The Burlington weekly hawk-eye., 1863-02-07


sral just removed from the command Of . DSs'
psrtment which he had SO administered for
eight months, as to earn the good will of every
Loyalisf, and the hearty hate of every rebel,
reducing meanwhile the most Indignantly re-
bellious CITY Of the South, to unquestionipg
obedience, and showing himself in all respects,
one Of the few men in, or service equal to its
y every well, M. President" !" said the, Gene
ral, am here, ready forduty if you want me;
ifnot. Iqshould very much like to, goto Lo-,
well.'',os teas "a, =, ....aa,.-.f. 80,
Certainly We want you, replied the Presi-
dent, sand at once. / want you to 60 to the
West and take command Of al the negroes in
the Valley Of the Mississippi, organize them
into armies and occupy the country ss fast as
our forces conquer it. You shall have full au
thority and every possible facility for the
work" ts'S3to y = = qHs ,Pfsat seg
e every good, Mr. President, am ready to
start at once. / think understand what you,
want and how you want it. If you will give
me the authority need to accomplish it, you
may rely on the work being done" 90 81
''What authority do you want, General!
You shall have the most ample. II = : :
''Only the command d-in-chief of all the ar
mics in the Mississippi Valley" - st
There was an answer! The President and
General Halleck, and Secretary Stanton, who
had como in during theinteryiew, we're not un-
naturally little surprised, and asked for an
explanation, General Butler said in sub
stance, that if the President wished him to 20
out West, only to organize into regiments and
brigades the negroes who came within the
Union lines, there were lieutenants enough in
the army who could do that as we'll as he.-
'tYou don't want to send one Of your Major
Generals out West as . recruiting sergeant"
But il, as he supposed must be intended, the
President wished him to undertake the admin.
tion Of scheme for the reception of the liber-
ated slaves into the Union service, and still
further to construct system by which ct once
the negroes should be usefully employed, the
country subdued, and great States reduced to
loyal allegiance, then he must have adequate
means at his disposal. He knew the difficult
ties of such task, but was ready to attempt
it. His only condition WAS that already nam
ed. Without full control he would attempt
nothing, because failure would be certain.
"But suppose, General" Interrupted the
President. g we give you the command you de-
sire, where will you establish your ead.auarters
ct first ?" ~ ,f3eA r "a .',st -e,' So. r
=" At New Orleans I" ,sf q s4 i.
+ but do you consider in what position that
would place Gen. Banks ?" ~
"Yes. In exactly the position in which
found myself two weeks ago." a.ssa - aa
The conversation was protracted, but termi-
mated without a decision. Neither Stanton nor
Halleck would assent to Gen. Butler's proposal,
| and the President as usual, hesitated. )
Meeting General Halleck after ward, General
Butler was assured BY him in the most positive
terms that there we're no military reasons for bis
removal; that he regretted it personally; and
! that It was wholly due to the complications with
foreign powers which had arisen out of the cases
At New Orleans affecting foreign subjects. Sec.
| retary Seward WAS next encountered, and that
distinguished official not less than Gen. Halleck
deplored the removal, and of course blandly in
| vited the General to dinner. At dinner Mr..
Seward declared that ifit had depended on him.
self or his Department General Butler would
| have retained his place at New Orleans; that
be understood there were some reasons of
military character which required his displacs-
ment; but that he could assure him positively
that matters Of State or relations with foreign
Powers bad nothing whatever to do With it.
"Mr. Secretary" replied General Butler, I
have the most profound confidence in every
statement you make to NE. / only wish to re-
mark, however, that your General Halleck here
is the most consummate;" but it really won't do
to 6nish that sentence. The intelligent reader
msy supply the dash as best agrees with his own
views of the facts, and of General ,Halleck's
we'll known character for veracity, which is
equal, perhaps, even to that Of Secretary
Seward. V5as ~
T Now the foregoing conversation lie not in
whole or in part imaginary. It is . record of
what did actually occur. I have omitted much
that was said, but have given the substance of
the more important parts The President could
not make up bis mind to restore General Butler
at once, which would have been Q manly and
honorable course and the question vas undeter.
mined when Gen. Butler left Washington. though
he was then of opinion that nothing would be
done about it. Since that time, however. the
expressions of public opinion in favor of Gen.
Butler have been SO nearly unanimous and 40
cordial, ard the irresolution and concilistory
policy Of General Banks, coupled with his milf
tary delays and qualified support of the emanci.
patton policy, have appeared in such unfsyora-
BILE contrast with Buffers promptness and deci
sion and administrative ability, that it has be-
come plain, even to Washington vision. that
Gen. Butler, mast 60 back to his old post The
interests Of the country are too momentous and
the exigency too pressing to permit any longer
regard to personal considerations. And of
course, II Gen. Butter ls restored to command,
the bloody threats of Jefferson Davis must be
met by the announcement of instant retaliation,
Whom the flag covers ths Government must
protecs. EXT Hs;ts o. ta9r a+p -s.r, 80.
{ 1t seems to have, been almost forgotten that
the doom impending over Butler was announced;
for General Hunter also, not long after his proc
lamation declaring freedom by martial law. and
as an incident Of il, in the Department Of the
South, was issued Yet the Government has
sent back General Hunter without word. Gen
Butler is Lot the man to be- sent back. unless
with a faip understanding on this /. point for
though be is careless Of bis personal safety TO
degree lhat ip Q General is .culpable, he is not
,ipsensible TO the dignity Of his position n COM
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