The Portland daily press., 1862-10-14
Gen. Butler at New Orleans--Pierre


Soule.
The following is from correspondent of
the New York Tribune, written from Wash
ington by gentleman who had just arrived
after five months sojourn in the aCrescent
City,:
/ went to New Orleans with very strong
dislike to Gen. Butler, politically and person
ally. had known him for twenty years, but
known him only as lawyer, advocating al
most any cause for pay, and a politician seek
ing success by intrigue. had heard also from
friend who heard it, that he chuckled even
while on his way to Baltimore, Il go into this
thing as speculation; will make it pay.n-
So looked upon him as a military adventur-
er only, inspired more by selfshness than pat
riotlsm. Then he was a slave of slavery -
what was he worth in war against the mas
tiers?
have come from his Department convinced
that Gen Butler, II not the predestined chief
OF our armies, is at least just the man to break
the back of rebellious New Orleans
It's notorious that, long before he arrived
there, he saw that ''the nigger," as a represent
ative OF dollars, had ceased to be the winning
card, and that Emancipation was the trump
thenceforward.
He began at New Orleans as If he compre-
hended the situation. He said to the Mayor
and his Council, $50 on Gentlemen Il will see
how.well we work together" He straightway
issued an order which highly incensed all the
aristocracy of traitors. The city authorities
called upon him when he had available but
], 400 men, and said to him, in effect, General.
your order is considered outrageous; unless
you revoke It instantly, we cannot longer be
responsible for the good conduct of the cit-
Zens." "Then / will be responsible from this
instant" replied Butler with emphasis; "you,
Mr.. Mayor, are assigned to Fort Lafayette -
you, Aldermen, will be conveyed to Fort Pick
ems; will run this city myselfr' And he
appointed Mayor and Board of his own and
established loyal Government
He summoned the bankers, and said to
them Here! want you to call in and de-
stroy every scrap of rebel shinplasters which
these poor people have been obliged to receive
from you as an equivalent foF their deposits,
and issue in their place good bills, for the re-
demption of which your personal property is
hereby held responsible They protested
"We cannot do it, General; our resources are
not sufficient" Bring me statement of your
assets and liabilities" he replied. II will see
If you can do it, and If you lie to me about
your property you go to Fort Warren until
after the wal." "Well, gentlemen, he said, af-
ter looking over their papers, Il am by pro-
fession lawyer, but / was for two years
Chairman of the Committee ON Banks and
ture, which profited me; after a careful exam
ination of the condition OF these Bank. have
come to the conclusion that they can be run:
II you will do it, and take care of your depos-
its. go ahead; If not, get out of the way-I
shall take charge of tpem myself" OF course
they adopted legitimate habits, and continued
The sick at Quarantine were suffering for
want Of medical aid. Army surgeons could
not be spared. So he sent secession doctors
and surgeons, and said to them: "See here |
know that you are internal rebels every one
OF you; but go down and take care OF my sick:
If a man suffers through your inattention or
treachery, by - will hang you higher than
Hamanw
Hewent among the schools they were pois-
oned by rebel teachers and the children were
instructed to sing JEFF Davis songs and insult
the Union soldiers. He seized the teachers
and shut them up, and sent to New England
for regiment of school-mistresses.
The sending OF Reverdy johnson to New
Orleans was peculiarly unfortunate. He went
ostensiby to settle the misunderstanding
which had arisen between Gen. Butler and for
eign cotton-owners, but, on his arrival there
became the recognized friend and counsel of
the rich rebels against Gen. Butler and the
Government. He nitgated penalties, il is
said, and RENTED fines In numerous instances.
1t is known. He accepted the hospitaties of
the most notorious rebels, and had their un-
qualified. confidence to the end. He and Gen,
Butler had not spoken to each other, on ac-
count Of personal quarrel, for three wears,
which would seem to add to the inappropri-
ateness of his appointment, but which did not
at all prevent official intercourse. His patron
age of the rebel aristocracy made him ex-
tremely odious to the Union officers and army,
and the citizens who did not wish to see the
Government compromised.
Pierre Soule-well known as having been a
Senator from Louisiana and Minister to Spain
under Pierce, and now a notorious rebel
made himself most obnoxious by his officious
interference with the Union Government One
day, after an extra effort for some rebel scheme.
he called for an interview with Gen Butler.
1t was my good fortune to be in the room and
l certainly shall never forget the remarkable
scene. Soule was dignifed, cold, polite as
usual; Butler received him most civilly, rising
and taking his hand as he approached Soue
commenced what sounded like a set speech.
seen. Butler" he said with an air of deep Sc
riousness, II regret to find yourself and my
self upon different roads. We have been ac-
quainted for fifteen years; for ten years we
have been intimate friends Wehave differed
sometimes with regard to details, but have
agreedalways upon great questions of policy.
Why need we differ now? We met at Charles
ton to save the Union from the fanaticism of
the North. We preferred different candidates
you Breekenrdge, Douglas; but our po-
litical principles were identical"
There mot another word., shouted Bnt-
Ter, with an imperative gesture, as he sprs ng
TO his feet-for as the conspirator proceeded
he had been evidently warming to the inter-
ruption-"not another word, you hypocrite!
You lied to me at Charleston. ] shall never
forget how basely you lied held private in
teryiews with you there as gentlemen and