Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-01-09
Farewell Address of General
Butler.

: General Bntler's words are the words o
common sense. well worth the attention o
all the men, North az we'll as South. Ill
has tried to reconcile Union and slavery, anl
he has found it impossible to maintain both
lie was pro-sayery Democrat. His varies
E experience during the war, in most aFdu
Gus and responsible command, has shown
. him that if we are to have free government
on this continent we must destroy slavery,
5 the enemy Of free speech, of free labor, and
of popular intelligence:
" Citizens Of New Orleans: 1t may not
be inappropriate, as it is not inoppariune in
occasion, that there should be address d to
you few words at parting, by one whose
name is to be hereafter iadIssolabiy con-
nected with your city.
shall speak in no bitterness because |
am not conscious of a single personal ami
mostly. Commanding the Army Of the
Gulf, found YOU captured, but not surrend-
cred; conqurcd, but not orderly; relieved
from the presence OF an army, butincapabie
of taking care Of yourselves. 50 far from
it. if you had called upon q foreign legion
to protect you from yourselves restored
order. punished crime, opened commerce,
brought provisions 10 your starving people
reformed your currency, and gave you quiet
protection, such as You had not enjoyed for
many years.
White doing this my soldiers were sub
iected to obloquy. reproach and insult.
And now. Speaking 10 YOU, who know
the truth, here declare that whoever has
quietly remained about his business, al
| tlrding neither aid nor comfort to the enem-
les of the United States. has never been in
terfcrei with by the soldiers Of the United
States.
The me who had assumed to govern you
and t. defend your city IN arms, having
lied some OF your women fl)nted at the pres
ence Of those who came to protect them. By
simple order No. 81 called upon every
soldier Of this army to treat the women OF
New Orleans rs gentlemen would deal with
the sex, with such affect that now ell up
on the iust minded ladies Of New Orleans to
saw whether they have ever enj Eyed 81 com
plete protection and calm quit for them
selves and their families rs since the advent
Of the United States troops.
The enemies OF my country, unrcpantant
and inp.aeable. | have treated with me7.;si
severity. ! hold that rebellion is trat, M,
persisted in is death, and any punishment
| short of that due traitor give 50 much
clear gain to him from the cemency OF the
government Upon this thesis have | ad-
minlstertd the authority Of the United
States, because Of which ! am not uncop-
seious Of complaint Do not feel that |
have erred 10 too much harshnc>s, for that
harshne,s has ever been exhibited to disloy-
Al friends. r. be sure | might have regard
ed YOU with the amenities Of British eigIIiz
alton, and yet ben within the supposed
rules If civilized warfare You might haze
been smoking to death in cayerns. as were
the C5yenan;ers of Scotland by the cym-
mand Of general Of tae royal house Of
En- land. or roasted like tie inhabitants Of
Alters durin. the French rampai.n; your
wives and daGghtere might have been given
over II the raylsher Is were the uni9rtanate
danes Of Spain in the peninsula war; or
YOU might have been seaiPel and t9ma-
hAwkeI Is our mothers wer, at Wyoming
by savage allies Of Great Bri;aia in our
Eown revolution your property could have
bce,, tur ed over 10 ndi-erlminate lot
like the palace OF the Emperor o. China
works Of art which adorned yonr hui din =
might til have been ut away, a tn
paintings Of tie Vatican yaur slas IN III
nave beea blown from tht IA uths Of can
non like the Delhi aud VT all It's wruli
have been within the rules Of civilized war
fare rs prAc,icea BY III. mast polished AM
the mast hypaclliicL nations OF Europs.
FIR such acts the records Of the d5nss 81
the inhabitants OF Your city toward the