The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-04-17
Great Speech Of Gen. Butler in New
York.

| ."N S0VPoi iusuiulo ON lnuhSuhy even
ing, April Cd, by one of the largest and
most enthusiastic assemblages ever con.
vened within wells in New York City,
The Tribune says "It was a grand out
pouring Of the determined loyalty Of this
tmporium--a tribute from the heart Of
New York 10 one Of the coun,ry's ablest
and most effective defenders" Maj. Gen.
Wool, upon advancing TO take his seat on
the platform, was greeted with warm ap.
plause, WHICH !he veteran acknowledged
in few firm and patriotic words. Upon
the appearance OF the Hero OF the Gulf,
the enthusiasm knew no bounds, anc il
was sometime before the Introductory ad.
eress Of Mayo 0pdyke could be made
When the Mayor had concluded, Gen.
Butler, who was in citizens dress. ad.
vanced, and after the tumultuous applause
with which lie was sgain greeted had sub.
sided, he said ..- ............ 20
MR. MAYoR - With the profoundest
gratitude for the too fai.ering commend
alton OF my administration OF the various
trusts committed TO me By the Govern
MEET, which, IN behalf OF your associates,
you have been pleased 10 tender me,
ask you 10 receive my most heartfelt
thanks. To the citizens Of New.York
here assembled in kind appreciation Of my
ser, ices supposed TO have been rendered
to the country, tender the deepest &C.
knowledgments. GApplause. l accept
it all; not for myself. but for my brave
comrades Of The Army OF tho Gull. IRE
pewed applause. receive il as an earn
est OF your devotion 10 The country, an ev.
idence oiloyalty TO The Constitution under
which you live, and under which you hope
to die. In order that the acts Of the
Army OF the Gulf may be understood,
perhaps II would be well at little length,
with your permission. tha. scme datail
should be given 10 the thesis upon which
we administered our duties. The first ques.
ton then 10 be ascertained is, what is this
contest in which the countryis is engaged -
Al The risk even of calling your attention
10 what might seem otherwise too elpmen-
tary, propose TO iur down through the
history OF the coniest,to see what Il is that
the whole country is about q, this day
and this hour. That we are in the midst
OF civil commotion, all know. And what
is that commotion ? Is ita rio. ?. Is itan
instruction? ? Is it rebellion I? Or is il
revolution ? And pray, sir, although
it may seem still more elementary, what
is riot T? A riot, II understand 10, is
simply an outburs, Of the passion of men
Tor the moment in breach ofthe law, 10 be
put down and subdued by the civil author.
nj 4 ~ (,,e,t L.. i "a -
by the military authorities. But YOU saw.
air, why treat us 10 de6nation Of a
riot upon this occasion? Why, Of all
things, should you undertake to instruct
New York audience what'a riot is ?'--
Laughter. To that answer, because
the Administration OF MIR. Buchanan dealt
with this great change of affairs as il it
were riot; because his Government
,fficer gave the opinion that in Charleston
il wac but a riot /; and as there was no
civil authority there TO call out the mill.
tary, therefore Sumter must be given over
10 the rioters {; and that was the begin
ming of this struggle. Let us see how il
grew up deal not now in causes, but
in effects--in facts. Directly after the
guns of the Rebels had turned upon Sum.
ter, the various States Of the South, in
Convention assembled, inauguraled a Sc.
ries OF movements which took out from
the Union divers States, and, as each was
attempted to be taken out, the riot was no
longer found in them, but they became in
surreciionary and the Administration,
upon tho 18th of April, 1861, dealt with
il as an insurreetion, and called out the
militia OF the United States to subdue an
insurrection. was called at that time
into The service, to administer the law in
putting down an insurrection. l found
rio: at Baltimore. They burned bridges;
but they had hardly arisen 10 the dignity
OF an insurrection, because the State had
not moved as an organized community
A few men were rioling at Baltimore :;
and, as marched there at the head of
United States troops. the question came
up before me. You will remember that
I offered then 10 put down all kinds of in
surreclions so long as the State of Mary.
land remained loyal to the United States.
Transferred from thence to wider
sphere at Fortress Monroe, found that
the State OF Virginia through its organ,za-
tion had taken iiselfout Of the Union, and
was endeavoring 10 erect for itself an in.
dependent Government; and Idealt with
that State as being in rebellion, and
thought the property OF the rebels, of
whatever name or nature, should be dealt
with as rebellious properly and contra
band. [Great applause. have been
thus careful in stating ibe various steps,
because, although through your kindness
replying TO eulogy, | am here asweripg
every charge Of Inconsistency and wrong
of intention for my acts done before the
country. Wrong in judgment may have
been; but. insist, wrong in intention or
inconsistent, never. Upon the same the
ory upon which / felt myself bound 10 put
down iusurrection in Maryland, while 1t
remained loyal, whether that insurrection
consisted OF blacks or whites, by The same
loyalty 10 the Constitution and laws, l
felt bound to con6scate slave property in
the rebellious Stale OF Virginia. Zap.
plause. Pardon me, sir. IL right here
| kaN ls,tl. Al Z.