Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-12

oisHIaceu. MI haynes refused to sign the
verdict. He had no personal prejudices to
bias his judgment in the matter. The strong
est prejudice he had entertained had been
against Porter, but it had disappeared. When
he proceeded to examine the case he didn',
share IN the estimate of Pope entertained by
many Of Porter's friends, but he believed
that if any other of Pope's generals had been
IN Porter's place and had acted as
Porter had acted there would never
have been court martial and no Union gen
erai OF that campaign would suffered more
than 20 years stigma worse than death. II
had been Porter's disrespectful and inexcusa-
bic illusions TO Pope sthat he had singled
him out as an object of suspicion and as an
object OF revenge. Porter had been one of
the GROWERS and his punishment had been
out OF all proportion 10 his offense. HAYNES
reviewed Porter's conduct on the 29th of
Aug. and declared that there was not q pins
point upon which to hang suspicion of in
subordinstion. The republicans were ao-
pealed TO vindicate the name and memory of
Abraham Lincoln. A man would never live
who had greater reverence for that name and
memory than he. There were two names
that would pass down in history linked to-
gether as saviours of the Union. The hand
of the great civil lead had fallen from the
helm just as the ship OF state he had guided
so skillfully came sailing into port. The
captain who had led the armies had left us
only the other day. Both at one time equally
believed in the justice of Porter's sentence,
but to who opportunity had been given tor a
case proclaimed injustice of the
verdict and became an earnest cham
ion OF Porter's cause, and was bold
man who dared to impugn the military ]udg-
ment of U. 5. Grant. All knew Lincoln's
great sense of justice and humanity and
knew that In the darkest days of war he dealt
with malice towards none; with charity
towards all. Were Lincoln to speak TODAY
he would ask no man to stifle honest convic-
ton or halt in the path of Justice simply as
an endorsement of his signature to court
marital findings. If Lincoln, had been per-
mitted to live as Grant had he
(Haynes) believed Lincoln and Grant would
have stood together in the demand for JUS
tice to Fitz John Porter
Mr.. Steel, of Indiana, took the floor in op-
position to the bill, and proceeded to follow
in detail Porter's movements from the time
he left Acquia Creek Aug. 22d until he re-
ceived Popes orders on the 9th, in order to
show that Porters men were in good condi-
ton for the march in obedience to that or
uer. ne severely condemned HOrterS dlSre
gard OF the order, declaring that the order
was preemptory and it not only should but
could have been obeyed. A map of the
scene of the military operations in question
having been hung up in front of the speakers
desk, Mr.. Steele proceeded to point out with
cane the movements of various command
ers in order to settle the disputed point AS to
whether or not battle had taken place on
the 29th of August. Many of the members
formed a semi-circle about him and manifest
ed great interest as he elucidated the points
which led him to the conclusion that a severe
engagement had taken place on that date.
Prominent among his auditors was Mr.. Oates
ments under discussion, and who frequently
interrupted him with questions and sugges-
tons. After dwelling with great minuteness
of detail upon the military operations of the
Goth of August, Mr.. Steele concluded his
speech as follows ''If we have wars here
after they will be for the common country.
Let US not say by our own action that we
want any man of Mr.. Porter's kind to COM
mand when the countrys safety is in danger
Let u. say to our sons and our sons sons,
when you receive an order obey it though at
the risk of your life. Let us say to our sons,
even without an order, if you hear the call
of battle, move on to the succor Of your COM
panions, whether you like your commander
or not" [Applsuse.]
The committee then rose and the House at
4.45 adjourned.