The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-26

so, II men wanted to be paid nOerally Dy the
| United States they had only to be treacherous
when they should be true. If you are true
when you might be treacherous you are vetoed;
that" said Mr. Logan, rs strange thing to take
place in this country" While Republicans we're
doing what be had stated, the other side came
forward to put their foot the claims OF poor
| penniess and unfortunate soldiers. If gentle
men thought they were making credltable MS
| tory, let them go For himself, while he lived
he would appeal to the honor of his country, to
the integrity of its people and TO the justice OF
| his cause, while he pleaded for the poor Union
men against those of own side who proved
| treaeherous to US at time when we trusted
| them to protect our government
| Mr.. Teller moved amendment to appoint
Gen. Alfred Pleasonton on the army retired list.
| Mr.. Sewell said that General Peasanton was
| one of the most meritoriops and gallant officers
| In the army. He would cheerfuuy vote for
| 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, and he dld not
want it loaded down with any amendments.
| Mr. Teller agreed with the Senator from New
| Jersey, that the Porter bill was unique, and he
| did not suppose that the gentlemen who were SO
| much interested in vindicating Mr.. Porter would
see any great virtue in General Pleasanton
| The difference in the careers of these two men
| during the war was so distinct that that which
| commanded itself to those who would vote for
| Porter was lacking IN the record OF Pleasanton.
He thought it scarcely credita5e that man
| who had served his country in every capacity
with zeal, fidelity and intelligence should be left,
| in his old age, to want and distress, while the
man who dsregarded the high duty imposed
| upon him; who failed at the hour when his
| country demanded his services, on the paltry
| excuse of dark night, should be put upon the
! rolls of the government and should live here
! after at the expense of the Nation. In Mr..
| Teller's judgment, the cause for putting Fltz
John Porter on the rolls of the government was
! not to vindicate a patriot, but to reward a
| traitor.
| Mr. Plumb, in opposing the bill, said that it
| was admitted that Fitz John Porter did not obey
| orders but it was claimed that he had right to
| disobey and that he did wisely in disobeylng.
| Mr.. Plumb would venture to say that not man
| in the Senate who served the confederacy In
arms would hesitate to say that such soldier In
| the confederate army would have been dis
missed in disgrace, if not shot for failing to per-
form the obvious duty which Porter failed to
perform on the Goth and Both OF August. 1862.
Suppose he had received order. He lay with
in the sound Of the firing He was cool and col
lected. He did not ride forward or send to in
quire about it. He knew what his duty was be-
ing there with the best corps in the army. When
General Sherman cut loose from his base of sup
plies, he congratulated himself that he
had an army that could not be stampeded, and
that wherever and under whatever circumstances
it might be put, each regiment. brigade, division
| and corps separated. from him would go on fight
ing as Though it was in connection with him, and
as if receiving his orders and commands. Who
of that army of men that marched TO the sea
ever failed as FitZ John Porter failed, to find
the fighting by the firing, and to do his full duty
in order that he might find vctory2 Was there
nothing significant in the fact that every man
who served in the Confederacy would vote to
put Fitz John Porter the roll of Union heroes?
We had heard lately of an apotheosis of jeff
Davis at the same time that we got defamation
of Edwin M. Stanton. Was there beneath all
this fellow feeling for the Northern man who
defeated the Union army in battlel The rein
Tohn
ming of an attempt to rewrite the history of the
Union army, and to put that which was dis
loyal and unfaithful above that which was loyal
and faithful. This was quarrel if quarrel
it was, and the other side ought to refrain from
voting on it.
Mr.. Butler nterposed to say that he had sat
during this discussion without opening his mouth,
either for or against the bill, but he submitted
that there was a point beyond which forbear-
ance ceased to be virtue. That point was about
reached, so far he concerned. 1t 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 disloyal to the Union. II not only pro-
test against that, Mr. President" continued Mr..
Butler but sir, for one. denounce it as alb
solutely, and entirely and unqualifedly untrue;
and, sir. if it we're in another forum, would de-
nounce it as cowardly. Because we are here IN
the exercise of our constitutional rights as SEN
ators on this floor, casting our votes as our con-
| sciences dictate, that we should be aspersed in
| this way is beyond 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 it is not our
quarrel; but, sir we supposed to sit here like
| dumb brutes, called upon to exercise constltu-
tional duty to vote, and because we vote as our
conscience dictates, leaving to God his loyalty
or disloyalty, following the track of the Republic
ans who brought this question here, we are 80
be aspersed and our integrity impugned. l re-
peat, sir, that If the asperson were put upon me
in another forum. l would denounce it as false and
| cowardy" He Mr.. Butler had listened for the
last time, without at least protest. to these
constant aspersions 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 a traitor to the Union cause. l am the
last man on this floor who would have respect
for man who thought deserted his colors. but
upon the evidence which have had-and which
| have looked at, 1 think, judcially-I do not
believe that Fitz John Porter was traitor; do
not believe he deserted his colors; and, believing
that, shall vote for this bill"
| Mr. Plumb knew all that before the Sena-
| tor got up.
Mr.. Butler-Thep hope the Senator will stop
| his lnsinuations.
Mr. Plumb-The Senator has not rest, aimed
| himself from a somewhat lively speech here;
| nope ne Will not feel unO6f any foStfatub olS0-
| where.
| Mr.. Butler-1 can say this to the Senator. that
| If he were to indulge in just such sentiments
| and expressions elsewhere as he has here, he
| would be very likely to hear from me-
| Mr.. Plumb-Oh, Mr.. President we hear a
| great many things in these days There are
signs, and portents, and all that sort of thing.
| 1t is just what the Senator has said that was
| commenting upon; that, while the men who
served in the Union army and the Northern
people were divided to some extent on this ques-
| ton affecting the honor, the good name, the
faithfuness and the 10y atty of their own soldiers,
| no confederate soldier had any doubt upon the
| subject, but voted mem that he was not
| guilty.
| After some further remarks, Mr.. Plumb said
| he had just been informed that the President
| had vetoed bill giving pension of $50 a month
| to the widow Of Majorgenera Hunter. VINO had
| been presiding officer of the court-martial that