The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-01-24
IHEFITz JOIN PoRTEa case.


fornls and New York, ROsecrans and
Sloeuml and 10 differ from them IN
regard 10 q military matter, but the
embarrassment disappeared when he
remembered that the principal ques-
ton In the case was not matter OF
military strategy, but the sitting Of
facts and laws The country had
drlfied away from the stern realities
Of the period Of war, the stronger be-
came the sway Of sympathy with the
weaker dictates OF reason. Il was
not for this House, sitting 81 an au-
gust tribunal 10 be sWsyed BY feelings
Of sympathy.
Passing on, be gave a brief outline
Of the events that lead to P0rter's dis
n1issal. Mr.. CutcheOn said POrter's
action could only be explained by bis |
hatred Of General Pope. When his |
country cried, "Fitz John Porter, this |
way, - be thought it the voice Of Pope, !
and not his country and refused 90 60. |
Ifthere ever was time when q mans
country called for him, when the des
tiny Of the Republic hung trembling
In the balance, Il was the 2Tth OF
August, 1852. II ever thers was q
time when 9 military leader had 3
need 10 feel the pulses Of his subOrdi-
nate officers beat 10 unison II was the
27th OF August, 1852, when Porter dis
Obeyed orders. Two reasons were as
signed for not doing sO-that the
night was dark and the road bad.
Porter could not march that but
StOnewall jackson marched with his
entire corps. Lee marched that night
bat this brilliant leader Of the army
could not march, because, forsOOth, Il
was dark. He went on to describe
the battle Of the 18th of August
pictured Porter lying under the trees
at Bethel Church without making an
attempt to aid his comrades In arms
because there was a little pine brush
In the way. The Bethlehemie song
seemed 20 have fallen upon POrteT's
CORDS that day Peace on eRrth'and
good will 20 the other side. During
the battle Of Aug. % where was POr-
ter? Reclining under the trees two
and one-half miles from the front.
Where was the finest corps in the
army? Gone into camp for the night.
CoWardice was no excuse, for Porter
had shown he was q brave man; ig-
norance no excuse, for he was a
trained soldier. He had not the ex-
EuHE VI nnN AAAUM NAAG " IA Va AAA1
commander, for the order was explicit.
Already clemency had been exercised
toward Fitz John Porter. His disa-
bilities had been removed he stood a
free American citizen. Mercy to him
was cruelty to thousands.
A century ago Admirable Bayne, Of
the English navy, disObeyed an order
to take his ship into action. He was
a.H 81. % a., .H.mNh To-
that disObedience, and from that day
to this no English officer ever refuses
TO take a ship into action when or
dered by his superior. Applause on
the Republican side.
WERE GENERAL GARFIELD ALIVE
this bill would not be here. II would
never receive his signature. But Gar
field Is dead. and the bill was here.
He expected il would be fought
against the Union, But in the name
OF the brave men who died on the
bloody field that August evening,
crushed by the very troops Porter
should have engaged In the name Of
their widows and orphans In the
name OF a wTOnged country, he pro-
tested against this bill. Applause on
the Republican side. He hOnOred
the gentleman from New York (SlO-
cumJ for his devotion TO a friend, but
this hour should be given to law and
justice, not 10 sympathy and tears.
except to tears for the brave men who
perished through POrter's insubOrdi-
nation. lApplause on the Republican
side
sLOCUM REPLIES.
II H. L.
tleman said IL CART ED were living
this bill would not be here. II be
will refer 10 the House report IA, sec
Ond session OF FOrty-third Congress,
he viii find James A. Garfield was
the father Of this bill. Applause on
Democratic side. Send for your re-
port. The bill was brought here by
Garfield himself, aud the official rec
Ords Of Congress show II.
Mr.. Calkins-Ths gentleman refers
to the commission.
Mr.. SlOcum-I refer to this. l say
James A. Garfield Introduced the res
olution appointing this board Ulcers.
laughter, and cries Of "Oh ." on the
Republican sidel and the board was
appointed pursuant to his desires, and
II his friends are going TO repudiate
Il, let them start and do so.
Mr.. CalkinB-The gentleman does
not aid his bill by tradueing Garfield.
Mr.. Slocum-I do not traduce him,
be demanded this Investigation to be
made.
Mr. Reed-This Is fitting adden-
dunn to the speech the gentleman
made yesterday.
In reply TO SlOcum's remarks, Mr..
Cuteheon quoted q letter from General
Garfield 30 the Hon. J. d. Cox, dated
Feb. Is, 1880, in which he stated he
was stunned by the decision Of the \
Schofield board.
sBocUN LOSES HIS TEMPER.
NJ. Slocum-I an no defender Of
James A. Garfield.
MF. Miller. Of Pennsylvania-He
does not need Il.
Mr.. SlOcum continuing, said / am
no defender OF General Grant.
Mr. CaikIns-I know that
Mr.. SlOcum-FOr the first time In
my life 1 stand on the floor to hear
Republicans attack the military repu- !
'tation Of General Grant. lshOuts of
''Oh, no." on the Republican sidel
The gentleman who has lust taken |
his seat has done Il, and Ia the most !
violent manner.
MIR. Cutcheon-NO man, living or !
dead, in this world or any other, |
holds General Grants military ability |
higher than / do.
Mr. Slocum-If I understood the /
gentlemanis language correctly it was /
an impeachment Ofeither his Integrity |
or bis military reputation. The /
point i make Is this; In the Forty |
third Congress General Garfield intro |
dueed q resolution ssking for the ap- |
pOlntment Of q board 20 investigate |
this csse, and the beard was appoint /
ed.
Mr.. Reed asserted the resolution |
was never agreed 10, and ridiculed the |
idea the court could have been ap-
pointed iR pursuance of it.
Mr.. SlOcum-GeneFaiG Garfield intro |
dueed the resolution asking that Just /
such q board be organized BY the |
President and should make q report 10 |
Congress. What ] say Is either the /
friends Of General Garfield must ae- |
eept that repors OF repudiate the |
whole thing. -
Mr.. Calkins-On the contrary he |
had Buch confidence IN his Judgment /
u The court-martlal that be had no |
idea but the commission would sus-
tain L, As q you'd be done ir properly |
constituted.
M. CUrcHFoS mn A isrrRt.n