Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-14
Forty-Sighth Conxress...First Session.
WASHINGTON, March 12.


 SENATE.-Before the mourning hour was concluded the Fitz John Porter bill was taken up and Mir. Manderson spoke against tho bill. He said he had given ths matter thorough study and declared that he opposed the bill because it was destructive of disci- pline and injurious to the well doing of our army and because he believed it eternally right so to do. There was an outburst of applause when MT. Manderson sat down. His speech was eloquently delivered and was one of the finest oratorical efforts ever heard in the Senate.
 Mir Logan followed with long argument against the bill. He said the case ought to be considered fairly and impartially accord ing to the facts and the evidence without prejudice against those who tried Porter or sympathy in favor of the man himself. 'tOn one side of the chamber" he said, i've find solid vote in favor of the bill. Without desiring to criticise the vote for making this remark: It is perfectly nat uraI that those who engage in rebellion against the government, when they fail of success and have themselves been pardoned, should without an examination of the evil dence sympathize with those who were | dismissed from the service of the United States during the year. Why? because they say i've have been forgiven and therefore | will forgive everybody else, no matter wherh- CT criminals not That sympathy, let me say, ought not to go to the violation of the great principle that underlies the very struct- ! ure of armies, their discipline and organiza l tion." The Senator then reviewed at length the military effects of the case and | the gravity of the crime of dis0bedi- | ence of orders by an officer. He | contended that Porter never intended to | obey the orders sent him by Pope. q l charge" cried the speaker, sI charge, and | defy contradiction, that Fitz John Porter ! fho nf of kho hafkl of Bull Run and refused to fight in the sec- ond." Applause in the galleries).
 ! MT. Frye, who was in the chair, rapped | sharply with the gavel and warned the audi | once to desist from applause. s'No applause | said he, t'cau be allowed in the galleries l under any circumstances, and the sergeant-a -at- | arms will be instructed to arrest any person | who hereafter indulges therein.
 MT. Logan continuing said that it was | ridiculous for Senators to defend Porter for not marchi g because it was night. T moved ten thousand men at night" hs ex | claimed. "Moved them in rain where we had to feel our way. l crossed the Misslssip- | pi river at daylight, marched p miles, fought l a battle that day and believe saved it. '' There were some signs of applause at this de- l claration. ''Take the marches at tSe wind. ing up of the war. Take the marches of Sheridan, os Crook. Take the marches of l the Fifth corps, the same corps that Porter | commanded and did not command to 1 fight at the second battle of Bull Run. That corps, after Porter was dismissed, marched for five days and nights necessarily i and fought night and day and yet the Senat- ors will excuse the man because he did not try to obey an order to march because it wss night" Mir. Logan cited famous night marches of ancient history and asked if an American soldier would admit that he could not do what foreigners had done. 'Tn the name of heaven and all that is made," he said, twill Americans claim that they cannot perform what other men can do2 If the American Senate can excuse an American officer from marching nine miles ou hard road it will do what will bring blush | to the check of every soldier. am charged with following the man. I follow no man. I have my. honest convictions and by my convictions will stand. If I was the only man in the country to defend l tha name of Lincoln, Garfield and Pope and the officers who condemned this man Porter solitary and al9ne would stand here In de fense of the right against a man who tried 1 to destroy the reputation of those men in order to build one for himself that he does not deserve. Reference has been made tc 1 General Grants letter on this case. I served with General Grant three years. I went ihtc the army almost at the same tims he did. | have known hita great many years. would not say one word that would deprive him of the great reputation he has won, but as g lawyer do not think General Grant can be stJ led first-class" The point in this lette. was that Porter was guilty if tbege was battle on the 22th o$ August. He Gogan, ccntended that there was 8 battle on thai day and quoted from the reports of con- fion.
 Mir. Seveu interrupted with the remark that he did not deny that there was fighting that day. One isolated brigade was in act Il tion.
 ''Yes " rejoined Logan, 'sand one isolated brigade commanded by Ports= did not hghi at all: There was nothing in the evidence showing that Porter gave orders to engage inht battle or a skirmish that day" After going into the details of the engagement on August 29 and pointing out the enoxnaity of Porter's ofense in Gisobeying orders Gen. eral Logan turned to the Democratic side and said ''Qf course 1t will have no eject, 1 but say to you that your action in this mat ter will prevent the people having trust in you that you would administer the affairs oi the government fairly. This means breaking down the barrier between the loyal men and those who have failed so far as the oiacer6 ol the WAT are coEceraed. 1t meaps opening the door of the retired list to men Who will fel- low in PoEtsEs wake I aEa taking the truth as the people VIII speak it to you hereafter. Let uat your feelings go that far. II | they do tell you mere years than you think will pass before l 3ou have tho confidence of the American people. My friends on this side sf She chamber (tnrning to tha RepuBlicans ssids, who supper. tba hiil afSF entitled to their
 views. do not wish you to change unless you so desire. I say you open the dGoEs oi danger if you pass this pseasure. It ia mol an act of kindness to this Eniah. It is an sci of injustice to' the loyal people an3 sa the memory of Lincoln and tAose aasociated
 with him at the t5noe. You who were friends in the hoYT of trial, you wbo stood by them I then should pot fail them Hew.'
 i MT. Oapasg wanted to amend the bill SO as l to place Porter on retired list He was too late to propose it, but said: My object was to bring disgrace on the retired list and make separate list for this class of cases. P