The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-02-12
rIrz JOBS poRrER,s ArpeAL.

Nothing could be more pathetic than
the appeals of Fitz John Porter to have
the nation do him justice and remove
from his name the ugly stigma placed
there nearly quarter of century ago.
but which the only power that could 90
so has stubbornly and maliciously re-
fused to efface. Time after time has
the heart-broken soldier asked and
pleaded for the relief that he is entitled
to but as often as he has done so he has
been cruelty snubbed. Patiently has
he borne the cross, believing that
little longer only will he have
10 wait. Denied and abused
with unwavering regularity, he
now makes another and final appeal to
Republican President to restore him
to the army by nominating him to the
Senate, or by referring his case again to
Congress. In his pathetic request he
says;
l ask you to deal with the present;
not with the past The effect of the
sentence of the court-martial is n pres
ent and continuing one. 1t continues
as long as | am kept out OF the profess
sion.in which was bred and from which
it is fully shown by facts which have
come to light since my trial was
wrongfully elected. Acting on your
own sense of duty and justice, you have
removed that part of the continuing
sentence which disqualified me from re
storation to the army. 1t is in your
power to terminate the further force of
this continuing sentence by appointing
and nominating me to the Senate for
restoration to the army, to which
l am made eligible by the action
you have already voluntarily taken.
The law provides for Just such
cases as mine and there are MANY prece-
cents with which Ineed not trouble Won
i'll this appeal. You had objections to
the special course of action prescribed in
the vetoed bill If you continue to
adhere to the views expressed in your
message may not indulge the hope
that under the general act of 1868 yoa
will, IN the exercise of 5your constitu-
tionai power, appoint and nominate me
to suitable vacancy which NAV exist
or occur in the army? If, however,
you believe that this course is not within
your ipewer, respectfully ask YOU
by special message to refer my case
to Congress, with the suggestion
that the recommendation of the
board be carried out by such
action as in their wisdom shall seem
expedient and just. This appeal to you
S prompted by a deep sense of the
Freng and injustice done me and of nv
light to receive the utmost measure of |
indication that can be accorded to me.
have made my appeal for redress con-
anually, from time to time, in every |
orm that seemed open to me, and now |
Idopt this as the only one in which / |
an present it at the present time.
conscious OF my innocence and of the
ustness and righteousness of nv case.
would respectfully but earnestly an.
zeal to you to take such action as can
oW be had for the purpose of restoring
ne TO position of which I was so I'M
lstly and cruelty deprived.
History long since indicated Gen. Por
sr, and his eountrymen to-day are
thoroughly convinced ofshis innocence.
lille the highest military authorities
f1this and other countries have de-
Jared in his favor; yet he is denied
lstice. Why? Because he is a Demo-
rat, and those to whom he must ap-
cal are Republicans. Had Fitz John
orter been a Republican the great
rong would never have been done
i'm; but had itbeen done, he would not
ave been compelled TO beg and plead
nd wait for twenty odd years for re-
eff. Among the other sins that the
epnbhcan party will have to answer ,
II is the terrible wrong that it has re-
lsed to right in the case of this brave.
yal and long-suffering soldier. Presi-
mt Arthur can do nothing in the few =
days left to him as head of /
Re nation, that will bring greater =
'nor or credit upon him as Republic
n, or upon his party, than the COM
lance with the reasonable, honest re- v
lest of Porter, who desires before a
dies that the stain upon his honor u
ID name be wiped out by the power a
at placed it there. g