Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1870 — The Case of Fitz John Porter. [ARTICLE]

The Case of Fitz John Porter.

It to TOtoMlunl that kfalH ends should wish to reonh the case < Mr. Fits John Porter. Thi family none I* involved in the heavy ceGhrt under Which the late General resQrW the facts are hi miliar to the country, judgment of the court has been long efllrmed by public opinion. No soldier had ever a. er trial. He was patiently heard, tab TkrtF were carefttTly weighed, and the verdict was so decided that (t is genaraUy understood the penalty would have been very much severer exoept for the interference Of President Lincoln. . lidbody knows, said a ye»y distinguished General in the service, What envy G, if he baa not been in the army; ana it is not too much to **y that the presumption was ' against from the first. When it was alleged, after the misfortune of General Pope, that General Porter had virtually refused lo hasten to the rescue in obedience taordecs, Use epos try had seen enough to feel that the assertion was not., improbable. It was the misfortune of Mr. Porter to belong to that class of officer* who did not believe in, the cause, and who half hated to ba obliged to obey the administration. Their personal friendships and professional sympathies were very mueb with their opponents, and neither the mornl enormity nor the po]itical fully of tbs rebellion were ever com preh ended by them. GeweTaU McUioilsn and Buell were of this kind; and had the first remained in command in the Easf Wsri, jkl* notdifficult tb psrqtiw what itje result tor t|ie war must inevil* bl f hrrs be# ni D anybody *dr>-ftr I 'fr’fr’jHF*" did Sis-best So 'aribdtoo' th* tKb'dliOJi ;Hhat he wfrWla*m*«toucMwtaw hi<rt» and hopes are fixed upon And iri it St-we supposed that General Porter, Who was au intimate friend nf McClellan's, who had been MtfUy *apwseded.by Pope, was bo tritent trpMi the defeat of the rebels that his personal jealousies would not affect hl* action? if McClellan had been in Pepe’s place, would nrtt General Por ter’s conduct have been materially different? ' ’“rTri-i;-;-. —-1.... Buch doubts as these, founded upon knowledge of disposition and sympathy, created the general presumption against Mr. Porter. But the verdict against him was rendered not upon presumption but upon evidence. Aboard of soraiers were sati.-fisd, after the most careful hearing of testimony and elaborate argument, that he had failed in his duty, and failed intention ally. He was tried, indesd, during the war; but for that wry reason he Vjps more likely to be fairly .tried, for the feelings which gave their character to facts ware than fresh and mtelligihlc, as they are not naw. He was tried, at a time when a mete technical defense was useless, and when the spirit of hi* conduct was fully appreciated, a* it might not be now. . r It is not likely that the case will be reopened, as it certainly is not desirable that it should be. It is not improbable, however, that at some future day, if the Democratic party should obtain power, it nsftn* grant Mr? Bortyrt-. request. But should that day ever arrive, there is no saying what may not be'dime. We shall have the merits of Robert E. Lee, as “ a Chris tain gentleman,” and a “great captain," fully recognised. The much-in jurid Tonpey will M restored to his lofty niche in the Pantheon of Patriotism. The arms-dispersing FJqyd will be celebrated *s a minister of peace and fraternity. Our own Fernando Wood, who bewailed his Inability to dispatch ammunition and weapons to Toombs, will have a medal struck in his honor as the model Demo.cratic Conservative National Unionist. The miWtew of slander will be wiped from the precious name of Twiggs; and Admiral Porter must not be surprised if the glory of the truest patriotism be awarded to Raphael Semmes. When that day ..comes, but not before, the loyal people of This country will believe that Fitz John Porter honestly and heartily did all that rhe possibly coidd do, to obey the spirit as well as the fetter of his orders, to help General Pope to win a victory.— Haryer't> Weekly.