The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-05-07
Bold Presumption.

The country Is stunned. Tho amaze
ment at the spectacle presented by the
action Of Congress in the Fitz John For
ter case has left few words at command.
The spectacle Of rewarding man for
official misconduct is striking one.
The promise of securing by the ballot
what could not be gained by the bullet
begins to be realized by the late Con-
federates. The man who could permit
his personal jealousies to jeopardize the
perpetuity of the Government is made
a public beneficiary. The enemies OF
the Government. whose participation in
public affairs is mattet OF grace, have
had the unblushing audacity to sit in
review upon the judicial proceedings in
military discipline offaithless servants Of
the Union. Ex-Confederates have been
allowed to revoke the action of a Union
court-martial. Could impropriety be
more glaringp Could assumption bo
more audaciousp Are tho people pre-
pared to accept the results which nat
urally flow from such precedent
What right had men who were engaged
in the rebellion to have any voice in re-
viewing the disciplinary proceeding
against an officer in the Union seryiceP
Why should the country accept the ver-
dict rendered on the Fitz John Porter
case, participated in by men who were
aided in their efforts TO overthrow the
Union by the misconduct for which he
was condemned, in preference to the
verdict of the lamented Lincoln and the
patriots whose heavy hearts and burst
ing brains were driven to the brink OF
despair by the consequences OF his will
full disobedience?
Had there been one spark Of shame
left in the breasts of these men they
never could have used the votes in Con-
gress given them by the grace of peo-
Die far too lenicnt for their own good,
to ol olerrule the official action OF the Por-
ter court-martial. They never could
have stood in their places in Congress
but for the c9ndoning action of the Gov
ernment they attempted to destroy, and
raise their voices in securing immunity
for the secret enemies Of the Republic.
Logan was right. His burning words
should be scared into every patriotic
heart. His eloquence was never more
powerfully or appropriately used. No
wonder the Democratic press, which op-
posed the Union during the war, write
In torture under its scathing sentences.
Let the people read them. Let them
study them well. The picture Of par
doned criminals reversing the judg-
ments Of the courts on their accessory!
What words can paint the monstrosityP
II is the picture Congress has given TO
the world in this action. Is there any
length to which such men will not go?
All that is wanted is the power, and the
threat OF Blackburn that every vestige
of war legislation shall be swept from
the statute books will be realized. Little
by little it is being accomplished. Step
by step the work Of the war is being
undone. Was it for this that the coun-
try consented TO wipe the blood from
the hands Of parricides and traitors?
Was it for this that the stains of treason
were graciously pardonedP Shall the
pardoned traitors now seize the power
to pardon all their coadjutors!without
so much as by your leave? What is to
hinder more sweeping and more hate
ful measuresp Plainly nothing can him
der It but the voice OF the people con
demning this bold assumption Of un
warranted privilege, and there should
be no uncertain sound in its tone.-BuTN
finqton Hdtokeye.