, 1884-01-20
WASHINGTON.
Further Fight on the Fitz John
Porter Bill.
No Decision Effected by the
Debate.
Mississippi Appropriations APP
proved.
xLVliI. CONGRESS-.


The House,
Washington, January le.-When the
house met debate on the FitE John
Porter bill was resumed. Cutcheon, a
member of the minority of the commit
tee on military affairs, said 1t was en-
barrasslng to stand here in opposition
to the opinions of military men so dis
tinguished as the gentlemen from Cali
fornia and New York (Rosecrans and
and Slocum), and to differ with them
in regard to military matters; but the
embarrassment disappeared when it
was remembered that the principal
question in the case was not u matter
of military strategy, but Of facts and
laws. The country had drifted away
from the stern realities of q period Of
waa into a period of profound peace,
and the farther it got away from the
period Of war the stronger became the
sway of sympathy and the weaker the
dictates of reason. 1t was not for the
house, sitting as an august tribunal, to
be swayed by feelings of sympathy.
Referring to the denial in Grants
letter, he said that no one would go
farther than himself in admiration of
the great soldier, but he could not for
get the 8 years that General Grant was
in the presidential chair and Fitz John
Porter stood knocking in season and
nut nf saaaon at tho doora Of tho ub{ta
house and asking Grant ~ permit him
a new hearing. He could not forget
Grant said in 1874 that he had ex-
amined the papers and was o pre-
pared to grant the review asked. But
In 1881, when both houses of congress
were In the hands of the opposition,
when a bill was pending before congress
to re-appoint General Grant a general
in the army instead Of placing him on
the retired list, there came a burst of
sunlight from heaven like the light
which struck down Paul at Damascuc,
and at once the light broke on bis
mind and he found that for 10 years
he had been doing Fitz John Porter in
jury. applause from republican side.
His opinion OF Porter's injustice, zap
plause from republican side) is an opin-
ion without which General Grant would
not have the influence on him that he
other wise would.
He briefly outlined the events which
led to FitZ John Porter's dismissal.
He said that Porter's action could only
be explained by his Latred OF General
Pope. When his country cried "FitE
John Porter, this way!' he thought it
was the voice of Pope. and not Of his
country, and refused to go. If there
ever vas a time when a mans country
called him, when the destiny of the re-
public hung trembling in the balance.
1t was on the 9th of August, 1862. Ii
ever there was a time when a military
leader had need to feel the pulses of his
subordinate officers beat in unison, 1t
was the 9th Of August, when Porter
disobeyed his orders. Two reasons are
assigned for not doing 80: That the
night was dark and the road bad. Por-
ter could not march that night, but
Stonewall jackson marched with his
entire corps. Lee marched that night,
but this brilliant leader OF the army
could not march, because, %forsooth, 1t
was dark.
He went on to describe the battle of
the Doth of August, and pictured Por-
ter lying in under the trees at Bethel
church without making any attempt to
aid his comrades in arms, because there
was a little pine brush in the way. He
said cowardice was no excuse, for
Porter had shown that he was a brave
man. Ignorance was no excuse, for he
vas a trained soldier. He had not the
excuse Of not knowing the will Of his
commander, for the order was explicit.
Already clemency had been exercised
toward FitZ John Porter. His disabil
tiles had been removed. He stood a
free American citizen. Were General
Garfield alive this bill would not be
here. 1t would never have received his
signature. But Garfield was dead and
the bill was here. He expected II
would be passed by the aid OF the votei
of men who fought against the union
But in the name of those brave meI
who died on the bloody field that Au
gust evening, crushed by the yer!
troops Porter should have engaged; IL
the name of their widows and orphans
In the name OF their wronged country
he pleaded against the bill. lApplaus'
on the republican side.l He honoret
the gentleman from New York (Slo
cum) for his devotion to a lifelonI
friend, but this hour should be given +
law and justice, not sympathy ant
tears, except tears for the brave me
who persisted through Porter's insuoor
dination. Applause on the republica.
, side.
Slocum said there never was such a
: absurdity perpetrated by any legislativ
: body as had been enacted here-for 30
gentlemen, knowing nothing abou