The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-01-16
General Butler in New York.
Hrs VIEWS on SLAVERY.

Thursday the 9Th inst, on his way to Lowell.
lie was waited on in the evening Of that day
by committe, of the New York Chamber Of
Commerce, who presented him letter ten.
dering him public dinner; the letter was
also complimentary to his course in New Or
leans. The New York Times gives sketch
of Gen. Butlcr'sreply to the committc. After
expressing his qualification at the aatterng
terms of the invitation, and his inability at
present to accept it he said;
"It they should allow him to be colloquial
he would speak of few things respecting
his course in New Orleans, which had been
claped at and very severely criticised by those
who had been accustomed to act with him
politically in the past-not for the purpose
OF injuring him, but the cause of the country.
With referenc to the slavery question, his
views had undergone o radical change du-
ring his residence at New Orleans. and while
entertaining no prejudices against his old po-
litical associates, who found fault with him
on that score, he would only say to them,
that If they had gone there with the same
sentiments that he felt, they would have
come away with the sanes celingf he felt
He thought that he might say that tho prim-
cipal members Of his staff, and the prominent
officers of his regiment, without any excep-
ton, went out to New Orleans bunker DEM
ocrats of the hunkerist sort, for it was but
natural that he should draw around him those
whose views were similar to his own, and
every individual had como to precisely the
same belief on tho question of slavery rs he
no had put forth in his farewell address to the
people of New Orleans. This change came
about from seeing what all Of them saw, day
by day. In this war the entire property of
tho South was against us, because almost
the entire property of the South was bound
up in that institution. This was well.
known fact, probably, but heidi not become
fully aware of it until he had spent some
time in New Orleans.
The South had Sl63, 100000 of taxable
property in slaves, and $lG3, 100000, in all
other kinds of property. And this was the
cause why the merchants of New Orleans
had not remained loyal. They found them.
selves ruined oil their property being loaned
upon planters notes and mortgages upon
plantations and slaves, all of which property
is now reasonably worthless. Again, he had
learned what he did not know before, that
this rebellion was not q rebellion against US
but simply rebellion to perpetuatc power
in the hands of few shareholders. At first
no had not believed that slavery was the
cause of the rebellion, but attributed it to
Davis, Slidell and others. who had brought
it about to mako political triumphs by which
to regain their former ascendency.
The rebellion was against tho humble and
poorer classes, and there were in tho South
large numbers of secret societies, dealing in
cabalstic signs, organized for the purpose of
perpetuating the power Of the rich over the
power. 1t was feared that these common peo-
pie would come into power, and that three
hold against eight millions.
The first movement of these men was to
make land the basis of political power; and
that was not enough, for land could not be
owned by many persons. Then they annexed
land to slaves and divided the property into
movable and immoveable.
He was not generally accused of being q
humanitarian-at least not by his Southern
friends. (Laughter.) When he saw the
utter Generalization of the people, resulting
from slavery it struck him that 1t was an in.
stitution which should be thrust out Of tho
Union. He had on reading Mrs. Stoves
book-Uncle Toms CaJin-beleivcd it to DO
an overdrawn, highly wrought picture OF
Southern life, but he had seen with his own
eyes, and heard with his own ears, many
things which 60 beyond her book as much us
her book does beyond an ordinary school,
girls novel. He related an instance of the
shocking Generalization of society ut New
Orleans. There came into his Office wo-
man q years Of age, perfectly white, who
asked him in proper language If he would
put her in one Of her fathers houses. Her
history was this Her father had educated
her in the city of New York until she was
between II and Is years of age, and taken
her to oneof the metropolitan hotels, where
he kept her as his mistress. Not reishing
the connection, and desiring to get away
from him, she went to New Orleans, He
followed her, but she refused to live with
him at which he whipped her in the public
street and made her marry slave. She Of.
forwards resumed the unnatural relation,
going to Cincinnati, but was brought back
bv her husband or father with a child be-
longing to somebody. Her father fed from
the city at the time of its occupation by the
United States forces, leaving her in state
of restitution. She wanted to live in one of
her fathers houses, but her story was not
credible. and he determined to investigate
it. TO his surprise, it was found to be well
known. and testimony to its truth obtained
from A, B and Q, without any difficulty.
Notwithstanding this fact, widely known rs
it was this man could DO elected in Louisiana,
in the city of New Orleans, Judge of one
OF the courts.
On one occasion one of his aids brought
before him q young woman. almost white.
who had been brutality whipped and turned
out of the house Of her father. For this out
rage the man had been made to pay q fine of
$1,000 and give tho woman a deed of eman.
cipation. (Applausa) These were tho kind
Of charges brough against him. (Cheers,
and cries OF "Good!") Yes no rightmin.
1ed man could be sent to New Orleans with
out returning an unconditional anti-slavery
man, even though the roofs of the houses
were not taken off and the full extent of the
exposed.
All tho lower class of the people of New
Orleans were loyal. During the first fourteen
Jays after the Union forces entered the city,
fourteen thousand took the oath of allegiance;
md when he went on board the steamer on
his return to the North. at least one thou
sand laboring men came down upon tho levee,
md uttered no words except those Of good
will to him rs the representative Of the Gov