Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-05-25
sPEECH OF GENERAL BuTLsRiN w,.r-
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tNorVN.
Major. General Butler who is stoppins ,t
the National Hotel, in Washington, uu
Friday night received complimentary ser.
apade from hs Massachusetts friends now 10
Washington. Some two thousand people
collected 10 aud about the hotel. In response
to the serenade aud cheers Of the crowd
General Butler spoke as follows -
Fellow Citizens Your cheers for the old
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts, are rightly
bestowed. Foremost In the rank of those
who fought for the liberty OF the country n
the Revolution, were the men of M assachu
setts. 1t is 40 historical fact TO which take
pride IN now referring, that 10 the Revolution,
M Massachusetts, sent more meu south of Mason
and Dixon's Line to fight for the cause Of the
country than all the Southern Colonies put
together, and in this second war. if war must
come, to proclaim the declaration of lndepeu.
dence anew, and as necessary consequence
establish the Union aud the Constitution,
Massachusetts will give, if necessary every
man in her borders-aye, and woman
! (Cheers)
l trust may excused for speaking thus of
Massachusetts but am confident there are
many within the sound of my voice whose
hearts beat with proud memories of the old
Commonwealth. There is this difference. !
will say between our Southern brothers and
ourselves, that while we love our State with
the true love Of son, we love the Union
and the country with an equal devotion.
(noud apd prolonged applause.) We place
no Estates rights" before above or beyond
the Union. (Cheers.) To US our country ia
trst, because it is our country. (tbree cheers)
and our State is next and second, becau 90
she is part of our country aud our State.
(Reuewed applause.)
Our oath OF allegiance to our country, and
| our oath Of allegiance to our State, are inter.
wreathed harmoniously, and never come in
conflict nor clash. He who does his duty
to the Union does bis duty to the State and
no who does his duty to the State does his
duty to the Union-'one and inseparable,
now and forever" (Ranewed spplause.) As
look upon this demonstration of yours, |
believe it to be prompted by love of the
common cansl, and our common country-a
country SO great and good /; a Government
SO kind. SO beneffceht. that the hand from
which we have only felt kindness is now for
the FIRST time raised in chastisement Gap.
planse.)
Many things in mans life may be worse
than death. So, to Government there may
be many things, such as dishonor and disnte.
| grafton, worse than the shedding of blood.
| (Cheers.) Our fathers purchased our liberty
and country for US at an immense cost OF
treasure and blood, aud by the bright heaven
above us, we will DOT part with them without
| first paying the original debt and the interest
to this date loud cheers) We have in
our veins the same blood they shed we have
the same power of endurance, the same love
of Liberty and law. We will hold as a
brother him who stands by the Union we
will hold as an enemy him who would strike
! from its constellation a single star. ZAP.
! plause
But hear some one say, "Sball we carry
on this fratridical war? Shall We shed oul
brothers blood, and meet in arms our broth
ers of the SOUTH" would say, GAS oul
fathers did not hesitate to strike the mother
country in the defence Of our rights, SO VIZ
should not hesitate to meet the brother a!
they did the mother" (Seusation.l IL this
unholy. this fratricidaI war is forced upon us
/ say, Woe, woe TO them who have made tht
necessity. Our hands are clean, our hearts
ore pure T; but the Union must be preserved =
! General Butler was interrupted hsre by ar
intense cheering. When silence was restor.
ed, be continued -
At all hazards OF money, and, il need be, o
every life this side the Arctic regions
| (Cheers.) If the $4,000 Northern soldier,
who are here are cut of, 10 six wesks $4,000
will take their place and if they die by fever
pestence or the sword, quarter of milior
will take their place. till the army Of the
reserve will be women with their broomsticks
to drive every enemy in the Gulf (Cheers
and laugbter.( | have neither fear nor donb
of the issue. | feel only horror and dsmay
for those who have made the war, God hell
them we are here for our rights, for ou1
country, for our flag. Our faces are Sc
South, aud there shall be no footstep back
wards. Qmmeuse applanse) lie is mista
ken who supposes We can be intimidated b,
threats or cajoled by compromise. The days
Of compromise is past.
The Government must be sustained
(cheers) and when it is sustained, we shsl
give every body in the Union their right,
under the Constitution as we always have
and everybody outside of the Uuion the stee
of the Union, till they shall come under the
Union. (Cheers. aud cries OF Good, go on"
1t is impossible for me to go on speecl
making; but if you will 60 home to you
beds, and the Government will let me, vii
go South fighting for the Union, and you vii
follow NE.