New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-20
FITZ JOHN PORTER.
CONTINUATION OF THE HOUSE DEBATE.
xySERALs CCTCrEON AND BROWNE IN OPPOSITION
TO THE PROPOSED RESTORATION.

TO THE PROPOSED RESTORATION.
BIT TELEGRAPH TO THO rRIBUFE-l
WASHINGTON. Jan. 1870 great is the interest
in the Fitz John Porter BILL that despite the TACT
that to-days session of the House was for debate
only and the knowledge that a large majority of
+Le democratic members would be absent, the
Galleries were comfortably filed all day with
enditors. There was also a fair attendance of
Republican Representatives, who listened at
tertiyeIy 10 the discussion. General Cutcheon,
az Michigan a new member, who served
as colonel of the Goth Michigan Infantry in the
Army of the Potomac. through the entire war, at
the close of which he made a brevet Brigadier-
General for conspicuous gallautry" was the first
sneaker He spoke with great earnestness and elo-
ouence. which elected frequent rounds of hearty
APPLAUSE. He believed that Fitz John Porter was
entity of gross disObedience and was dlsoyal to his
commander. at time when such dlslOyalty was
equivalent to being traitor to his country. Cen
eral CutcheOn's review of the testimony was care
full and mastery, and his description of the man
ouvres of Pope, Jackson and LOngstreet and OF the
+ardy. reluctant movements of Porter, clear and
cranhir He bore hard on General Grant, who, he
said during the years of his Presidency could not
be convinced that Porter had been wrOnged, and re-
fused TO take any step ID his behalf until three
wears ago, when. the Democrats being in power IN
Congress, before which bin was pending TO place
his own name on there iired list. new hight
suddenly dawned on General Grant and his CONVEX
sion was as sudden as that of Saul on the ROAD 10
Damascus.
If Garfield had lived, Colonel Cutcheon said, this
hill won a not be here to-day. He was interrupted
bv General Slocum with the novel assertion that
General Garfield himself was the author OF the
measure for PorteT's Telief-a statement the accu-
racy of which General SlOcum was unable to MAUI
tain Colonel Greenleaf, OF NeW-lork, VINO loi-
lowed General CutcheOn, and spoke III favor
of the BILL is also new member. lie
was an officer in the Union Army and served
AS colonel of a Massachusetts, regiment
uDder Banks in Louisiana. His speech was not an
effective reply TO that of the Michigan Representa-
tive. who knew his ground thoroughly
General Tom Browne, of Indiana, who COM
rnauded the Seventh Indiana Cavalry during the
war. at the end of which he received a commission
Az Brigadier- General by brcvet made strong
speech against the bill. He devoted good deal OF
attention to the conduct of Porter on August %,
1862 when the corps lay all day idle IN the
face of the enemy while a battle was raging
almost within gunshOt on his right between the
main body Of the Union army and the force under
Jackson. General Brown grouped independent teS-
timony. showing that when Porter halted less than
three miles from Gainesville, which he had been di-
rected TO occupy as speedily practicable, Long
street had not reached that place and dd not
arrive on the field until three or four hours latter
This part of the speech was most distastetul to
General Rosecrans who sat across the aisle and
frequently interrupted the lndianan.
The next speech, and the first one during the DIS
cuSsion by man who was not a soldier, was by the
youthfu McAdoo. Of Ncw-Jersey. He is a ready
and rather graceful speaker and, not being ham
pered by great burden of facts he was able to
uphold the honor of his State with appearance
OF ease which must have excited the envy OF some
Of the gray-haIred veterans of the war VINO had
preceded him. =,
Judge TAYLOR, of Ohio. who comes from the dis
trict which was represented by Garfield Tor 50
many wears. made a vigorous speech against the
bill. Judge Taylor enjoys high reputation as
LAWYER. aud Is a forcible debater. Although he
smoke at a late hour IN the afternoon, ms remarks
held the close attention of those present, ana ne
presented some facts ID new and interesting lght
Even the advocates of he bill Will probably ac-
knowledge that thus far its opponents
have had the best of the discussion.
Among those who listened attcnteyly to the debate
TODAY was General Arson &. McCOoh, who while a
member of the Military Committee OF the House
sturdy opposed every effort for the restoration OF
Porter A great many more members have Indl-
Gated desire 10 speak on the 6i /, ana IL seems
likely that several successive Fridays Will be re-
ouired to complete the discussion. After general
debate is closed number Of amendments to the bill
will be offered aud discussed under the hye-mlnute
rule One Of them, il Is understood Will be prop
ositlOn 10 strike ont the name OF tlZ John l'oTter
and insert that of a gallant and faithful OnlOm
general, "WhO shot all 10 pieces IN the var,
but who still survives and derives prccaTIOus
support from the small pension allowed him.