The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-06-30
Speech of Gen. B. F. Butler.


Delivered at the N. " Academy Of
Music, April 2, 1868.
Gen. Butler advanced and after the tu.
multuous applause with which he was again
greeted had subsided, ho said:
Mr.. Mayor, with tho profouudest gratitude
for the two hattering commentator Of my ad
Shin;stration OF the various trusts committed
TO me by the Government, which in behalf Of
your associates, you have been pleased to ten
der me, ask you to receive my most heart.
felt thanks. To the citizens OF New York
here assembled in kind appreciation of my
services,supposed to have been rendered to the
country, under the deepest ackno owledgments
(Applause.] accept il all: not for myself,
but for my brave comrades Of the Army Of
the Gulf. [Renewed applause.J | receive
il as an earnest of your devotion to the coun.
try, an evidence of your loyalty TO the Con-
stitution under which you live and under
which you hope 10 die. In order that the
acts Of the Army Of the Gulf may be under
stood, perhaps it would be we'll, at little
length, with your permission, that some de
tail should be given to the thesis upon which
we Administered our duties. The first qucs-
tion then TO bo aseertained is, what is this
contest in which the country is engaged. At
the risk Of being little tedious, at tho lisk
even Of calling your attention to what might
seem otherwise too elementary, propose to
run down through tho history of the contest
10 see what it is that the whole country is
about at this day ani at this hour.
THE EARLY CHARACTER OF THE CONTEST.
That we are in the midst Of civil commo-
tion, all know. But what is that commotion !?
Is it riot? Is it an instruction! Is it a
rebe|lonl Or is it revolution? And pray
Sir, although It may seem still more element
ary, What is a riot? A riot If understand
it, is simply an outbarst Of the passion Of men
for The moment in breach of the Law, to be
put down and subdued by the civil authori.
ties; If it goes further, to be dealt with by
the military authorities. But you say, Sir,
"Wby treat us to definition Of riot upon
this occasionq Why, of all things, should
you undertake to instruct New York audi
cuco in what riot is| Laughter.l 10
that answer, because the Administration oil
Mr.. Buchanan dealt with this great change
of affairs as II Il were riot: because his Gov
ernment officer gave tho opion that the Char
leston il was but riot; and as there was nc
civil authority there to call out the military
therefore Sumpter must be given over TO the
rioters, and that was tho beginning OF This
struggle. Let US see how it grew up.
deal not now in causes but etfscts-in facts
Directly after the guns OF tho ks6els had
turned upoa Sumpter, the various STATES 10
the South in Convention assembled inaug
urated series of movements which TOOK ou
from the Union diverse States; and as eacl
was attempted to l,e takeu out, the riot wa
no lonoer found in them, but they became In
surrectionary; and tho Administration on th'
18th of April, 1861, dealt with 1t as an lnsuf
rection. ord called out the militia OF tn
| United States 10 subduo an insurrectlon.
was called at that time into the service, u
administer ihe laws 10 putting down :and IN
surrectiou. I found q riot at Baltimore
Thew burned bridges; but they had hardl
arisen 10 tho dignity Of an 'nsurrec'ion' DC
cause the state had not moved rs an organ
led community. A few men were rioting
Baltimore: and as marched there at IN
head of United States troops, the questIo
cana nm before me, what have l before me-
You will remember that have oferei the
10 nut down all kinds Of insurrections so lon
as The state OF Maryland remained loyal to tn
limited States. Transferred from those to
wider sphere at Fortress Monroe, l found thS
the State of Virginia though its orsanlz 'llo
had taken itsolf out Of the Union, and wa
endeavoring to erect itself into an indepeI
dent Government; and l dealt with thi
State as beiug in rebellion, and though %
propcrty of the Rebels of whatever namo
nature. should be dealt with MS robelious pr
perty and contrsband. Great applause
|, have been thus careful in stating the vario'
steps because although through your kindne
replying TO culogy, am here answering. @
cry charge Of inconsistency and wrong OF 4
tention for my acts done before the c,untr
Il Wrong in judgement may have bHcn; bt
insist. wrong in intention or inconslste
never. Upon the same theory upon whi
I felt myself bound to put down the insure
ton in Maryland, while it remained loy'
a whether that nsurrcction consisted OF blac
or whites, by the same loyalty to the Cons
tuition and laws. felt bound to confiscs
.lsve property in the rebell'ous States OF V
ginia. [Applause.
+ AN ANDREW JACKSON DEMOCRAT
m FROM THE PIT OF DIsUNIoS.
=" Pardon me, Sir, il right here say that
am little sensitive upon this subject.
an old fashion Andrew Jackson Democrat
twenty years standn ng. Applause.
voice: "The second hero OF Now Orleans
Ronewed applause eliminating in th'
cheers.] And so far as know, have nc,
swerved, so help me God, from one OF
teachings. Great appause.] Up to
RI time that Dsuaion took place, | went as
Ia. rs the furtberest in sustaining tho consti
tional rights of the States, however bitter
= however distasteful TO me were the obligatit
my fathers had made for me in the compro
ises of the Constitution, and among them
was not for me 10 pick out the sweet from
bitter: and, fellow. Democrats, took tn
all loud chccrsI; because they were consti
tional obligations applausel; and TAXI
.. them all, stood by the South and by 8
thern rights under The Constitution until