Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-01-20
Gen. Butler OIL National Affairs.

Ger. Butler in his recent speech in Lowell, at
the hearty reception given hn, thus spoke Of Ma
tional matters:
have heard it said, my friends, that have
changed in some Of my ideas and thoughts on
political questions since | left you. have
changed in soms Of my IDEAS grant you, because
have learned something, (sreat appAuse,) but
that have changed 10 single principle, deny.
stand before YOU the same Democrat who for
30 many Yeas baltled for the rights Of the people
at the North, and now battle for the same rights
10 the South. have found that this rebellion isa
rebellion against the working classes without dis.
tinclion of color and | have stood upon that
question where have EVER stood, and where
shall ask YOU TO slaud-as ! know you will. The
rebellion was tegun and is carried en- for the pur.
pose If crtalinga lsuded aristocracy, which shall
give to four hundred thousand the government OF
elgh, millions of whites andto millions OF blcGs.
It is Tor that that jeff Davis and his c1Riederites
have undertaken rebellion which they chin /.
to secure the rights Of the people De you think
L it was rebellion OF the people, II would be
necessary TO resort 10 consumption 10 raise their
armies Did our fathers have to conscript men
Did not our fathers 10 forth willingly At this
time, | mvy say that more than one.half he
army Of the South is composed of men driven
into il at the point OF the bayonet. Did any
thing of this knC ever succsed before, and will
il succeed now No unless the laws OF nature
are entirely reversed.
Now let US look directly at your interests and
your lulies, for am speaking now, having Just
come from the cotton regions, where interests and
I j. L.. Ia
wish to be at the command OF those masters at
the South who could make you do as they said by
cutting oil the supply Of csuon 1t is for your
freedom from those masters that We are fighting
to-day that the people Of the South may not
claim TO be our masters, but our brothers that
We may place ourselves where they will ieel US TO
be, as We know we are, their equals, and not their
interiors ltis to correct this idea that the North
ern mau with red boo', blue eyes, ligat hair, and
all that God gives to this image oil himself, is not
equal to the sa,edrlyers, with their thin lips aud
Maid hrows-it is 10 correct this idea, say, that
we are engaged in this monentous struggle. This
is the quest on before US, and he who does not
side with US on that question says that he desires
to Kiss the feet OF these masters.
| went to Louisiana desiring to do everything
to restore ii as it wasi to see II by any possibility
| might bring the principles, the laws and the iu-
stilulions which govern that Stae into harmony
with the Union, but found there no disposition
10 have that done. found thai the arisloetaoy
looked upon Us as their enemies and | isund
,ha, the working and middlng classes looked
upon us as friends. Within the first month a..
600 Of these who compose the bone and snew
of New Orleans had taken the oath Of allegiance,
not BY lip service only, but from their hearts
and iron that day found no maa owning slaves
who would take the oath Of allegiance, except for
! the purpose Of saving bis property That wa,
|, the rule there were some exceptions. 1 found
4. the working men true 10 the Union, and ! found
: the slave owners false to the Union. ldeslt kind
, " with the working men, aud deal. har.hly will
/. the slave holder, loud Opplause.) reeog
|. ui,sd my friends and my enemies, aud ! made Al