Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-05-24
Gen. RusIcr.

On Thursday Of last week Gen. B. +.
Butler was serenaded in Washington, on
which occasion he made telling. speech,
which we copy below. Our readers will
mark that he says :" The day of compro-
misses is past" He has now been promoted
to Major General, and no man in the SER
vice is more likely to distinguish himself
than he. The following is his speech -
Your cheers for the commonwealth of
Massachusetts are rightly bestowed. Fore |
most in the rank of those who fought for the |
liberty OF the country in the Revolution,
we're the men of Massachusetts. Ii is a
historical fact to which | take pride in now
referring that in the Revolution, Massachu-
sets sent more men 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, 10 proclaim the declaration OF
independence anew, and as necessary con-
sequence establish the Union and the con-
sltution, Massachusetts will give if neces-
sary, every man in her borders-aye, and
womanl | trust may be 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 love of a son.
we love the Union and the country with an
equal devotion. We place no state rights"
before, above or beyond the Union. To US
our country is first, because it is our country,
and our state is next and second, because
she is part of our country and our state.
Our oath of allegiance 10 our country, and
our oath of allegiance TO our state. are
: interwreathed tremendously, and never
come in conflict nor clash. He who does
his duty to the Union does his duty 10 the
state; and he who does his duty to the
state, does his duty 10 the Union,--" one
and inseperable, now aad forever" As
look upon this demonstration of yours. be-
iieve ii to be prompted by a love of the
common cause, and our common country
a country so great and good government
so kind, so benefcent, that the hand from
, which We have only felt kindness is now
for the first time raised in chastisement.
Many things in mans life may be worse
than death. SO. to government there may
be many things, such as dshonor and disin-
tegration, worse than the shedding of blood
Our fathers purchased our liberty and coun-
try for us at an immense cost of treasure
and blood, and by the bright heavens above
ms, we will not part with them without first
paying the original debt and the interest TO
; this datel We have in our veins the same
blood as they shed; we have the same
power of endurance, the same love of lib
erty 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 single star. But hear some
one say, +" Shall We carry on this fratieidal
war! Shall we shed our brothers blood
and meet in arms our brothers of the South p
, | would say 4" As our fathers did not hesi-
tate to strike the mother country in the de-
fence OF our rights, so we should not hest
tate TO meet the brother as they did the
mother" If this unholy war is forced up
on US, say, woe, woe to them who have
! made the necessity. Our hands are clean.
our hearts are pure but the Union must
be preserved at all hazard of money, and.
! - 1890 ~ VI W. ttIiS Slut tue ATctlC
regions. If the $4,000 northern soldiers
who are here are cut off, in six weeks So
/ 900 will take your places and if they die
by fever, pestilence or the sword, a quarter
OF a million will take their places, till our
> army of the reserve viii be women with
their broomsticks, to drive the enemy into
the Cult. have neither fear nor doubt
4. OF the issue. | feel only horror and dsmay,
E for those who have made the war. God
help theml We are here for our rights.
for our country, for our flag. Our faces are
set South and there shall be no step back
' wards lie is mistaken who supposes we
{ can be inundated by threats or cajoled by
e compromises. The day of compromises is
$ past. The government must be sustained,
and when IT is sustained, we shall give ev-
erybody their rights under the constitution,
: as we always have, and everybody outside
: of the Union, the steel of the Union, till
: they shall come under the Union. 1t is
i impossible Tor me to go on speech making ;
;, but if you will go home to your beds, and
i the government viii let ME, will 20 South
0 lighting for the Union, and you will will fol.
{, low me.