The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-07
The House Passes the Bill for the Re.
lief Of Fitz John Porter.


pensed with, the House at l2:45 p. m.
went into Committee of the whole, with
Springer, of Illinois, in the chair, on the
Fitz John Porter Bill-general debate
being limited to three hours and forty
Eve minutes.
Wolford, of Kentucky, resumed his
argument, begun last Saturday, in sup
port of the bill. BE criticised the speech
made by Horr, of Michigan, lecturing
ex.C Confederates for voting upon this bill.
That gentleman had said that ex-Con.
federates had no right to vote upon this
proposition.
Horr shook his head.
Wolford said that he was glad he mis-
understood the gentleman. He had un-
derstood him to say that as Porter's
conduct had helped the Confederates
they were interested, and had no right to
vote.
Horr explained that he had argued
that good faith should prevent them
from doing so.
Wolford was happy to hear that it mas
only a lecture on faith. The gentleman
had assumed that the ex-Confederates
were interested, and had argued that
self.respect should prevent them from
taking part in this debate. The gentle
man would have no respect for the e1.
Copfederates if, like himself, he had
been in tho front, and he would not have
attempted to scare them upon question
Of faith. He regretted that in this Con-
gress gentleman had expressed such
sentiments. He had thought that the
,, ex. Confederates were here as members of
the American Congress, with the right
and duty to vote on every question. He
hoped that no man who had served in
the Confederate army had got so mad
over the fight that after twenty years he
could not do an act of justice to the man
who had fought against him. he hoped
that no man whould get up and say, 81
can't vote on this bill am Interested
l am still! mad" He understood that
his Confederate friends were here loving
the flag and loving the country; that
they were here saying, to-day and forever,
that they had left behind chem the bitter
feelings engendered by the war and
everything that divided the country.
Were men forever to stand and quarrel
over old issues? Let Congress 60 for.
ward and say that it is ready to d. JUS.
tice to wronged and injured man.
Milliken, of Maine, inquired whether
be was to understand that the gentleman
asked members to vote fox the relief Of
Porter as an act of conciliation to his
Confederate friends. If it was asked on
that ground he would vote for his relief.
Wolford replied that he asked it on
the highest grounds ever presented: He
demanded it only as an act of justice to
long injured man. Applause on the
Democratic side, Wolford passed on to
review of the case, and was frequently
applauded by members, who collected
around him in the centre aisle, but his
remarks were at times 30 low as to be in
audible.
Calkins, of Indiana, began his argu.
ment in opposition to the bill by the
statement that he knew there was no
doubt about its passage.
William Walter Phelps, of Now Jer-
sey, (Republican), who represents the
district in which Porter lives, spoke at
length in favor of the bill. Speaking
for the one most interested he expressed
his regret that any unkind allusions to
the dead or the living had been made in
the course of this discussion. In his
long pursuit of justice, Porter himself
had never made any imputation on those
who impeded him in his pursuit, and he
must not be held responsible for any un-
kind illusions which had been made on
this floor, either by those friendly to the
bill or those who were opposed to it.
Let all those illusions be eliminated
from the debate, and let the case stand
upon its own merit. He spoke for
Porter because be was his constituent
and because it was his duty. 1t was also
his pleasure and his pride, because he
believed Porter to be an honest man and
loyal soldier. "The mills of the gods
grind slowly" 1t was twenty-one years
ago Monday of last week since the last
signature was put upon the verdict of
the military Jury which drove him out of