New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-02-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.

w Aoh 'NuAON, ~ ". TtD. 1, 1OOf,
A long and exciting debate was
brought to close on Friday when
the House passed the bill for the
reinstatement of Fitz John Porter,
ny vote of one hundred and eigh.
ty four to seventy eight. The deep
interest felt in the debate Was
evinced by the crowds that throng.
ed the galleries. The discussion has
ranged through the histories Of all
nations and remote erxs have been
ransacktd; illustrations have been
gathered from all Wars, and mill
iary authorities have been quoted
from the annals Of antiquity to the
present time. When the House
met On Friday, preliminary bust
ness was dispensed with, and the
p'll was taken up in committee of
he Whole, the general discussion
being limited to three hours, and
forty-fve minutes. Mr.. Walford. a
union veteran, was entitled to the
floor, to finish his argument in ia.
vor Of the measure, began the Sat-
urday before. He stood in the
main aisle, and spoke in an earnest
manner, without notes Mr.. CAL
'>ins followed in opposition, read
ng his speech from manuscript,
surrounded by number Of maps,
aud assisted Ivy chart Of the Bull
Run battlefield. Mr.. Phelps next
spike effectively in favor Of Gen.
Porter, and then there W re num-
Der of short speeches in opposition.
A fter several amendments were
voted down, the committee rose,
lie bill was ordered engrossed, and
read IA third time, and Mr.. Curtin
he old war Governor of Pennsyl-
vania, closed the debate in favor of
the bill. He sand in the course Of
his remarks, that the first persons
who asked for a redress of Fiiz John
Porter's wrongs, were Horace Gree.
", Henry Wilson, and himself.
While he was giving a history Of
he Army of the Potomac, in the
beginning Of the war many mem
bers stood III circle around him
and applauded his remarks. When
he cor cluded, it was seven o'clock
P. NJ, and the bill was passed at
once. Ex-coufederate Congrssmen
voted for reinstatement, aud when
Mr.. Poland Of Vermont cast
his vote in the affirmative,
there was a round of of APP
plause On the Democratic side.
Friends of the measure think it
can soon be crowded through the
Senate, as but little opposition is
expected from that body; then, ii
he President signs the bill, possi=
bly,, the perennial theme will cease
to vex the ears, and consume the
time of the nation. The position
Of the land grant railroads was
practically attacked 10y the House
the OF; er day declaring for the first
forfeiture. l]l. Holman's sweep.
ing resolution, adopted more than
a week, tavorlng the forfeiture of
all unearned land. grants seemed a
safe measure to vote for, when
mere generalities were meant; but,
when the House realized that it was
called upon to act in earnest anita.
sonism to several great railroad
corporations, wherein Mem bers had
interests at stake, considerable ex-
element prevailed upon the floor.
When Chairman Cobb arose to re-.
port the bill FORGETTING land granted
to Mississippi, Alabama, the Louisi-
ana, and Arkansas and the Texas
Pacific railroads, Members left
their seats, crowded around HIM,
and questioned him more rapidly
than he could answer. The first
bills introduced were those which
had the clearest merits. There
could be no disputing the facts that
the roads men toned had not earn.
ed the grants declared forfeited.
Railroad members made but little
opposition, and the slight effort
made to stem the tide shows how
completely the railroad interests
have withdrawn from the House
Hobbies. During the week the
grants OF the Northern Pacific are
expected to come up for considera-
ton, and then it is thought there
will be a vigorous protest III behalf
Of the rail- Dads. AS the Senate is
more conservative than the House