Daily national Democrat., 1861-06-08

that | would protect both myself and the
city Of Annapolis from any disorderly per-
sons whatsoever. On the morning following
my landing [ was informed that the city Of
Annapolis and environs were in danger from
an insurrection of the slave population, in
defiance Of the laws of the State What
was to do? | had promised to put down
white mob and to preserve, and enforce tie
la ws against that. Ought to allow black
one the preference in breach of the laws
understood that was armed against all in
fractions Of the law, whether by white or
black. and upon that understanding acted,
certainly with promptness and ethclency.
And your Excellency's shadow of disappro-
baton, arising from a misunderstanding of
the fcts has caused all the regrets have
for that action.
The question sbemed to me to be neither
military or political, and was not to be so
treated 1t was simply question of good
faith and honesty of purpose The benign
effect ofmy course was instantly seen. The
good but timid people of Annapolis who had
fled from their houses at our approach, i'm
mediately returned; business resumed its 0c-
customed channels; quiet and order prevail
ed in the city; confidence took the place of
distrust, friendship of enmty, brotherly kind
ness of sectional hate, and believe to day
there is 20 city in the Union more loyal than
the city of Annapolis. ! think, therefore,
may safely point to the results for my justif-
cation. The vote of the neighboring county
of Washington, a few days since, for its dele
gates to the Legislature. wherein 1000 out
of 5000 votes were thrown for delegate IA
vorable to the Union, is among the many
happy fruits of firmness of purpose efficiency
Of .ciion n nd infaurify of mission IplinVp
indeed, that it will not require personal in
terchange of views as suggested in your dis
patch to bring our minds in accordance; a
simple statement of the facts will suffice
But, am to act hereafter, it may be, in an
cnemy's country among "A servile population,
when the question may arise, as it has not
yet arisen as well in moral and Christian
as in political and military point of view.
What shall do? Will your Excellency bear
with me moment while the question is dis
cussed?
| appreciate fully your EXcellency's sug-
gestion as to the inherent weakness of the
rebels, arising from the preponderance OF
their servile population The question, then,
is. in what manner shall we take advantage
Of that weakness? BY allowing, and, of
course, arming that population to rise upon
the delenseles5 women and children of the
country, carrying rapine, arson and murder
all the horrors of San Domingo, a million
times magnifed, among those whom we hope
to reunite with us as brethren, many of
whom are already so, and all who are worth
preserving, will be, when this horrible mad
ness shall have passed away or be threshed
ont of them? Would your ExcelIcncy adj
wise the troops under my command to make
war in person upon the defenseless women |
and children ofany part of the Union, ac-
companied with brutalities too horrible to be |
named? You will say, "God forbid % If
we may not do so in person, shall we arm
Others so to do, over whom we can have no
restraint, exercise no control, and WHO, when
once they have tasted blood, may turn the
very arms we put in their hands against our
selves, as part of the expressing white
race? The reading of history familiar to
your EXcelency, will tell you the bitterest
cause of complaint which our fathers had
against Great Britain in the war of the Rev
oluton, was the arming by the British Minis
try of the red man with the tomahawk and
the scalping-kuife against the women and
children Of the colonies so that the phrase
MAY we not use all the means which God
and nature have put in our power to subju-
gate the colonies ?' has passed into legend
OF infamy against the leader of that Ministry
who used it in Parliament. Shall history
teach us in vain? Could we justify our
selves to ourselves? Although with arms in
our hands amid the savage wildness of camp
and field we may have bunted many of the
finer moral sensbilities in letting loose four
millions of worse than savages upon the
homes and hearths of the South? Can we be
justified to the Christian community of Mas
sachusetts? Would such course be con-
sonant with the teachings Of our holy reli-
gion2 | have a very decided opinion upon
the subject, and if any one desires. as know
your EXcellency does not, this unhappy con-
test to be prosecuted in that manner, some
instrument other than myself must be found
to carry it on. may not discuss the politi
cal bearings Of this topic. When went from
under the shadow of my roof tree, left all
politics behind me, to be resumed only when
every part of the Union is loyal to the flag,
and the potency of the Government through |
the ballot-boX is established.
Passing the moral and Christian view, let |
us examine the subject as military ques-
tion. Is not that State already suhiugated /.
which requires the hayonets of those armed
in opposition to its rulers, to preserve it from
the horrors of a servile war? AS the least
experienced of military men, would hay
no doubt Of the entire subjugation of a State
brought to that condition. When, there
fore-unless | am better advsed-any COM
munity in the United States, who have met
me in honorable warfare, or even in the
prosecution ola rebellous war in an honor
able manner, shall call upon me for protec-
tion against the nameless horrors of a scrvile
insurrection, they shall have it, and from the
moment that call is obeyed, have no doubt
We shall be friends and not eLemes.
The possibilities that dishonorable means
OF defense are to be taken by the rebels
against the Government do not now con-
template. If, as has been done in single in
stance, my men are to be attacked by poison
or as in another, stricken down bv the assas-
sins knife and thus murdered the commu-
nlty using such weapons may be required to
be taught that it holds within its own border
a more potent means for deadly purposes and
indiscrminate slaughter than any it can ad-
minister to us.
Trusting that these views may meet your
EXcellency's approval, | have the honor to
be, very respectfully, your obt serv't
BENZ. F. BUTLER.
While it becomes the duty of every good
and loyal citizen to stand by the flag of our
country, even though he may believe his
country is in error there will be many who
will hold the party and the men who brought
this crisis on the country, to a terrible ac-
count. Just so sure as time advances the
people win rebuke the Administration for its
ruinous policy They are driven into the
support of his policy now, because he being
at the head of the Government has placed
the country in belligerent attitude, and the
people, while detesting the policy which has
thus resulted, feel it their duty as patriots to