, 1861-05-20
speech by Gen. R. f. Butler, Of Mas.
K0Eh B8etf8.


Major General Butler, who is stopping ut
the National Hotel, received complimentary
eereuade, tonight, from his Massachusetts,
friends nov in Washington. Some two thou
sand people collected In aud about the hotel.
In response to the eerenhde and the cheers
OF the crowd, Gen. Butler spoke Us follows:
Fellow CITIZENS: Your cheers for the old
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts, n7e rightly
bestowed. Foremost in the rank OF those
who fought for the liberty Of the country in
the Revolution, were the men Of Massachu-
se:ts. It is an historical feet to which t,ko
pride in now referring, that ia the Revolution
MASSACHUSETTS, sent more men south Of Mason
and Dixon's Line to fight for the ceuse Of the
country, than all the Southern Colonies put
together; and in this second war, if wa- must
come, to proolnim the Declaration Of Inde.
pendeuce anew, and as necessary conse-
quence, establish the Union aud the Ccnstitu-
tion, Massachusetts, will give, if necessary, oy.
cry man in her borders and Homaal
[Cheers] trust may be excused for speak
ing thus Of Massauhuse It's; but am confident
there ere many within the sound Of my yoico
whose Eearts beat with proud mamories of
the old Commonwealth. There is this differ
ence, I will say, between our Southern broth
ers and ourselves, that while VIC love our
State with the true love Of q son, VS. love the
Union and tbs country with an equal devo-
tion. Loud and prolonged appl.use,l We
place no Estates rights" bcfo-e, above or be-
You'd tho Union. [Cheere.1 To us our countryi is
first, because it Is our country, three chccrs]
md our State is mex. End second, because she
Is Part Of our country and cur State. ire.
newcd applause.] Our oath Of allegiance to
our country, and our oath Of allegiance to our
State, arc intcrWreathcd harmonious1y, and
never come in conflict nor clash. He Who
does his duty to the Union does his dnt7 to
the State; and he who does his whole duty
to the State, does his duty to the Union
zone and inseparable, now and forever"
lReneTed applaute1 As look upon this
demonstration Of yours, believe it to be
prompted by love Of the common CAUSE,
and good; d Government 30 kind, SO benefl.
cent, that tho hand from Which-we have only
felt Kindness Is now for the frat time raised In
chastisement. .[Applausel Many things IN =
mans Lie may be worae than death. So, to
as dishonor and aisintegration, worse than the
shedding Of blood. [Cheers.1 Our fathers
purchased our liberty and country for rs at an
immense cost Of treasure and blood, and by
the bright heavens above us, we will not part
With them without first paying the original
checrs] Wehave in our yeins the same blood as
they shed; We have the samepower Of enduranc
the came love Of liberty and Inv. We will hold
nc brother him who stands by the Union;
we will hold ns An enemy him who would
strike from its constellation single star.
tApplau5E-1 Dut Asa4 6OMe oua sayt
hshan ne carry on this frahicidal war
Shall we ehed our brothers blood, and meet
Iu arms our brothers Of the South?'' would
eay, as our fathers did not hesitate to strike
the mother country in defence Of their rights,
so We ehou1d not Hesitate to meet tho brother
as thew did the mother. [eensstion.1 II
this unholy, this fatricidal war is forced upon
ug, eay, Hoe, Hoc to them tnho hare ns1de the
uftessi{V, Our hands ara clean, our hearts are
pure: 6ttt the Union must Be preserredl"
Gen. Butler Eas interrupted here BY an In.
tense cheering. When silence WIS restored,
he continued:
"At ell hazard Of money, and, Il need be, OF
every life this edo the Arctic Regions.
[Chee1s,l II the Is, 900 Northern sold dleEs who
| ore hero are cut of, In SIX Heeks $1,000 Will
take their p1aee; and II they die by fever, pes.
thence or the sword, q quarter Of MIL
lion VIII take their place, til our army Of the
reserve Will ba women with their, broom
sticks, to drive every enemy in the Gulf
TCheefs aud 1anghter.] I have neither fear or
doubt of the Issue. feel only horror and
| dlsmay for those who hare made the war.
God help themt'We are here .fdr onr rights,
| for OUT country, for our dsg. 'Our fAces are
| set South and there shall be no footsteps
backwards Immense applsnse-1 He Is NH.
taken who supposee We can be intimldated By
threats or ,caioled by compromise. The day
Of compromises IL past.
The Government must be Sustained
1cheers,1 and when 1t Il sustained, :We eha1
l 0iVo everybody in, the Union their; rights
under the Constitution, as we always hare
and eys}heay oatglae g s Ct n9o. the un9n1 @kad4! e
! nad czies Of "Good."]