The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-06-27

the contest 10 the Fall OF 1850, Mr..
Banks took the State BY surprise on an
nouncing bis intention to retire from po.
litical life. He removed to Chicago ear.
ly 10 the present year, to connect himself
With the Illinois Central Railroad, as
Mansger Director, and President Lincoln
has just called him from this post to place
him where be can serve his country to
better advantage.
Governor Banks great energy, bis
we'll known administrative ability. and
the military knowledge which be acquir-
ed while Conmander-in Chief of the Ma
sachusett- militia, fit him admirably for
bis new duties.
MAJOR GENERAL B F. BUTLER
If wo except tbe great soldier who
commands the armies Of the Republic in
this exisepcy of the Union, there is 20
man in the field of military action who.
at this moment. concentres upon himself
a larger share of public interest and ct.
tention than Major General Butler Of
Massachusetts This arises from a kuowl-
edge of what has been performed in Nd.
rylsud by Gen. Butler. and anticipation
of the important work in Virginia which
has been assigned him BY the President
There is much curiosity to know some.
thing of the early history. the subsequent
employ mcnt, the habit of mind and body
of the citizen soldier. who. within the last
four weeks. has accomplished results of
such substantial national usefulness 1t
is not too much to say that, under the cir
the person who conceived
and executed the thought OF ope niug
communication with Washington BY way
of Annapolis. saved the capital of the U.
nion from attack BY the arms of the Con-
federate States. 1t is not too much to
say that Gen. Butler, by his memorable
movement to Annapolis, bis seizure of
the ship Constitution, bis official cores
pondence with Gov. Hicks. his occupa.
ton and repair OF the road to Washing
ton, bis sudden encaupment at the Relay
House, his noble % march to Baltimore: bis
po-ting cannon upon the hill overbang-
iug the city. and bis wise proclamation to
the people Of Baltimore. saved the State
of Maryland from p!uuging into the black
depths of treason. and from political and
social woes unuumbered.
To all these public acts, not less than
in bis official correspondence with the
Gosernor of Mas-a chu,etts, Gen. Buter
has eviBced wisdom, energy, and steadi-
uess of purpose, uncontrolled by popular
prejudice.
Gen. Butler was born at Deerfeld,
Rockingham Co. N. H., in 1918. Pre-
vious to the events of the 18th of April
bis experience in military affairs was con.
fined to the duties devolyed upon him as
a mi,sioDed officer in the militia of
the common wealth of Ma-sacbusetts. He
has been from toybood prompt and en-
thu-ia>tic in all matters concerning the
volunteer militia system. He was for
many years Colonel of the regiment be.
lougiug to the city Of Lowell, where be
resided.
It happened that among the FIRST Of the
official acts of Gov. Gardner, of Massa-
chu.etts, who was elected by and during
the Know Nothing paroxysm in that COM
monwesltb, was a recommendation, in bis
annual message. of exclusion from the
militia of the State of persons of foreign
birth, and inquiry into the race and sect
of certain companies, and 10 the end, dis.
bsudment of seven companies bearing the
following names the Colunbia Artille-
ry, the Bay State Artillery, the Sars6eld
Guards. the Jackson Musketeers. the u.
Mon Guards, and the Jackson Guards
One of the companies thus blotted out,
the Jackson Musketeers, was 10 the regi.
ment Of Col. Boiler, and be refused to
transmit the order disbauding the pro-
scribed company. and for the refusal he
was marily broken of command by
Gov. Gardner. 10 short time, however,
the officers of the brigade to which But
ler's regiment belonged, elected him to
be Brigadicr General, and the same Gov
ernor who had expelled bin from one Of
fee, was compelled to commission bin to
the higher Office. held by Gen. Butler
when be recently rendered the Union
such memorable service 10 Maryland.
1t vas thi- interest taken by Gen. But
ler iu military affairs. not less than his
pro eminent fitness in other respects.
wbich induced President Pierce to desig-
nate him as one of the visitors to West
Point in the year 1855.
Bot it is as a lawyer and leading mem.
ber of the Democratic organisation that
Gen. Butler is best known. ln the legal
profession, it is the common admission,
that since the death of Choate. he now
stands first in the commonwealth. 9th.
er men have more knowledge in special
departments 10 the profession, but none
can do all things required of lawyer as
we'll as be. Cu.hing has broader reach
of learning 10 constitutionsl law, and in
the legal treatises of the Continent; Cur
tis or Bartlett maybe more familiar with
branches of admiralty and commercial
law, 10 ~hich they have had large exPe-
rieuce. but in the combined branches oil
co@mercisl, criminal and real property
jurisprudepce; no man in Massachusetts,
is so generally employed or SO successful