St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-19
The Fitz-John Porter Bill Goes Through
the House of Representatives by a
Vote of III to 1l3.
ALI the Democrats and Several Repub
licans Cast Their Votes in Fa-
Vor Of the Measure.
Messrs. Bragg and Cutcheon Create
Scene Over the Casualty Fig
ures at Bull Run.
The Vote on the Bill in Detafl--The
Minnesota Members on the
Negative side.
The Porter Bill Passed.

UOpu. luC OppSolbiOn uStu all Oh
their time yesterday, the last hours of the
discussion were occupied to-day by friends
of Gen. Porter. and they made things lively.
First came William Walter Phelps of New
jersey with his choice language, easy con-
VerSatlonal style and soft voice. strong
and attractive speaker. He has been a
firm, unfaltering friend of Gen.
Porter since he carefully exam
ined the case some years ago and
became convinced that he had been doing
him an injustice. Mr.. Curtin of Pennsyl-
vania, who distinguished himself as the
war governor of Pennsylvania, was the
next speaker. 1t was he, with Horace
Greeley and Henry Wilson of Massachu-
sets, who first requested a rehearing of the
Porter case. Gen. Bragg of Wisconsin is
almost as small of proportions as that other
warm admirer of Gen. Porter, Gen. Wheeler
OF Alabama Bragg is essentially fighter.
and his aggreSsiveness and rough fash
ion OF speaking in language that never dis
gulSeS its meaning soon worked quite a
number of Republicans to ali uncomfortable
state of excitement. Gen. Cutcheon of
Michigan, and Mr.. Brumm of Pennsylvania,
who has the air and look of cowboy.
were the only two who actually boiled
over, and probably they wish they had
HELD THEIR TONGUES.
Maj. Steele of Indiana frequently sought
TO lnterject remark while Gen. Bragg was
speaking. and was rather roughly repelled
by Bragg but he maintained dignity and
good humOr throughout all the excitement,
which could not be said of Reed of Maine,
the most intense of partisans. Perhaps the
impetuOuS manner of Gen. Bragg was Of
fensive to the opposition, as the cool de-
Liberation with which he tore off the mask
that has covered too much of the history of
the army of the Potomac, the evident salts
faction with which he put on record the
true character of POrter'S accuSers and their
secret motives of the conspiracy to ruin
Porter, and described some of the
military incOmpetentS who comprised
the court martial and the rewards
they received for their verdict were very
effective. To the older members of con-
gress there was nothing entirely new in
what Bragg said, but, having been partici
pant in the military scenes that gave rise to
the present controversy, and being man of
deep feelings and strong and courageous in-
dividuality, he naturally put the case in
way that compelled attention from all, and
aroused the enthusiasm of POrterS friends
and the anger of his enemies.
THE REPORT IN DETAIL.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-In the house
the speaker announced that Mr.. FiDdlay
had been placed on the committee on bank
ing and currency in place of Mr.. Curtin,
resigned. The Atlantic 81 Pacific land
grant was considered without action. The
house then took up the FitZ-John Porter
bill, Mr.. Phelps and Mr.. Curtin speaking
in its favor. followed by Messrs. Bragg and
Warner on the same side Mr.. Everhart's
motion to recOmmit was lost-yeas 112
nays 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. After speaking some
time he said that the gentleman from Mich
igan (Mr. Cutcheon) had taken the report
of the second battle of Bull Run and read
the number of killed and wounded on the
29th of August for the purpose of showing
that there had been a general battle. If
the gentleman had been disposed to be in
genious. he would have stated that the
heading of these reports was Casualties
between Aug. IS and Sept. q" Mr.. Clutch
con said he had so stated in his speech.
Mr.. Bragg-You took table of figures
from heading that covered almost month,
and you have published it in your speech as
evidence of the losses on the 29th and your
Republican constituents who do not read
anything but your speech in a Republican
newspaper will think that a historical evil
dence OF the war.
Mr.. Cutcheon declared that the heading
of the table showed precisely what it was.
Mr.. Bragg declined to yield and Mr.
CutcheOn asserted his right to reply, as he
had been misQuoted.
Mr.. Bragg advancing to the bar or the
house)-l state what you said. j state what
the figures are.
''Now," exclaimed Mr.. Cutcheon (also ad-
Vancing into the space in front of the speak
er's desk), ''you are trying to ram falsehood
down the throat of the house." Applause on
he Republican side.
Il draw my own Inference as to your pur-
ooses,' cried Mr. Bragg land (dehantly) l
will repeat them if you DESIRE" Applause
IN the Democrat side.
CONFUSION REIGNs.
At this time there was a good deal of
confusion and excitement in the house, and
t was with difficulty that the voice of either
gentleman could be heard, but as the
speaker raped the house to order and
stated to Mr.. Cutcheon that he might not
interrupt Mr.. Bragg without permission,
the former Indignantly exclaimed:
Then the gentleman must not falsify
facts
'tAh," was Mr.. Bragg's retort, "I am glad
have driven that Radical from under STAN
toms petticoats so that he has come to the
'front.'
Mr.. Bragg continuing said:
would to God there was more freedom of
conscience allowed in the Republican party;
then Porter would have vastly more votes.
But as there is presidential candidate in
training Tor the grand old party" who is to
run on the Fitz-John Porter issue it will not
do for more Republicans to come over be-
cause the Black Eagle of the West might not
like it. Applause and laughter on the DEM
ocrat side and groans from the Republican
side. He was glad, he said, to hear the
groans, because 1t showed there was a little
life left in the Republicans. Groans did not
proceed from a strong body in a happV and
contented frame of mind, but from one
suffering from cramp in the bowels. He de-
manded the previous question.
MIR. CUTCHEoN
rose to a question of personal privilege.
The gentleman from Wisconsin had re-
ferred to the table printed by him in regard
TO the losses in the battle of Bull Run, and
charged him with purpose of misleading
the readers of his remarks into believing
The entire footing of the table was the
losses ON the 29th of August.
The speaker. decided inasmuch as the
gentleman from Wisconsin had intimated
that the gentleman from Michigan had not
been ingenious, that Mr.. Cutcheon was en-
titled to make personal explanation.
Mr.. Bragg stated that the reporters notes
contained a participle which he had not
used. Cries of order from the Republican
side.
Mr.. Bragg (defiantly)-I viii give you cause
for personal explanation if you will let me
speak. The gentleman stated that Fitz-John
Porter was lying two and half miles from
The head of his corps, but there is no evil
lence Of that. / will give him cause for q
personal explanation if he wants it.
The Speaker-The chair thinks that the
rentleman has right to make q statement
Is 10 what the table shows. The merits of
he bill are not to be discussed