Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-06-05
General Butler.
A. A. OarR w old


TIE whole country is yet laughing at Gen.
Buffers decision that negroes, as property, are
contraband of war. 1t is so whimsical; it is
sach an ingenious exit from q very difficult
dilemma; il hits the rebels so fairly between
wind and water that we must all laugh at it IS
loBg We remember il; and the muse of his
tory herself will forget her gravity as she re-
cords the Yankee generals reply to the impu-
dent request that was made Of him. And yet
the basis Of truth upon which the decision
firmly rests is the best part Of the joke. We
do not ,Sonder that Gen. Butler was COM
pletely sustained by the War Department; but
even he gravity Of n communication from q
cab net minister cannot extinguish the fun OF
tn transaction. So in the case in which he
brought wealthy manufacturing company to
terms by attaching, not their goods or their
msH, bus the great water wheel which supplied
the motive power, without which all their op-
erations must stop, there was q union of pene-
tration and humor which is one of tho striking
characteristics of this very peculiar and now
distinguished man. An authentic story is
told, too, of his GOODNESS in danger and his
promptness in action, which is worthy OF note.
At political meeting in Lowell, OF the party
with whom he acted, the house was very
crowded and while Mr.. Choate was speaking
jar was felt and a crash heard. Every one
turned pale, and . frightful panic seemed i'm
minent Bat Gen. Butler sprang up and qui-
eted the fears of the multitude; yet he went
Immediately out with an architect and exam
ined the building which proved to be in momen-
tary danger Of falling He returned quickly,
and, speaking a word to Mr.. Choate's ear as he
crossed the platform, he assured the assembly
that there was no present danger, but he sug-
gested, as the house was somewhat over-crowd-
ed, that they should adjourn to the open air in
front of the Merrimack House. They did so,
without accident. 1t proved afterward that
what he quietly whispered to the orator was,
''Mr. Choate, must clear this house or We
shall all be In h in i've minutes" remark
most noticeable, whether We regard its cool
ness under such an apprehension of danger or
its appreciation Of the deserts Of the speakers
political associates. But seriously, what quick
decision, what discretion, and what self-sacri-
fee were shown by this action on the part of
General Butler. How few men would have
instantly taken the precautionary step, and,
having discovered the danger, would have con-
trived the means of avoiding it and how much
fewer would, under those perilous circumstan-
ces, have trusted themselves within that crowd
ed building at all
General Butler is evidently Just the man for
the emergency. He is one Of those men who,
fertile in device, persistent In purpose, and
quick in action, strike directly at the point
they wish TO attain, without being too scrupu-
lous as to the means by which they reach it.
He would be harsh, forbidding, offensive, but
for the element Of humor which softens and lu-
bricates his mind, and drew away with fric-
tion which would else make contact with him
intolerabls. If man will have his own way,
whether or no, he must either make himself
feared, which is not easy in this country, or he
must keep the people whom he undertakes to
rule in constant good humor, or he may find
himself all at once successfully withstOOd. We
look for continuation Of effective service from
Gen. Butler-not for any brilliant military
combination or mastery stroke Of policy, but
for prompt action, quick and dexterous accom-
knows no defeat short of absolute destruction,
and with all this a sharp look out for practical
results, and occasionally a practical joke Of
stupendous dimensions.