New-York tribune., 1884-02-02
THE PORTER BILL PASSED.
A MAJORITY OF 1oe FOR THE MEASURE.
A SPEECH ny MR. PHgLPs-rHE DEBATE CLOSED
EY EX-GOVERNOR CURTIN.

n IL
By EX-GOVERNOR CURTIN.
WASHINGTON, Feb 1.-The House went INTO
o1nmittce Of the Whole at 12:l5 p. m. to-day tMr
Fucer OF Illinois In the chair the F1tZ John foir
OH, general debate being limited to three hours andiof
i've minutes.
Mr. wocford, OF Kentucky resumed his argument DO
gun last Saturday IN support of tho bL Inc rep" Vi
the minority Of the Committee ON military Ansis hau a
tamntcd 10 bete Porer's services on August 30 Wny
yos the gallant who had led his corps upon tat cay
rs n haa never been led beorewho had led IL with zea
bravery and Gsyotion-singed out and have no honor
conferrc upon him for his gallant conduct He Thought
he could demonstrate proposition that Porter was en-
titled TO s much credit the 21h 2sth ana 29h as ne
was OF nj prs yios tno in his life. or he was on the
3Oth lie criticised tho speech made by Mr. Horr OF
Mcbrnn lccturing the oxConfcdcrates for voting
this b That gentleman had said that the eIConeder-
ate, had 10 righ, to vote upon this proposition.
Mr. Horr shook hls head.
Mr. wooi;ord said that he glad he misunderstood
mr Hcrf explained that good faith should prevent
Mr.. Wo5lford was happy to bear that 1t was only
lecture on faith lie had thought that the Confederaes
were members Of the American Congress vita the
right and day To vote on every lie hoped tna
80 mad over the Aght that after twenty years ne con
not do sn Sc, c 9sSe TO s s snd %ho % d'n mn and say
can't this bill am interested ani sun so or.
He understood that his exConiedeIale iileh nus, "bay
here loving the flag and loving thc % Scv had eit
were here saying to-day aid forever thsl my , % Gov
thot divided the country forever
20 stand and quarrel over Old ISSUES, iea ~ nI
forward and say that II is ready TO do justice 10 "rohseu
sna me- in"IIfi rTihtcn I.S Of Maine inquired whether
Ssu ne was asked |" members to vote for the relief
Of Fiz John Porter as act oi eohchsoh % a 10 s b
% w,scd renlied that he asked on the chest grounds
M. IIe dnmauded n onlg as an act OF iustce.
and hc proposed demonstrate that il was an act OF
ssde Mr. Woiord passed on TO review Of the and
about him in the centre aisle, but MS remarks "eIo ~
times low as 10 be uaudiblc.
ME-. CAIKINss OBJECTIONS TO THE MEASURE.
Mr Cakins. of Indiana began his argument IN oppos
ton to Til by statement that he knew there was no
doubt about passage The book was tn be opened where
the page turned down twenty years ago But those
who were opposed TO that action would not adopt the
means which they believed General Porter used on tie
27th and 2gn OfAugus and refuse 10 fire shot at tue enc
conduct of the brave soldiers, sailors aud marines on
board Cumberland when sne was swept lore ana at
and was sinking They fired their guns at the enemy,
manned the yardarms and gave three cheerS I9 1ne
country Applause ON the RepnOhcan sael L ino9g nos
they would go down ealsnty Passing on TO review "a
the he addressed himself more especially TO tne
order requiring Porter to move on 10 MAKE M @
between Reynolds and Popeand cOntrasted tle con
duct of Porter and Longstree Porter was no 9oT @ hS
said but he lost sight Of his country III MS @ naGa op
Pope. Applause on the Republican SIDE Inc iIouse @
asked to write where james @ orSs a. not u to
march TO the sacred dust Of Abraham Lucoln the ah
wrote "Approved' write the word " Reversed" The
House men write these words if It desired. hut the
people would reverse its writing and spit upon II snd
spnrn ii. Applause on tue Republican side
A SPEECH BY WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS.
Mr.. William Walter Phelps. of New-Jersey, then took
che floor and addressed the House 10 support OF the Dill
He said:
epeaInc for the one most Interested express his deep
regret for the unkind illusions to the living the dead
which have been made IN the heat OF thls n M
.lnftc
reflection upon those who have lnpeded MN III thc P'
s,si"n.. @ whether made by those Who are friendly
those who arc unfrtcndly 10 the bill Aud may not as
sumo that II those who had made then hau ne moor
they too would express their regret; the gentleman
from Now York Sloenm who has charge OF the D-that
lie reflected W0n tho great war Minister whose great
faults history Will pardon for his greater aehieNemenis;
the eenien from ndiania sicclc that IN his surprise
vt finding that general on lEe Doaf9 Oh eAna,,od
viewed the evidence differently from him he lntlnateu
that he locked ut the eydenee %n a eye heo oh e
that checked the course OF his strong argument 10 IN
reinstaed; my colleague from Ncw-Jersey (McAdOOl.
young Rupcrt IN debate TINT he suggested ndt CON
srsl universal condition OF sanity Ana my n9gn &
20 recall oil tho iluStrious that have been I'M
necessarily dragged INTO th. debate Could thcy a DC
eliminated il better And this case could stand or
fall on its own merits IL my duty TO speak to-day for
Ftz John Porter beoause nc Is my constituent Is M
the sane time pleasure aud an honor because he is my
friend and believe him TO h" honest man and loyal
soldier "Thc mills of the gods grind slowly Ill his case
PORTER MADE SACRIFICE.
Ii VIA, twenty years last week Monday since the last
signature put TO the verdict OF military jury which
drove him ont Of the army, and made him leper whom
lis Government should touch with an Office of
trust or profit This verdict awarded HIN such nfamy
that for awhile Iscaiiot and Arnold were his only com
petitors. 4 laundering department furnished 10 an
anxious President, bahied army and an indignant
people this sacrifices and fifteen millions strainng unto
death 10 save their country in hour of supreme de-
spcndoncy and gloom found momentary d relief In
oursing be name of Porter Who was this sacrifice
One whose ancestry deserved wcll OF the Republic one
who ns boy OF gentle heart and ways learned In the
National Academy 10 hold stain upon MS honOr as "a
wound and 10 conceive all honor as sphered III loyalty 10
lis oeuutry; Que who. youth. stood as the most
chivarous and accomplished officer IN q guild whose
oath no greater force than his formal declarations one
who in manhood won wounds aud glory IN me neld ana
from Michigan, stood the consninnate hover OF
the Amee@n Srmy and III SS SS was ha wf I AZ into
storm of obloquy and reproach as traitor 10 MS oon
try What can he do His fate Is worse than ArnOds
or Judass Arnold. hatng his country fed from It, and
received the rewards Of reason but Porter loves his
country aud has no thought except OF loyal service
Jndas went out and died Observation-Disclosures but Por
ters consoenco Is clear and remorse refuses 10 eau MN
ought and only honest man can de- ne takes up his
burden and bears H. lie VIII i've and LILY I'VE I'D down MS
for redress. He withdrew TO the quiet OF NewJerscy
village aud established his home There ne l3tniHy
discharged ali his duties neither seeking nor stunning
observation. He was good husband good iether q
good neghbor citizen and friend That little village for
twenR years has watched. honored and loved the man
They have seen his eye grow Shd anu NJ nir srpw
white With hope 0coffc'l uo never VI hlS
grievance nor asked for pity He was fulfilling SEN
tenee which. for such man. Edward Everett truly SAID
was in respects than sentence OF DEATH
lhis was his home life. Ills life abroad was constant
struggle regain his good name That was his mission
end he prosecuted IL without pause or rest. On every
proper occasion In every proper place. he declared his
jnuocence offered his evidence. and asked for eXamna-
ton. IIc began when,Sn the Sd day Of September,
1867 immediately after the battle OF Manassas he re-
pairoa 10 washington and domandod court OF inquiry
Lincoln granted t the 9th OF September and here Is
order bat neither Porter nor the world knew It until
sixtoen Years afterwar The court met tnree or -four
and then adjourned indehnitely by or Ter OF
General Halleck Stanton gave no long rope TO MS
courts when the people and the accused knew of them
lie gave shorter Tope when the people and the accused
knew nothing OF them. IN this case he acted wisely.
The War Department might hereafter need court OF
ainorcRt sort IL did and he furnished 1t months after
ward This the first oct OF Porters mission and We