The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-07-01
THE PORTER BILL PASSED.
The Senate Passes the Bill for the Relief of
FItz John Porter.

The Senate Passes the Bill for the Relief Of
FItz John Porter.
WASHINGTON, June 25.-The Fltz John
Porter bill came up In the Senate again
to-day, and Mr. Logan, who had the
floor, spoke at length In opposition to
its passage, repeating his former argu-
ments against similar bill In past Con-
crosses.
Mr.. Teller moved an amendment to
appoint General Alfred Pleasonton on
the army retired list.
Mr.. Sewell said that General PleasOn-
ton was one of the most meritOrious and
and gallant officers Of the army. He
would cheerGully vote for a bill to
restore him to the army but the bill to
restore Fitz JOhn Porter was unique In
that 1t was bill to Vindicate man aud
he did not want 1t loaded down with
amendments.
Messrs. Teller and Plumb spoke In op-
position to the bill, and the latter max
Ing some allusi0n to the support of the
measure by eX- COnfederates who are now
Senators. Mr.. Butler interpOsed to say
that be had sat during the discussion
without opening his mouth, either for
or against the bill, but he submitted
that there was point beyond which
fOrbeaTance ceased to be virtue. That
point was about reached, 80 far as he
was concerned. II had been intimated
by innuendO, almost by direction, that
Southern men were casting their votes
to restore Fitz John Porter to the army
because he was dislOyal to the Union.
Il not only protest against that, Mr..
President" continued Mr.. Butler, "but,
sir, for one, deDOunce 1t as.
absolutely and entirely aud unQuali-
fedly untrue, and, sir, If 1t were In an
other forum l would denounce 1t as
cowardly. Because we are here in the
exercise of our constitutional rights as
Senators on this floor, casting our votes
as our c0nsciences dictate, that we
should be aspersed In this way is be-
yOnd my comprehension among men
and gentlemen. | have not opened my
mouth for Fitz John Porter; | know of
no man from the South or who was In
the Confederate army who has. We
have taken the ground that 1t is not our
quarrel; but sir; are we supposed to sit
here like dumb brutes, called upon to
exercise constitutional duty to voter
And because we vote as our cOnaciences
dictate, without regard to his loyalty or
disloyslty, following the track Of the
Republicans who brought this question
here, We are to be aspersed and our in
tegrity impugned. l repeat, sir, that If
that aspersi0n were put upon me In an.
other forum would denounce it as
false and cowardly." He (Mr. Butler)
had listened for the last time without at
least q protest to these constant asper.
slons upon the men from the South who
were simply doing their duty as they
understand 1t. In conclusion Mr.. Butler
said: II am the last man In the
world, sir, can inform the Senator
from Kansas, who would sustain trail
tor TO the Union cause. am the last
man on this floor who would have re-
spect for man whom thought deserted
his cOlOTs; but upon the evidence which
| have had (snd which have looked at,
l think, judicialsy) do not believe that
Fltz John Porter was traitor; do not
believe he deserted his cOlOrs; and, be-
lieving that, shall vote for this bill"
MIR. Plumb knew all that before
the Senator got up. DC ls5SEEH
MIR. Butler-Then hope the Senator
Mr.. Plumb-The Senator has not re-
strained himself from q somewhat live
ly speech here. l hope he will not feel
under any restraint elsewhere.
Mr., Butler-I can say this to the Sena-
tor, that II he were to indulge In just
such sentiments and expressions else.
where as he has here, he would be very
likely to hear from me.
Mr.. Plumb-0h, Mr., President, we
hear a great many things in these days.
There are signs and p0rtents, and all
that sort Of thing. 1t Is just what the
Senator has said that was comment
Ing upon; that, while the men who
served in the Union army, and the
Northern people, were divided to some
extent on this question affecting the
honor, the good name, the faithf1lness
and the loyalty Of one of their own SOL
dters, no Confederate soldier had any
doubt upon the subject, but voted nem
con that he was not guilty.
A number OF amendments we're pro-
posed and rejected, whereupon Mr.. Beck
said the FitZ John Porter bill should
either be passed or voted down on its
merits and without reference to any
other proposition.
The bill was then brought to vote and
passed. Yeas 80, nays II, as follows:
Yeas .Messrs. Beck, Berry, Blackburn,
Brown, Butler, Call, Cameron, Cocker.
ell, Coke, Colquitt, George, Gibson, Cor
mon, Gray, HOar, Jones of Arkansas;
Jones of Nevada; Mcpherson, Maxey,
Mitchell of Oregon; Pugh, Ransom, Rid
dleberger, Sewell, Vance, Vest, Voor-
bees, Walthall, WhitthOrne, and Wilson
Of MarylaDd-30.
Nays-Messrs. Aldrich, Allison, Con-
ger, CullOm, Evsrts, Frye, Hale, Harri-
SOD, Hawley, Ingalls,, Logan, Mander.
son, Palmer, Sawyer, SpOoner, Teller,
and Wilson of Iowa-i7.
A number of pairs were announced.
Mr. Plumb was pair with Mr.. Morgan.
The bill already having passed the
House, and not having been amended
BY the Senate, now goes to the Presi-
lent for his signature.
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