The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-10
From the " Y. Tribune Of the 9th Inst.
SPEC Oh OF MAI. GEN. BUTLER
REVIEW OF TBE SOUTHERN REvOIJIlbNBB
The Northern Sympathizers and
tho English AbettOrs.
-s--
xc., &e., &c.
sc.

] u
object OF the invitation as stated in the
card issued by the committee, was TO af-
ford the citizens of New York an oppor-
tunity of testifying their respect for Gen.
Buffers character and services in pub
| lie and appropriate manner. This invi-
tation the General accepted, declining
the honor of public dinner, which was
rendered him.
The admission was by ticket issued
| by the Loyal Legion. The Academy
was filed by a fashionable and enthusi-
astic audience, the fair sex being largely
represented The stage was occupied
by some hundred or more of the staid
and wealthy citizens. Pending the
opening of the ceremonies patriotic airs
were played by an excellent band.
About quarter before eight o'clock
General Butler made his appearance
He was led forward to the front of the
stage by Mayor Opdyke, and for several
minutes the General was kept bowling in
response TO most flattering welcome,
the vast audience rising TO their feet aud
cheering him, while the ladies waved
their handkerchiefs. The effect was
splendid. From pit to ceiling the little
perfumed squares of cambric waved like
so many miniature flags, the men cheer
ed, the band played Hail TO the Chief"
and the recipient of all this favor ac-
knowledged it in q most graceful and
self-pOss essed manner.
- t.i GENERAL BUTLER's SPEECH.
General Butler who was dressed 10
citizens clothes and wore no emblem of
military rank spoke as follows, in rich,
deep, powerful tone of voice.
THEORY OF THE WAR.
The first question, TO be ascertained
is, what is this contest in which the
country is engaged? That we are in the
midst of civil commOtion all known. But
what is ths, commOtion Is it riot?--
is il an insurrection?--is il rebellion?-
or is it a revolution? And what is riot?
A riot, if understand it is simply an
ouiburst of the passions of men for the
moment, breach of the law, to be sub
dued by civil authority. But, you say,
why treat us to defination of riot on
this occasion and why, of all things on
earth, should you undertake to instruct
a New York audience as TO what a riot
is? daughter and applause.) To that
answer: becsuse the administration of
Mr.. Buchanan dealt with this great
change of affairs in the country as if il
were a riot because his government to-
officers gave the opinion that in Charles
ton it was but riot; and as there were
no civil authorities there to call out the
militia Fort Sumter must be given over
to the rioters. That was the beginning
, Of these troubles. Let us see how
they grew up. l deal not with mere
causes, but with facts. Directly the
b guns Of the rebels were turned on Sum
b ter and the various States of the South
in convention assembled, insugurated 3
series of movements which took out o
the Union the divers States, and as each
j. was attempted to be taken out, a riot wa:
b not found in them: but they became in.
{ surrectionary, and the administration
a on the 10th day of April, 1861, as yOI
n will remember, dealt with them as an in
! surrection, and called out the militia o
the United States for the purpose of sub
l. DUNG insurrectiOn. was called at tina
b time into service to administer the laws
i. I found a riot at Baltimore. There thel
!. burned bridges, and had hardly arisen I,
the dignity of An insurrectiOn, becaus,
j. the State had not moved as an organ
, lied courAunity. Aftermen were riotinl
y in BaltiI ~ you will do me the homo
- TO remenl ~ that we offered and deter
/, mined I'd down all kinds of insur
rection 50 Tong as the State of Maryland
was and continued loyalto the Unite'
States, and so long as no attempt wa
e made at revolution, which | understand
o 10 be an infraction Of the laws. Trans
! ferred thence to wider sphere of actiol
!. AZ Fortress Monroe, / found shat the Stat
!. of Virginia had taken itself out OF th
Union, and was using every endeavor 4
erect for itself a separate and distinc
d government, andt therefore deal witt
that State as being in rebellion, and Ol
D. the ground that the property of rebels
!. in every form, shape or nature, should b
:, dealt with as rebellious property. Gap
"a plause.) Ihave been thus careful, sir, i
!, stating tho various steps that have ia
- ken because am here answering befor
III the country for acts which have done
e aud answering, too, every charge OF ineon
sistency or of wrong Wrong in judg
he ment may have been; but wrong in inten
n ton or inconsistent never. applause
y; Aud on the same theory | felt obliged
.i as loyal TO the constitution an
a, laws, TO put down insurrection /
y Maryland, whether by black or whit
as by the same law l felt myse
ne compelled TO confscate all slave pre-
~ perty in the rebellious State of Virgins
"a. | am little sensitive on this subj ect
.d' am an old Andrew Jackson Democrat {
20 twenty years standing. Applause an
three cheers for the old hero Of New o.
leans. And 80 far as know / haV
never sweryed from his teachings. Al
plause Up to the time when disunio
rs took place ! went as far as the fathes
in support Of the constitutional rights
p the South however bitter or distasiefl
TO me were the obligations which m
4. fathers assumed for me in the compr,
is misses of the constitution. They mac
them all, and il was not for me TO reje
z the bitter, / took them all Applause
Fellow democrats, | took every one b.
ls, cause they were constitutional obligi
tions- [applausel-and taking each AZ
s- all, / stood by the South and by Soutl
ern rights under the constitution, until
rs advanced aud looked into the pit of di
union aud not liking the prospect ! qu