Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-19

WARRINGTON, Feb. 1S.-At the expira-
tioh of the morning hour to-day the House
went into committee OF the whole on the
Fitz-John Porter bill.
Mr.. Phelps, of New Jersey, said he had
believed for 20 years that Gen. Porter was
traitor, and deserved 20 be hanged. That
was the popular opinion of the loyal
North, and his heart had been with it, He
had changed his opinion, and believed
that Gen. Porter was an honest man and
loyal soldier, when, as his representative,
he had been obliged to examine the evil
dence and learn the facts. In conclusion
he said: 'It is an old story. 1t is a
wearisome one to us, but to him II is the
story of life. Let us to-day, as courage
GUS friends OF justice, determine that we
will make what reparation we can, and
that we will end now and forever, so far
as this house is concerned, the etrangest
and saddest story in American history"
Mr.. Curtin, OF Pennsy lvania, earnestly
supported the bill. Gen, Porter had been
denounced as traitor. II Gen. Porter was
a traitor, he Mr.. Curtin) was traitor.
and II any one wanted TO tell him he was
a traitor let him tell it in corner. Mr..
! Curtin spoke but short time, but he was
attentively listened TO, and his crisp ro-
plies TO many interr0gatories that were
propounded to him, gave rise to a great
deal Of applause and laughter.
THE NEW EVIDENCE.
Mr.. Warner, of Ohio, expressed his be-
! lief that FitZ-John Porter mad done bis
whole duty at the battle Of the second
Bull Run, but he also believed that il the
original court martial could assemble
again and have the additional evidence
before it, it would be compelled to reverse
it's verdict For this reason he would
vote for the bill.
MIR. Bragg of Wisconsin, closed the de-
bate He stood here, he said, represent
ing the Fifth army corps, wearing on his
| breast the badge of the old Army of the
Potomac that loved Mcclellan and Porter
we'll, that fought the battles OF their
country despite Congressional interier-
! ence. They sometimes had good officers,
| sometimes officers Of medium capacity,
and sometimes bad officers, but they
fought steadily and well against the
flower Of the Confederate army led by the
ablest captains.
DANGER IN THE REAR.
Their danger had been more from the
rear than the front, for Congressional
| committees were proving through the
camp looking for Presidential favorites
and interfering with oshers. That cOndi-
tion Of things had existed up to the time
the country cried out against 1t and power
was given to Gen. Grant to command all
the army. With him at the head the
army Of the Potomac bad gore forth to vic
| tory, closed the war and saved the Union.
So had the friends Of FIz-John Porter
i pressed forward year aft% year asking
that justice be done him. !. sPartizan zeal
| and malicious personal motives had pre-
vented a fair and impartial hearing and
had made men fearful to vote in accord
ance with their judgment lest long black
mark might go down across their names
and the curse of the G. o. z. be issued
against them.
RECOMAIITTAL DEFEATED.
The Committee then rose and reported
the bill to the House. Two attempts to
recOmmit the bill with instructions failed
by vote of III to 173.
Mr.. Bragg, of Wisconsin, who had de-
manded the previous question, withdrew
the demand, and again took the floor in
support of the bill. He sharply criticized
the personnel OF the court which con-
victed Gen. Porter and its one-sided
course in the trial, and accused Gen.
Mcdowell OF falsidcatiOn in representing
the report Of Stonewall Jackson OF the
battle of Aug. 30 to apply 10 Gen. Porter's
movements Of the Goth.
CUTCHEoN CRITICISED.
Mr.. Bragg said the gentleman from
Michigan Mr.. Cutcheon had taken the
report OF the second battle of Bull Run,
and read the number Of killed ana
wounded on Aug. 80 for the purpose Of
showing that there had been a general
battle. If the gentleman had been dis
posed TO be ingenious he would have
stated that the heading OF these reports
was: Casualties between Aug. l6 and
Sept. 3"
MIR. Cutcheon declared that he had so
stated in his speech.
Mr.. Bragg-YoG took the table OF ig-
ures from heading that covered almost
a month and you have published It in
your speech as evidence OF the losses on
Aug. 20, ard your Republican cOnstitu-
ents who do not read anything but your
speech in Republican newspaper, will
| think that historical evidence OF the war.
Mr.. Cutcneon declared that the heading
of the table showed precisely what 1t was.
GROWING EXCITED.
Mr.. Bragg declined TO yield, and Mr..
Cutcheon asserted his right to reply, as
he had been misquoted.
Mr.. Bragg advancing TO the bar OF the
| HOuse)- u state what you said. ] state
what the figures are.
"NOw," exclaimed Mr.. Cuicheon, also
advancing into the space In trout Of the
/ SpeakeTs dehk, you are trying 70 ram a
| falsehood down the throat Of this House."
| Applause on the Republican side.l
II draw my own inierencel as 10 your
purpose" cried Mr.. Bragg, "and de-
| iantlyl | will repeat them If you desire.v
/ Applause on the Democratic side.
GREAT CONFUSION.
At this time there was a good deal of
confusion and excitement in the House,
and it was with difficulty tha. the voice
/ OF either gentleman could be heard, but
as the Speaker raped the House 10 order,
and stated TO Mr.. Cutcheon that be must
not interrupt Mr.. Bragg without permis.
sion, the former Indignantly exclaimed:
''Then the gentleman must not falsily
| facts"
"Ahv was Mr.. Bragg's retOTi, 81 am
glad / have driven that Radical from un-
der Stant0n's petticOats so thai he has
come 10 the 'front.'"
Mr.. Bragg continued In this vein, de-
clining 10 yield 10 interruptions, and bis
manner being at times that Of personal
defiance towards the opponents Of the bill.
A vote was finally reached and the bill
passed by III yeas 20 1l3 nays. The
House then at 6:15 O'Clock Adjourned.