St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-17
IN THE HOUSE.
Much of the Time Spent Discussing
FitZ-J ohm Porter.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-In the house
to-day Mr.. James of New York, from the
committee on coinage weights and meas
ures, reported adversely MIR. Bland's bill
for the free coinage of silver, and it was
placed on the calendar. Mr. Bland obtained
leave to report minority report and stated
thatsthe house would be asked to consider
the bill at the earliest opportunity. The
judiciary committee reported and the house
adopted a resolution inQuiring into the
right of the attorney general to insti-
tute suits against private corporations in the
name of the United States. Mr.. Laird re-
ported from the committee on military af-
fairs bill authorizing the president to raise
two regiments of volunteer cavalry in New
Mexico and Arizona to suppress Indian hos
tilitieS. Mr.. Riggs, from the committee on
postoffices and postroads. reported back a
bill compelling all vessels of the United
States to carry the mails to and from foreign
ports when offered to them by officers of
the United States The house then went
into committee of the whole on the Fitz-
John Porter bill Mr.. Wheeler of Alabama
favored the bill. Gen. Pope, he said, was
in ignorance of the actual situation of his
army. while Porter knew from actual con-
tact with the foes that every presumption
of his commander was erroneous, and he
was fully justified in using the discretion
inseparable from his position to preserve
his command from catastrophe. Nj.
Wheeler spoke in terms of the warmest
commentator of the action of Presidents
Lincoln and Grant and Gems. Schoield,
Terry and Getty, who, having examined the
case intellectually, had been convinced of
their error, and had Immediately sought to
do Porter Justice. In conclusion
MR. WHEELER SAID:
Do not misunderstood the attitude of my
self and other ex-Coufederate soldiers who
vote for this bill. DO not misinterpet our
interest in this case. The necessity for our
action would not exist were it not that some
of the opponents to the bill still appeal to a
character of party passion which has long
since been repudated by Republicans who
are most esteemedly their political adherents.
regret and deplore the efforts 10 degrade q
judicial question to party conflict, but we
are free from the responsibility OF the posi-
ton those gentlemen have voluntarily as
sumed, and no taunts from mistaken zeal can
drive us from plain and unquesuoned duty.
We advocate and support this bill because we
see in IL the only means TO repair cruel
wrong, TO atone for gross, though perhaps
unintentional, injustice, to relieve a gallant
soldier and honorable gentleman from a
grievous martyrdon, long and nobly endured.
AS soldiers We are bound to spare no effort TO
relieve this brave commander from unmerited
disgrace; as men we feel called upon TO do all
in our power to succor the week and suffer
ing; as gentlemen we are obliged to do
frankly and fearlessly what we conceive to
be honorable and right; as servants of the
people we must strive to secure this tardy
Justice to one who so ably served them and
as citizens of this great republic it is our duty
and our pride TO cherish and defendits honor,