Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-03-18
! PASSAGE FROM PARTONss LIFE
or HITLER

I
OF BUTLER.
The third chapter of this interesting book just
from the press, introduces Gen. Butler, (soms-
times stigmatized as Brute Butler" by the re-
fined CopPerheads,) in the character of an un-
compromising patriot and unpurchasabls frisnd
of the Union, which he assumed upon the in
slant that the rebellion unmasked its internal
designs The following is Mr.. Parton's sketch
of the evidence which opened his immediate
course: Ut will be remembered that Gen. But
Ter had been in the Charleston Convention, and
voted steadily for the nomination of Brecksn-
rioge.
After the election of Mr.. Lincoln, Gen. But
Ter repaired to Washington, in December, &C.
cording to previous arrangement at Baltimore,
in order to confer with the Democratic leaders
upon the future course of the party. South Car
olina had already seeded. Her Commissioners
were already at the Capitol to negotiate the
terms of desperation. ExcitementaDd alarm per-
Vaded all circles. Upon visiting his Southern
frieds, Gen. Butler found that in the opinion Of
almost all of them nothing remained but to ar
range the details of secession. %What does all
this mean?" asked Gen. Butler Of an old South
ern Democrat few hours after his arrival in
Washington. 1T means simply what il ap-
pears to mean. The Union is dead. The sx-
pertinent is finished. The attempt of two COM
munities having no interest in common, abhOr-
ring one another, TO make believe that they are
one nation, has ceased forever. We shall estab-
lish sound, homogeneous government, with no
discordant elements. We shall have room for
our Northern friends. Come with u.s." @Hays
you counted the COST Do you really think yoc
can break up this Union2 Do you think so your
self" II do" %You are prepared then for civ
il lwar3 You mean to bring this thing toths Is
sue of armsf" "Oh, there viii be no war. The
North won't fight !" @Tbe North lciu fight"
SThe North can't fight. We havefriends enough
at the North to prevent it. You have friends
in the North as long as you remain true to the
Constitution. But let me tell you, that the mo-
ment that it is seen that you mean to break up
the country, North is a unit against you. lean
answer, at least, for Massachusetts,. She is good
for ten thousand men. to march, at once, against
armed secession Massachusetts is not such
fool. Ifyour State should send ten thousand
men to preserve the Union against Southern ss-
cessiOn, she will have to fight twice ten thou
| sand of her own citizens at home who will op-
pose the policy" No sir; when we come from
Massachusetts we shall not leave single traitor
behind, unless he is hangingon tree" SWell,
we shall see." aYou l1M see. know some
thing of the North, and good deal about New
Ebgland,where / was born and have lived forty
two years. We are pretty quiet now, because
we don't believe yOu mean to carry out your
threats We have heard the same story at eve
ry election these twenty years. Our people do
not yet believe that you are in earnest. But let
me tell you this: As sure as you attempt to
break up this Union, the North will resist the
attempt TO its last man and its last dollar. You
are as certain to fall as there is God in Heav.
en-. One thing you may do; you may ruin the
United States. and extinguish your institution
of slavery. From the moment the first gun is
fred upon the American flag your slaves viii
not be worth five years purchase. But as to
breaking up the country, it cannot be done
God and nature, and the blood of your fathers
and mine, have made it one; and one country It
must remain
Upon the withdrawal of Major Anderson from
Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, General Butler,
regarding that as decisive event. and certain
that war was impending, prepared to take his
departure from Washington. He had, however,
a final and protracted interview with the South
ern leaders. For several hours he reasoned
with them, pointing out the folly of their course,
and warning them of their disastrous and dis
graceful failure. The conversation, though
warm and earnest on both sides, was friendly.
He was once more invited to Join their enter
prise, and share in the sound and homogens-
Gus government which they meant to estab-
lish. He left them no room to doubt that he
was ready to risk everything in the cause This
country, and late at night they separated to know
one another no more except as mortal foes. The
next morning, Gen. Butler went to Senator VIII
son, of Massachusetts,, an old political opponent,
though long personal acquaintance, and urged
him to join in advising the Governor Of that
State to prepare the militia Of Massachusetts, for
taking the field.
Gen. Butler left Washington with the belief
that the war would soon be commenced by the
seizure of the capital, and the inauguration Of
Mr.. Breckenridge, some other popular man,
in place of MIR. Lincoln. He found the North
anxious but still incredulous. He lost no time
in advising Governor Andrew to get the militia
of the State IN readiness to march at daY'sno-
tice. The Governor, though slow to believe
that war was imminent, adopted the suggestion.
General Butler further advised that two thou
sand oyercOats be made as the men were already
provided with nearly every requisite for march
ing, except those indispensable garments which
there was sturdy opposition, since it involved
the expenditure of twelve thousand dollars, and
that for an exigency which Massachusetts, did
not believe likely to occur. One gentleman,
high in Office, said that Gen. Butler made the
proposal in the interest of the moths of Boston,
which alone would get any good of the over
coats. Others insinuated that he only wanted
good contract for the Middlesex Wool Mills, in
which he was large shareholder. The worthy
and patriotic Governor, however, strongly rec
Ommended the measure, and the 0verccets were
begun. The last stitches in the last hundred Of
them were performed while the men stood down
upon the common waiting to strap them to their
knapsacks before getting into thecars for Wash
ington.