National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-26

soldiers who fought IN that army. He did not
give this as parallel case but as Illustrative OF
the sentiments many persons felt in regard TO the
matter. Did the old Nag need the support Of a
man who stopped on the field OF battle within the
commander? Would BE stars in that as be any
brighter? Let oman who loved his country less
than he dislikol his commander take hold OF that
iiag. lie wondered If Porter still heard
the booming of cannon, the shout of victory
ana the struggling cheers OF dispersed iOfce
whether he still saw upon the field Of battle some
victims that his own right hand inight have
rescued. AL those things were III his Ihylorsl
vision, and he had formed an opinion that his
protection as an American citizen was not best
served by having SUCH man connected with the
army. Applause on the REPUBLICAN sidO.l
Mr. Baync, member ottno committee ON mill
tnty affairs, spoke in support Of tho bill.
committee rose informally In order 10 pcrnit the
speaker 10 appoint Messrs. Randall, HutUhiHs, ana
Calkins as conference committee 1.-THE Gteely re-
lief bill.
The committee having resumed its session Mr..
Keller spoke in opposition 10. the bill Aiter
citing the charges aud specifications upon which
Porter was tried and the sentence OF the court, he
said the house was trying in a strange aud singu-
lar way to heap condemnation on all the men
who composed the court martial for the purpose
of yindicating man who was condemned ailer
trial fairly conducted not only BY the judge
advocate general, but by Reyordy Johnson. lie
defended the members of the court, declaring
them to be the peers and, Judging from the
record, more than the peers Of the members COM
posing the board of review, and criticised the ac-
ton OF the board in admitting or rejecting eyi,
dence. Proceeding, he read the dispatches sent
by Porter to Burnside, and deduced from the Lam
guage that Porter did not intend to fight under
Pope; that he wanted to get away, aud that his
disloyalty to Pope was so great that he wanted
Gen. Mcclellan to be informed Of IL that he might
know he was right He also quoted from Nc
Clcllans letter ~ Porter appealing to him TO OBJ
serve a strict obedience to Gen. Pope's orders,
thereby showing that he knew that Porter was not
loyal 10 his commanding officer.
Mr. Maginns. Did not Gen. Mcclellan write that
letter at the request of President Lincoln at the
same time assuring tho president that no letter
Mr. Keller. Then he had a concurrence of the
immortal Lincoln that Porter was disnbcying
orders. Applause on the republican side.
Mr.. helter went on 10 specify tho orders which
were disobeyed by Porter Contending that he had
no discretion wide enough to permit him to dis
regard them. 1t seemed that Porter put such n
construction upon tue orders as to give him tho
alternative not to 20 into battle, md then took
advantage OF the alternative. lie did not believe
that congress had power to reverse any part OF the
sentence OF the court In far as the sentence was
executed 1t must stand forever Congress might
s wod he poferS i u tnU qty Sn,
forever and forever. [ApplausCl
Mr.. Ray supported the bill. lie had served in
the army as private soldier, and he thought 1t
would be safe for gentlemen, wAen they come to
consider the question, TO listen not only TO the
voices which might come from men who Wore the
shoulder straps, but to the voices which came up
from the boys who trod in the dust and marched
in the ranks. The trial of Porter took place mt 4
time when passion and prejudice influenced
exercised. II clearly appeared that the court
martial acted under erroneous impressions, ami
he contended that Portors action was su6ordi-
nate, was judcious, was loyal, and was
wise. The gentleman from Ohio [alr. Keiterl had
referred to the Mcclellan letter Ms showing that
he understood that Potter was disobedient. Here
that letter it was Mt the request of President
Lincoln, because this man, Pope. in order to ex.
cuse his own blundcrs. his own ignorance, and
his own incompetoncy, after having been guilty
of the most esreg!ous blunders that ever dsgraced
the military annals of any country, after singing
shafts of SANDER at Porter, had sought to turn
aside the responsibilities of the failure of his cam
paign. That was the verdict of history aud 1t was
the verdict Of the people of the country with very
few exceptions. lie believed that truth i'll this
case, which for nearly twenty years lay crushed to
| earth was now TO rise in triumph, while error,
wounded, would die among its worship;
been preferred against Gen. Porter until long
after the ALLEGED dsobedience of orders; an asser-
| ton which was vigorously denied 10y several re-
publican members, and rs vigorously reiterated by
Mr., Ray. lie commented upon this as showing
that the charges emenaed from prejudice and
passion. When Pope came to Washington and
filled the public mind with whisperings of false.
hood, Porter noble, true, brave, patriotic, went to
the President and implOred that there should Dt
o board OF inquiry appointed to inquire into his
conduct. While he was clamoring tor n hearing
this man Pope and his satellites were trying u
conceal their blunders, and were poisoning tue
minds of the secretary of war and 1.-The President
aud the result was that when they thought they
had sufficiently poisoned their minds; when they
tOunu tndL tn' government HHu uelermluSu 10 re-
move Gen. Mcclellan, then ana not until ther
were charges preferred and the court martha
ordered tSlt
Mr.. Miller, OF Pennsylvania, inquired what au
thority the gentleman had for saying that Pop,
poisoned the mind of the President
Mr.. Ray replied that he could prove 1t beyond
controversy from the records of the house ana
senate, and from Pope's own report. Before the
conclusion of Mr. Rays speech the committee
rose.
on motion of Mr.. Rosecrans, senate bill wa
passed providing for tho removal Of the remains
of the late Gen. y. q. Ord from Havana to Wash
The speaker laid before the house response
from the secretary Of the navy to the house reso
| luton on the subject, stating that he has ~
| kno ledge of any service rendered by any AGneri
can officers or men to the British navy at thu
| bomburdment of Alexandra Referred.
Also, letter from the postmaster general IL
response to house resolution in regard to eX
| pendtures on account of star route atrauds, anC
| requesting thenames of persons indebted 10 The
| government and OF witnesses on whom the gov
| ernment expected to rely in tho prosecution o
| such persons. Referred.
[The postmaster general informs the honse tina
an temiZed list of expenditures is being prepared
but that 1t would be detrimental to the public in
terests TO give the names of persons indebted Il
the government and the proposed witnesses.l
| The house then, ut $40 o'clock. adjourned.
The session to-day 10 he devoted TO debate Of
tho Fitz-John Porter bill. No business to be trans
acted except the reception of Il report from til
committee on agriculture.