St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-26

unfortunate soldiers. If gentlemen thought
they were making creditable history let
them go on. For himself, while he lived
he would appeal to the nonor OF his country,
to the integrity of its people aud to the
JUSTICE OF HIS CAUSE
while he pleaded for the poor Union men /
against those of our own side who proved
treacherous to us. Mr.. Teller moved an
amendment to appoint Gen. Alfred Pleas
anton on the army retired list Mr.. Scwell
said that Gen. PleaSanton was one OF the
most meritoriouS and gallant o1hcefS of the
army. He would cheerfully vote for a bill to
restore him to the army, but the bill to re-
store Fitz John Porter was unique; it
was bill to vindicate Il man and he did not
want it loaded down with amendments. Mr..
Teller agreed with the senator from New Jer-
seY 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 Gen. Pleas
anton. The differences in the career of these
two men during the war was so distinct that
that which commended itself to those who
would vote for Porter was lacking in the
record OF PleaSantOn. He thought IL scarcely
creditable that the 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 dis
regarded the high duty imposed upon him,
who failed at the hour when his country de-
dark night, should be put upon the rolls of
the government and should live hereafter at
the expense of the nation. In MIR. Teller's
Judgment
THE MOVING CAUSE
for putting Fitz John Porter on the rolls of
the government was not to vindlcate pa
triot, but to reward q traitor. Mr.. Plumb, in
opposing the bill, said it was admitted that
Fitz John Porter did not obey orders, but it
was claimed that he had right to discbey
and that he did wisely in disobeying. Mr..
Plumb would venture to say that not man
in the senate who served the Confederacy in
arms would hesitate TO say that such SOL
dier in the Confederate army would have
been dismissed in disgrace, if not shot, for
failing to perform the obvious duty which
Porter failed to perform on the 18th and 3Oth
of August, 1852. Suppose he had received
no order. He lay within the sound of the
firing. He was cool and collected. He did
not ride forward or inquire about it. He
knew what his duty was, being there with
the best corps in the army. When Gen. Sher-
man cut loose from his base of supplies he
congratulated himself that he had an army
that could not be stampeded. and that
wherever and under whatever circum-
stances it might be put, each regiment,
brigade division and corps separated from
him would go on fighting as though it was in
connection with him and as ii 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 ard to do his full duty in order
that he might find victory? Was there moth
ing significant in the fact that every mau
who served in the Colfederacy would vote to
put Fitz John Porter on the roll of Union he
roes? We had heard lately of Jefferson Davis
at the same time that we got defamation of
Edwin NJ. Stanton. Was all this fellow
feeling for the Northern man who defeated
the Union army in battle? The reinstate-
ment of Fitz John Porter was the beginning
of an attempt to rewrite the history of the
Union army, to put that which was d1Sloyal
and unfaithful above that which was loyal
and faithful. This was our quarrel, if quar-
rel it was, and the other side ought to refrain
from voting on it. Mr.. Butler interposed to
say that he had sat all through the discus
sion without opening his mouth for or against
the bill, but he submitted that there was
boint beyond which forbearance
CEASED TO BE A VIRTUE
That point was about reached so far as he
was concerned. 1t had been intimated by in
uendo, almost by direction. that Southern
men were casting their votes to restore Fitz
John Porter to the army because he was dis
loyal to the Union. II not only protest again st
that, Mr.. President" Confined Mr.. Butler,
''but, sir, for one I denounce it as absolutely
and entirely untrue, and, sir, If it were in
another form wostld sdenouuce it as cow
ardly, because we are here in the exercise
of our constitutional rights, as senators on
this floor casting our votes as our cOnscicnees
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. are we
supposed to sit here like dumb bruteS? Called
upon to exercise constitutional duty, to
vote, and because we vote as our conscienceS
dictate, following the track of the Republic
cans who brought the question here, we are
to be oppressed and our integrity lmpugned.
I repeat sir, that if that aspersou were put
upon me in another form would denOunce it
as false and cowardly. He (Mr. Butler) had
listened for the last time without at least
protest to these constant aSperslOnS upon the
men from the South, who are. simply doing
their duty as they understand it. In conclu-
sion, Mr. Butler said: II am the last man in
the world, SIR l can inform the senator from
Kansas, who would sustain traitor to the
Union cause. 1 am the last man on this floor
who would have respect for a man who
thought
DESERTED HIS COLORS,
but, upon the evidence which l have had,
and which I have looked at, think, judi
ciously, do not believe that Fitz John Porter
was traitor and believing that shall vote
for this BILL
Mr.. Plumb knew all that before the SEN
ator got up.
Mr. Butler-Then hope the senator will
stop his insnuations.
Mr.. Plumb-The senator has not restrained
himself FROM a somewhat lively speech here.
I hope he will not feel under any restraint
elsewhere.
Mr.. Butler-I can say this to the senator,
that if he were to indulge in just such senti-
ments and expressions elsewhere as he has
here, he would be very likely to hear from me.
Mr.. Plumb-Oh. Mr.. President, we hear a
good many things in these days. There are
SIGNS AND PoRrENTs
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 question af-
fecting the honor and the good name OF one of
their own soldiers, no Confederate soldier had
any doubt upon the subject but voted, ''nem
con, that he was not guilty After some re-
marks Mr. Plumb said he had just been in
formed that the president had vetoed q bill
giving pension of $50 to the widow of Gen.
Hunter, vi no was presiding officer of the court
martial which had tried Fitz John Porter.
That seemed a fitting accompaniment for the
passage of the Fitz John Porter bill. But the
loyal people of the country would see
to it that Mrs. Hunter should not suffer.
Mr.. Blair said there were circumstances in
Mrs. Hunters case that made veto
death. Mr.. Voorhees, said he was informed
the reason for vetoing the bill was because
the case was still pending in the pension office.
Mr.. Teller thought that poor reason. Mr..
Blair said that reason did not apply, as this
$50 case was entirely out of the jurisdiction
of the pension Office. Ii, however, the presi-
dent had the excuse of ignorance, he (Mr.
Blair) thanked God he had so good an excuse
and that the excuse was no worse. Mr.. Vest
protested against g discussion founded on
nothing. There was no veto here. Mr..
Teller's amendment was voted down-yeas 10,
nays 20. Mr.. Plumb offered an amendment
to place Mrs. Hunter on the pension roll at
$50 a month. Lost yeas 10, nays "a. Mr..
Logan offered an amendment to place on the
retired list every volunteer officer who re-
ceived wounds producing total disability Re-
iected-yeas Is, nays 20. Mr.. Blair offered an
amendment providing that
REJECTED PENSION CLAIMS
may be taken to the United States court with
the privilege Of jury trial. This amendme MT,
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