The hydraulic press., 1861-06-15
Major General Buffers Speech.

Major General Buffers Speech.
When Gen. Butler was serenaded at Wash
ington, recently, he responded in an eloquent
speech. We make the following extract,
and commend it to the Breekinridge peace
compromisers, hefeabous, who were so loud
in the praises of Butler during the Presiden-
tial campaign:
We place no Estates right before, above
or beyond the Union [Cheers. 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. Re-
newed applause.] Our oath of allegiance to
our country, and our oath of allegiance to
our State are iuterwreatbed harmoniously
and never come in conflict nor clash. He
who does his duty to the Union does his duty
to the State, and he who does his duty to
the State, does his duty to the Union-"one
and inseperable, now and forever" Renewed
applause. AS look upon this demonstra-
tion of yours, believe it to be prompted by
love of the common cause, and our com.
mon country-a country so great and good;
a 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 Govern
ment there may be many things, such as
dishonor and disintegration, worse than the
shedding of blood. [Cheers. Our fathers
purchased our liberty and country for us 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 debt and the interest to this date
Loud cheers. We have in our veins the
same blood as they shed, we have the same
power of endurance, the same love of liberty
and law.
We will hold as brother him who stands
by the Union, we will hold as an enemy him
who would strike from its constellation
single star. Applause. But hear some
one say, "Shall we carry on this fratricidal
war? Shall we shed our brothers blood,
and meet in arms our brothers of the South?'
| would say, GAS our fathers did not hesitate>
to strike the mother country in the defence
of our rights, so we should not hesitate to
meet the brother as they did the mother.
[Sensation. If this unholy, this fratricidal
war is forced upon US, l say, 'Woe, woe to
them who have made the necessity. Our
hands are clean, our hearts are pure; but
the Union must be preserved"
Gen. Butler was interrupted here by an
intense cheering. When silence was restor-
ed he continued:
AT all hazard of money, and, if need be, of
every life this side of the Arctic regions.
TCheers. If the 1000 Northern soldiers who
are here are cut off, in six weeks so, 900 will
take your place; and if they die by fever,
pestilence or the sword, quarter of a mill
ion will take your places, till our army of
the reserve will be women with their broom
sticks, to drive every enemy in the Gulf.
[Cheers and laughter I have neither fear nor
doubt of the issue. feelonly horror and dis
may for those who have made the war. God
help them we are here for our rights, for our
country, for our flag. Our faces are set
South, and there shall be no footstep back
ward. Immense applause He is mistaken
who supposes we can be intimidated by
threats or cajoled by compromise. The day
Of compromises is past.
The Government must be sustained
cheers and when it is sustained, we shall
give every body in the Union 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. Cheers, and cries of ''Good go
on."] 1t is Impossible for me to go on
speech making but if you will 60 home to
your beds, and the Government will let me,
| will go South fighting for the Union, and
you will follow me.
Gen. Butler closed amid loud cheers.