Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-05-21
sERENADE TO GEN. BUFLER-A SPEECH
FROM HIM.


Correspondence Of the New York Timesl
Major General Butler, who is stopping at the
Nation in Washington, received complimentary
serenade, on Thursday night, from his Massa-
ehusetts friends now in Washington. The music
was by the Marine Band, who never performed
in better taste aud spirit
II Having become known about town that Butler
was at the National, crowds thronged there to
see him, and his room was besieged by visitors
until late in the night Although much ex-
hausted, he received them kindly and heartily.
Some two thousand people collected in and about
the hotel.
In response to the serenade and the cheers of
the crowd, Gen. Butler spoke as follows:
FeiloW Citizens; Your cheers for the old Com
monweath Of Massachusetts, are rightly bestow-
ed. Foremost in the rank of these who fought
for the liberty Of the country in the Revolution
were the men Of Massachusetts,. 1t is on historic
cal fact, to which take pride in now referring,
that in the Revolution, Massachusetts, sent more
men south of Mason and Dxon's Line to fight
for the cause Of the country, than all the South
ern Colonies put together; and IN this second
war, il war must come, to proclaim the Decara-
tion Of Independence anew, and as a nece lsary
consequence establish the Union and the Consti-
tutiou, Massachusetts, will give, if necessary,
every man in her borders-aye, and women
| LCheers. l trust may be excused for speak
ing thus of Massachusetts bnt | am confident
u
whose hearts beat with proud memories Of tho
old Commonwealth There is this difference
| will say, between our Southern brothers and
ourselves, that while we love our State with the
true love Of a son, we love the Union and the
country with an equal devotion. Loud and
prolonged applause We place no States rights
before, above or beyond the Union lCheers
To us our country is first, because it is our coun
try, three cheers, and our State is next aud
second, because she is part of our country and
our States. Renewed applause Our oath of
allegiance to our country, and our oath Of al
legiance to our State, are interWreathed harmon
iously, and never come in conflict nor clash.
lie 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 in
separable, now and forever Renewed ap-
plause. As look upon this demonstration Of
yours, believe it to be prompted by love Of
the common cause, and our common country, a
cou1try 80 great and good Government SO
kind, so benefcient that the hand from which
we haze only felt kindness is now for the first
time raised in ohastisement. [Applause. Many
things il a mans life may be worse than death.
So, to Government there may be many things,
such as dishsnor and disntegratiOn, worse than
the shedding Of hiood [oheers.l Our fathers
purchased our liberty aud 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 q liberty and law. We will hold as a
brother him who stands by the Union; we will
hold as au enemy him who would strike from its
constellation = single star. Applause But
hear some one say, tShall we carry on this
fratricidal wars Shall we shed our brothers
blood, and meet Ia arms our brothers Of the
South Y I would say, IAs our fathers did not
hesitate to strike the mother country in the de-
fence Of our rights, so We should not hesitate to
meet the brother as they did the mother. (Sen-
sation) If this unhOly, this fratricidal war is
forced upon 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
Gen Butler was interrupted here by an intense
cheering. When silence was restored, he con-
tinued;-
At all hazard Of money, and, il need 6e, Of
every life this side Of the Ariic Regions fCheersl
II the rs, 600 Northern soldiers who are here are
cut of, in six weeks $1,000 will take your Places
and If they die by fever, pestilence or the sword
quarter Of million will take their place. till
our army Of the reserve will be women with their
broomsticks, to drive every enemy in the Gulf.
CHEERS and laughter). 1 have neither fear nor
doubt Of the issue | feel only horror and dis
may for those who have made the war. Cod
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 backwards. Qm-
mense applause.) He is mistaken who supposes
we can be intimidated by threats or cajoled by
The day Of compromises is past
The Government must be sustained (cheers
and when il is sustained, we shall give every
body in the Union their rights under the Con-
stituton, as we always have, aud everybody
outside Of the Union, the steel of the Union, til
they shall come under the Union. (Cheers, and
cries Of Coed. go on,) Il is impossible for me
to go on speech-making; but il you will go 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 the band
played some national airs, and sHome, Sweet
Home and after more cheers the crewd dis
persed Gen. Butler, on retiring to his room,
was warmly congratulated by numerous friends.