The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-02-04

copy of the letter sent some weeks ago
by General Fitz John Porter 10 President
Arthur:
MoRRIs1owY, N. J., Oct "A, 1851,
To the President. Washington. D. G:
SIR most respectfully and urgently renew 10
you my OIL repeated appeal TO government To- JUS
tice.
for my RELIEF, / understand from your message
that your action was based upon Attorney Gen.
eTal brewster opinion concerning the consLisu
/ beg your attention 10 the inclOsed paper fur
nShed by Nr john g. Bullitt from the generous
pIOmptings OF his love OF justice, without my PIE
has been concuTred in by Mr.. Joseph IL. Cnoate
and Mr. Anson Naltby. also familiar with the
facts and law. 1t cOnclusivels shows, ! think
that the Attorney General has fallen into error.
! respectfully ask yOu to take up the questions
discussed by Mr. Bulliti; and, II you concur
in his views, to adopt such action III my De I
as you may deem prOOer under the circumstance
There are some constitutional and legal queS-
tons connected with the court martial which are
not touched by Mr.. Bullitt. They are fuzzy treat
ed in reviews 10y Bon Reve9dy johnson aud
Charles O'Conor ana Mr. CbOate, and are OF rec
ord in the proceedings Oi the Advisory Board SuE
for ease of reference, / append these documents
NOte-i have been unable - sectre the oocu-
ms Its except as bound n Vol. 1, OF tue prOCset.
ings of the Advisory Board, IS published 0y the
senate, without cutting. / forward IL Rl0 also
Mr.. Choates srsuuentl
In consideration OF the Grsuments contained IA
this paper ana OF my apprehension tnat she views
of Nj. johnson and Mr. OCOnOr and Mr. GnOste
lnsy not have been brought especially 10 your no
tee venture TO beg your further attention 10 Ihe
subject
Your veto message says: II have already, ia
the exercise OF the psrdOning power with wbicl
the President is vested, remitted the containing
penalty that made it iUpossibs ior Eitz Jonn
Porter TO hold an Office OF trust prOdt under the
Government OF the United States. But an uO
willing TO give my sanction 10 any legislation
which shall practically annul and set at naught
the solemn and deliberate conclusions OF "a tri-
hF-r al KFh Ia tror ~ and nj nG
President By whom It's proceedings were eXam-n
ed andiapprCved -
Permit me 10 inform you thai in August 1864
Mr. Edward Everett, Mr. Robert C.. Winthrop aud
other gentlemen siened an appeal to President
Lincoln ior a reopeninG OF my case FMS was
after Mr. Everett hal studied the record ana con.
ierred with the President for that purpose. Again
IN 1861 President Lincoln expressed his willing
ness 10 reopen the case aud bis belief that wss
the victim OF circumstances. This VIII be seen ia
Governor Gewelfs letter OF 1870 10 Governor Ran
dolph, and again in 1878 in his testimony before
the Advisory Board eppreciats your action in
annuIllng mat part o. the C0uft Aareal sentence
which made il impossible for me hold Ofiice under
the Government and have taken the liberty OF
OF explanation. know that the effect of the COO
clUsions of the tribunal 10y whico | was convicted
can not be set at nauebL The past IA iTrevOeable.
No human power can remove or mitigate the suf-
terlng un5ustly imposed upon me, and which [
have endured for more than twenty wears Ia~k
you to Gtsl with the present, not with the past,
The effect Of the sentence OF the Court Martial is
present ard continuing one. 1t continues as
j vas bled, and from which as is fully shown
by facts that have come TO light since
my trial, was wroEgiully eiec'ed-
y0p have removed that part OF the continuing
sentere % which disqualified me fOI restoration II
the army it Is in your power 20 terninste tie
furtber iorce OF mat con tinuing sentenv4 By ap-
pointing sDd NOMINATING me 10 the SENATE for
restoration 20 the army, % which | an made eli
pihle b. the action you have already voluntarily
taken The law provides jnr inst such cases As
nine snd tneTe are many preeedents, with which
nEed not trouble you iu this brief anDea The
sci of July 20. lS6S, DrOvides: NO officer ia he
army OF the United states who has been snail
hereafter be cas hiered or dismissed from the ser
vice by sentence OF general court martial form
ally approx ed by the proper authority. shall ever
be restored TO the military service except BY re-
appoint ntment. confirmed By the Senate OF the
United States"
You had objections TO the special course OF de-
ton prescribed in the vetoed bill. If you clu-
tinue TO adhere TO the views expressed in your
the general act OF 1868 Just cited, you will in TIE
exercise OF yt ur constitutional power. reappOint
anu nominate me TO = suitable vacancy which m ,y
exist or may occur IL the army? ~.
however, you believe that course mol
within your power. respectfully
ask you by special message TO refer my 10
CONGRESS, with the suggestion that the recon-
mendatiOn OF The Advisory Board be carried ont
by such action as in their wisdom shalt seem ex.
pedient and Just.
This appeal you is prompted by 8 deep sense
OF the wrong and injustice done me, aud OF my
right 10 receive the utmost measure OF yindea-
tien that can be accorded to me. 1 have made
time, In every form that seemed open 70 me, ana
now adopt this as the only one In which I can
present IL st the present time
Conscious of my innocence, and OF the justice
fully but earnestly appeal 10 you 10 take such ae
ton as can now be had tor the purpose OF restor-
ana crusily deprived Very respectfully yours
! tTTZ JOHN POPJEn-