Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1886 — FITZ JOHN PORTER. [ARTICLE]

FITZ JOHN PORTER.

Bob Bill Passed by the House of Representatives After a Warm Debate. Exoiting Scene Between Cutcheon,of Michigan, and Bragg, of Wisconsin. - f ■ [Associated Press report.] The Fitz-John Pfcrter bilCwas passed by the National House of Representatives on the 18th of February, the vote filing: Yeas 171, nays IV* Prior to the voting Messrs. Phelps (N. J.), Curtin (Pa.), and Warner (O.) spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Bragg (Wis.) moved the previous question and closed the debate. Mr. Everhart IPa.) moved to recommit the bill, with instructions to strike out the words “prior to his appointment under this act, ” so as to make the proviso read: “Said Fitz-John Porter shall receive no pay, compensation, <jr allowance whatsoever.” Mr. Heed, suggesting that this gave an opportunity for vindicating Porter from any question ■of money, demanded the yeas and nays. The motion to recommit was lost on a vote of yeas 112, nays 173. Mr. Bragg then withdrew his demand for tho previous question and again took the floor. In the course of a speech in support of the bill he declared that Mr. Cutcheon /Mich.), in. attempting to show that there had" been-a general engagement at the second battle of Bull Run on Aug. 29, had ingeniously used a table of the casualties between Aug. 16 aud Sept. 2. Mr. Cutcheon declared that ho had so stated in his Bpeecb. Mr. Bragg—You took a table of figures from a heading that covered almost a month, and you have published it in your speech as evidence of the losses on the 29th, and your Republican constituents who do not read anything but your speech in a Republican newspaper will think that an historical evidence of the war. Mr. Cutcheon declared that the heading of tho table showed precisely what it was. Mr. Bragg declined to yield, and Mr. Cntchedn asserted his right to reply, as he had been misquoted. Mr. Bragg (advancing to the bar of tho House) —I state what you said. I state what the figures are. * Mr. Cutcheon (also advancing into the space in front of the Speaker’s desk)—Now you are trying to ram a falsehc ol down the throat of this House. [Applause on the Republican side ] Mr. Bragg—l draw my own inference as to your purposes, and (defiantly) will repeat them if you desire. [Applause on the Democratic side.] At this time there was*a good deal of confusion and excitement in the House, and it was with difficulty that the voice of either could he heard; but as the speaker rapped the House to opder nnd stated to Mr. Cutcheon that he must not interrupt Mr. Bragg without permission, the, former indignantly exclaimed: “Then the gentleman must not falsify, facts.” ... “Ah,” was Mr. Bragg’s retort, “I am glad I hare driven that radical from under Stanton’s petticoats so that he has come t 8 the front. ” Mr. Bragg, continuing, said : “Would to God there was more freedom of conscience allowed in the Republican party, then Porter would have vastly more votes. But as there is a Presidential candidate in training for the ‘grand old party’ who is to run on the Fitz-Jobn Porter issue, ft will not do for more Republicans to come over, because thd Black Eaglo of the West might not like it.” |Applanse and laughter on tho Democratic side and groans from the Republican side.] Mr. Bragg said ho was glad to hear the groans, because it showed there Was a littje life left in the Republicans. Groans did not proceed from a strong body in a happy and contended frame of mind, but from one suffering from cramp in the bowels. He again demanded the previous question. Mr. Cutcheon rose to a question of personal privilege, and was granted permission by the Speaker to explain away the charge made by Mr. Bragg. As Mr. Cutcheon was' about to explain, Mr. Bragg interrupted, and was called to order bi 7 the Mr. Bragg*shouted, defiantly: “I will give you cause for a personal explanation if you let me speak. The gentleman stated that Fitz-John Porter was lying two and a half miles from the head of his corps, but there is no evidence of that. I will give him cause for a personal explanation if you want it.”