The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-15
F1rz JOHN PoRrER,s CASE.
Impressions of the Speech Made in the
House by Hon. w. II. Callxins.


House by Hon. w. II. Callkins.
J. NJ. ScOvel, in Newark IN. j. Courier.
The greatest speech made in the House was
made by the Hon. Mr. Calkins, of Indiana who
| took the place of Schuyler Colfax, and now rep
| resents that district in Congress. General Cal
kins brigadier, and while he loves his old
commander he boldly uttered his dissent to the
views of that great general which acquired
so many years after he went out of power; when
a stroke of his pen might have corrected injus-
tice to ritz John Porter, if he had, when Presi
dent, believed injustice had been done that scion
of West Point.
The Republican side of the House expected
great things of Calkins who is stalwart in
presence in oratory and in personal bearing.
Nor were they disappointed. Calkins has the
air and manner of an orator. And beyond that
he is a soldier who had in the field and now has,
in the forum of high debate, the courage of a
bold brave man aggressive for the truth. He
began his argument in opposition to the bill by
statement that he knew there was no doubt
about its passage. The book was to be opened
where the page was turned down twenty years
ago. But those who were opposed to that action
would not adopt the means which they believed
General Porter used the 9th
and 29th of August, and refuse
to fire a shot at the enemy; but,
the contrary, would adopt that more gallant
conduct of the brave soldiers sailors and mar
ines on board the Cumberland when she was
swept fore and aft and was sinking They fred
their guns at the enemy manned the yards and
gave three cheers for the country
Mr. Calkins hurled back. the accusation of
General Slocum that there had been a conspira
cy between Hallock Lincoln and Stanton
against Fitz John Porter, and explained that
even General Sherman had been magnanimous
enough to do justice to the great war minister
Stantons name and fame. He then detailed
Fitz Porters disobedience to the 4:30 o'clock
der when he heard the guns of Longstreets
force carrying slaughter to Popes army,
while Fitz John Porter could only find
time to march six miles in two days! Was he
afraid to fight! CalkinS paid splendid tribute
to Grant and said: II love and honor my old
commander. but when that brave soldier came
out in favor of the bill | will only say here and
now, none of his officers ever dared disobey
like order of his"
Calkins made a telling point when he said that
while there was only sixty four Union soldiers in
the House of Congress there were seventy four
confederate soldiers to whom he spoke. What
nobler compliment could better express the for
giveness, the generosity toward fallen foe of
+ hest government on earth, And he made a
be.oer point still when the eloquent congress
man, looking straight into the eyes of the con-
federate brgadiers near him, said land he meant
Eyes! And 1 here declare the day will come
when this nation will separate the cause from
the soldier who fought for it. and will cherish
forever the deathless gallantry of even those
who fought against our flag.
Mr. Calkins replied with caustic wit to the
sheer at the go, 900 members of the Grand Army
of the Republic, who might yet go marching
through Georgia" i'll the coming campaign.
But his peroration was strong and magnificent
when he pictured Porter's adherents asking the
country to write mot guilty" where Garfield had
written guilty" and even sought to march to the
sacred dust of Abraham Lincoln. the man who
saved the country from destruction and where
he wrote approved" they now sought to write
the word reversed" This house might write
these words, but the people of this country would
reverse its writing-they would spit upon it and
spurn it. 1t is the heart that makes the soldier;
and Calkins manly and effective eloquence car
ried all hearts with him, and even the gallery APP
pauded some passages that touched the deepest
feelings of the heart OF his vast audience.
l rose to go, wiping my eyes; for though not
used to the melting mood particularly in Con-
gress thinking with Francesca: Il would read
hear no more that day"
A great rawboned Southern loyalist said
stranger, that's noble speech; who might that
man be}"
l told him, and replied l knew him out in Indi
ana.
He said: ''You couldn't make half as good a
speech.
| replied ''You put me in Congress- and give
me as good subject, and you will see if | cant.
An interesting young lady sat beside me- and
said to her father
'If Fitz John Porter was guilty, why don't
they let him rest"
The good old man replied softly "My daughter,
the Democrats now on top in this House,
and you know they never let anything rest"
/ concluded the old man, when 'horse sense
was given out, must have got good share.