The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-12-24
GENERAL HITLER.

France, aud the Northern CtaIeS III tue
rhe interest Of the South? We see this
commander abused everywhere. He Is
constantly appearing in Mr. Stewards s
diplomatic correspondence; he is the
American Haynau of the London Times
the beast of the Richmond Enquirer
the despot of the New York World
Men of doubtful loyalty assai him in the
most malignant terms, and men whose
loyalty is not doubtful hesitate to say a
word in his favor 1t seems impossible
for the reasonable journals 10 keep their
temper when they speak Of him They
assaii him without reservation, and more
particularly since the report Of Hon.
Reyerdy johnson has been presented to
the Secretary of State. Why this wise
aud judicious statesman should be sum-
moued into the contest as an enemy cf
General Butler We DO not see. He has
merely decided that in his dealings with
some Of the foreign cousuls the General
misapprehended certain principles of in
teIaational law This decision General
Butler accepts, and the Secretary Of State
approves. Here the matter would Ue
naturally supposed to end. Bot the en-
emies Of the country receive the cue, and
now We hear the whole pack furiously y at
his heels
What has General Butter done? His
quarrel with the consuls was mistake
His order in relation TO the women of
New Orleans was misapprehenslon. 81
answered" says Mr. Seward, in his reply
TO Mr. Stuart, "that lie must ask bis
Government, in reading that prOcIama
tion, 10 adopt rule of construction which
the Bri ish nation had elevated TO the
dignity of principle. and made it the
motto Of their national arn.s-'HODt soft
gpi NAL 3 psnse'" The other charges
must be- permitted to answer themselves.
iieueIal Butler is said to be a tyrant.-
Whom has he oppressed? ? Is it such
men as Pierre Soule i? Pierre SOui1 was
n traitor. He gave allegiance to the Con.
federaGe Government. He was the lead
ING spirit IN rebel organization, aud was
arrested for avowing his sympathy with
the rebel cause. Are we to D'ame him
for executing Mumford Then we GEN.
sure the only General who has avenged
with death deliberate insult to his flag
Are we to denouuce him as inhuman for
impriscuing Mrs. Phillips! Then we
submit to insult and wrong towards our
gallant dead. and manifest 10 resentment
towards those who villify them. We call
him "a thief-yet whom has he robbed =!
What loyal man has he deprived of pen
Dy +? what disloyal man can say that he
has sequestrated property with selfish
motive We pass over these combined
assaults upon Gene;al Butler and we find
no specified charge-uo allegation that
bears trace Of truth-nUthlng but an
gry defamation.
Without making any general defence
of General Butler-for we do not think
il necessary-we will say this IN his be,
hah. or all the Generals In cur army,
he is the one most detested by the rebels.
They hate him with all the bitterness OF
the Southern character. Ii Is an endless
fierce, uureasonlng hate-wlthout motive,
purpose, or explanation. lie is not even
Northern man to them, but the embod
iment Of all that is false, aud va gar, and
sordid In the Yankee character lie is
we repeat, the only commander who made
the dishonor of our flag a fatal crime
lie Is the statesman cf this war, for ht
was the first General 10 see the over
weeuing Importance OF slavery as an ele
lueut of strife. and when he pronounced
property in man contraband Of war, Ii,
liberated thousands Of men. And III hi
intercourse with the rebels Of the South
he has been SO firm, unyieldIag, and re
lentless that treason In New Orleans l
little more than IA dark memory of tn
past. General Butler may not be grea
military communicable may not be
..gentIemau" after the fashion Of til
South-he may not be believer IN tn
new policy of conciiiation and comFron
I.e bat from the beginning until thl
time, through evil report and good report
he has served the Union with the fdeiit
of the patriot and the rigor Of the soldier
And the best evidence of his value 10 ou
cause is the wild hatred which the ent
mics Of that cause Destow upon hIu
Hatred such as this is the best compl
ment the true patriot can receive fro'
those who are destroying our peace, mu
dcring our friends, and endeavoring
ruin cur beloved country.-FOr"c
Var Press.
RETIRED FISTIANIC HERO.-A di