Fitz John
Porter, no matter what the action of Con-
gress may be, stands before the world fully
indicated. The same man who had ruined
Porter had struck deadly blow at Sherman
and he had seen at the review of the Union
army Gen. Sheridan refuse his hand
to the secretary of war because he had
attempted to throw disgrace upon him. 1t
was his (Slocum's) firm belief that had not
the war closed as it did, Shermans name
would have been placed side by side with
that Of Porter.
Mr.. Steele of Indiana, defended the per-
sonnet of the court martial. asserting that it
was satisfactory to Reverdy johnson, Por-
ter's counsel, who admitted that Porter had
fair trial. He gave history of the orders
of the 9th and 29th of AuguFA which he de-
clared Porter had utterly failed to obey.
Porter did not dsobey orders because he was
afraid, but because he loved Mcclellan
more than he did the country.
MIR. Maginnis of Mont, inquired why if
Gen, Mcdowell wanted to fight, he did nos
do so.
Both of these men spoke in an excite
manner and several other members Jumped
| to their feet and caused great confusion in
the committee tor some moment and drow ned
the voices of the debaters.
| Continuing, Mr.. Steele said he did not
wish to reflect on the men who composed the
board of review, but Senator Randolph had
obtained list of names of persons selected,
sent it to Willard's Hotel and submitted it to
the gentlemen to know whether it was salts
factory or not. Gen. Schofield would have
Fixed to have got the nomination for Presi-
dent and Randolph carried Pennsylvania and
New Jersey in his breeches pocket.
| Mr.. Rosecrans inquired what the man had
said.
Mr.. Steele-I say his friends understood,
and the gentleman himself understood that
| Schofield would like to be tickled with the
, nomination.
Mr. Rosecrans-I understood no such
the thing.
Mr.. Steele. continuing, said that the board
found that POpe's army would hsye been an
initiated if the $4,000 men of Porter's had
gone into the fight. Such reasoning, that to
increase the army by the addition of the best
corps was to canse its extinction, was absurd.
During the trial, men who were now officers
of this House, had heard Porter say after
McDowelrs testimony ''they accuse me of
not being loyal TO Pope, well / was not -
We hoped gentlemen on the other side would
not be led by political bias.
| Mr.. Lyman of Mass, also supported the
bill.
The committee then rose and the House
agreed to hold session tomorrow for debate
only on the Fitz John Porter bill
a.