New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-17
THE FIrz JOHN PORTER DISCUSSION.

SPEECHES BY REPRESENTATIVES, WHEELER AND
cU1CHroN-AN EVENING SESSION
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Alr. Wheeler, or
Alabama speaking In support OF the fltI John fo''
bill in the House to-day, said that when tue last NoN
adjourned 1t seemed tina: the members were lhorouH'
informed regarding the eventful campaign oi husu'
1862 Not they alone. but the reading pubic Ia" pc
come familiar with these historical Since that
time much official correspondence. orders reports etc.,
relating to the campaign hal been published oy tue Wv
eminent and every fact developed added suens'n
TO the almost universal conviction that inc sentence
of the court-maral by which Major General Flu Johh
Porter was dismissed from the Army was ono OF those
atrocities at long intervals disgrace the recorus o
even the most honorable and chivaric nations lie heh
proceeded to give a detailed history OF tho military
operations IN Virginia during the summer Oh ioo-
and referred TO the part Porter pi"you III
the battles OF Mechanicsvllle, Chlckahominy'
Savage Station, Peach Orchard and Malvern HILL
I'm conclusion Mr. Wheeler said 20 DO not misun der
stand the attitude Of myself and other exConfederate
soldiers who vote for this BILL do not misinterpre1 our
interest IN Tue necessity for our action "ou
not exist not that OF tho opponents 10 tue
bill still appeal character of party passion "nch
has long since been repudated by Republicans VINO are
most esteemed by their political adherents lreget anu
deplore the efforts to degrade judicial question 10
a party conflict, but We are free from the Responsibility
Of the position those gentlemen have voluntarily as
sumed, and taunts from mistaken zealOh can u''o
u.f from n plain aud unQuestioDed duty. we HlNocsto
and rport this because SEQ In lit only means
IN ren,ir a cruel wrong to atone for though per
haps to relieve gallant soldier
and honorable gentleman from q grieVous msrtyruon,
long and nobly endured
Mr. Cutcheon OF Michigan in his speech in opposition
10 the bill said Ftz John Porter had been patiently
and mpartiay tried by general court-martia ana hau
every opportunity for defence He had been convicted
OF three explicit orders an OF three sep
arate specifications of misbehayor In the race OF tue
enemy and had sentenced TO be dismissed from the
Army; the sentence had been approved and executed
This bill WAS a legislative declaration of innorence
Porter was to rewarded aud put back at the head OF
the list OF coonels 1t was open question
whether the bill, as II STOOD would not
also give him pay from the cato OF dismissal
Mr. CutcheoD qdOted from PorteTs dispatches u Burn
side orcisng Popes tactics. TO show the animus whch
he bore against his superior officer lie also quoeu
from the evidence OF a gentlemen who had hearu
Porter say on the evening OF August %. that he would
not put his corps battle for such blank Tool as
Pope.
Mr. Bragg Of Wisconsin. inquired whether tho man
Paxton who had heard this wonderful thing had not ne
scrbrd the man who bad said ~ wearing the uniform
ola majorgcu-ral. while Porter at that tmc' ala not
wear such UNIFORM. - ....,,.,,., En- apswer
Mr.. CutchrOn-I VIII allow the gentleman 10 answer
tie question In his own time ,., -, ,h
Nj Cutcheon thea passed on to discussion OF tne
the action OF Goth in order TO show that genera
eagement had tason place o, th"' "Hy order w1.I
Potter In di'oDfdi' H.sn,ebcm Church two and
"ns-haif mile. from che head OF hts corps In
conclu-ion Mr.. Cutcheon said The argument anoSt
n the die is cast; the tale Is almost told the decree
Of the highest military tribunal ever assembled on tnls
continent and K-cute order OF the martyr frrsdeht
are about to he spongcd Out apprehend' judging the
future by past that neither argument nor evidence
can change the result Though Hruier ana hitchcock
and fairfield and Lincoln % come forth from thelr
charnrl houses an again declare him guilty am PER
shaded would change vote ON the other sue OF the
House They not the names you con)hre Win nohgh
the thousand slain who fell by reason OF Port RS
bind prculce ms unaithfulness To Ia. country trust
and hi characterization TO his superlOrs thht the gov
eminent had placed over him. were to come iorth IRON
their resting place yondrr heights OF Arlington ana
nm In ghu.y PROCESSION before yOu aud win the stony
I'M. OF Death pronounce hun guilty Of their sacrifice anu
plead trumpet tousurd against tho deep dainnaton Oh
has gone forth that Porter must be Nlndlcated lou
may pass this bill you may anK the stIsni ." imneely
restore him to rolls ~ that Army made lu'rouH oy
deeds Of Immortal vaOr and pure-t patriotism you
er officers who never swerved from the line OF patr
otto devotion and loyal obcdlence you may Erase the
place the words not guiltV where llnVol9 Nip'o vo
approved you may wipe OUT tue "oru au Nt'.o
over It 'dsapproycd' nut q Is beyond your power 10
Tn" House NJ o'clock took recess untp O'Clock.
the evening seson to be for tho iurther cohsu'r"uoh
/ OF the FtH John Porter bill - - .t .
| Mr. BRADY OF virginia took the door at the eTenlng
session and turning aside from tho subject uhder ais
devoted himself 20 a review OF the political
p,tfou in virginia" He denounced the recent state
folk Navy Yard - ia &C. Mr. BLOWN OF Iehn'y s"nl'
brought debate back TO tho forter case anu
opposed tho pending bil rs did MI RoWe, OF ILLINOIS,
ma Mr. Perkins, Of Kansas.
Mr. Hanback, Of Kausns promised HIS speech with tho
declaration that the Denrorhuo party nv eLo, p
gross II hal ever been an AIR braAe YIN Tau
solid column OF votes III ia'ot 81 QUO Vi '
mot pronounced failures or the war Against ths 'o'o
OF the majority House la the name of tho widows
and orphans Of the war; he entered his solemn protest
Mr Peters OF kansas confessed 10 strong Ioe1uE Vi
prejudice against forler Tor tho reason .n"' T ~
boyhoods warmest friends hal iAld down hi s on
August 90 1852 WHILE n Porter had obeyed orders that