Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-12
GENERAL BUTLER's VIEWS OF THE
SLAVE INSTITUTION.

SLAVE INSTITUTION.
The opinions Of Major General Benjamin F.
Butler, of public Affairs, at such time as this,
cannot fail to produce profound and weighty
Impression upon the minds Of all thoughtful
and patriotic men In the nation. Gen. Butler,
mp to the time Of the breaking out Of this rebel
lion, belonged to what has been in political
parlnnce termed the pro-slavery wing Of the
Democratic party. lie never was suspected of
entertaining abolition views, and 1t Is just,
therefore, to conclude that the change which
has come over his mind in this regard IL the
result Of what he has seen Of the practical
workings of slavery in that region Of country
where he has been located with his command.
He speaks not as a theorizer, but as a careful
observer Of the nature and workings Of slavery
In the rebellious districts Of Louisiana. Gen
Butler does not speak to the country from any
old stand-points, nor from the light Of past
day. nor yet from personal opinions formed
and entertained in the days of peace, when the
Constitution bore sway over the whole land,
afording TO all interests the protection which
the sacred guarantees of that instrument SOL
EMMY enjoined; hut he speaks from the light
Of to-day. aud from the standpoint of a careful
and critical observation Of passing events. lie
secs slavery rampant and furious, laying Its
vnndal hands upon our institutions, and madly
determined to destroy our Government. Like
true man, patriot and statesman that he Is,
he saws, eHphdticdlly, let slavery die, that the
nation may live.
Now who has the best right to be heard, Gen.
eral Butler, who has perllled his life for the
country, or Horatio Seymour, who, for the first
twelve months of the rebellion, was a renegade
from the responsibilities of patriot, and only
returned to receive, at the hands of designing
politicians, Hunkies, and bad men, the COVER.
norship of great State, that he might he the
better able to thwart the purposes of the Gov,
eminent, in putting down the only Institution
that cndangers our liberties Who are we Ia
believe, Benjamin F. Butler, who, since the frsi
hour Of the rebellion, has been at work, with
an almost superhumRn energy, to oyermastel
the Infamous doings of traitors and secession
lists, or your Yallandighams, Coxes, Van Buren,
and Woods, and such editors as those of tn,
World, FTpreIS, Journal Of Commerce, al orpH
gc,"g, who have kept out Of harms way, ant
have kept upA constant admiration Of thei
" dear Southern BRETHREN" the traitors whC
have sought the nation q life with blood thirst
ness rarely witnessed before in this world Tn
loyal people OF this country, unless all sense Il
gone, will not be long in deciding who is mas
Ter Of the situation, and who Is to lead in ad
minlstering the quick coming blows which
shall send this rebellion staggering TO perdl
lion.
The abuse now heaped upon General Butler
by traitors, North and South, and their sympa
Ihizers everywhere, marks him distinctly a
one Of the coming men, and indicates that h
In TO figure conSplcuously in putting down TIL
rrbellion, and in saving the country.
We have frequently been inquired of VIII
General Butler was removed from his comman
al New Orleans. We cannot tell. The onl
satisfactory solution of this removal ia found
we think, In the fact that the Government In
lends to give him more important field.