The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-11-24
THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
Gen. Butler on the Results of
the Late EIecliOn---His Views
Touching the war. aa

On the evening of the 14th inst. the
citizens of New York city rendered Maj.
Gen. Benjamin f. Butler public recep-
tion for the ability and skill displayed by
him in the discharge of the onerous du-
ties of prime conservator Of the public
peace of that city during the period of
the late election. Inresponse to the unan-
imous request of those present, Maj Gen.
B. gave expression to his views as to the
results of the election and concerning the
war. He said - .as.,cr-ea
The citizens of New 7 ork have done
me honor overmuch; your Kindness eA-
hausting every form known to Christian
courtesy, overwhelms me that [ should
be able to add anything to the sum of
intelligence is still greater honor. That
/ entertain very distinct views upon the
subjects just adverted to is most true
Peace hath hervictories, no less renowned
than war, and of all the peaceful victories
ever achieved In the interests Of human
freedom, that achieved in the peaceful
quiet that almost brooded over this land
on the 9Th of November was the greatest
Before we proceed for a moment to look
at the material results, let us look at the
moral 1t has taught to all the worlo
who shall look on, and it is not now vain
boast to be said IN America that the eyes
of all the world are upon Us, that, we are
able In the stress and strain OF civil war
like that never seen before to carry on our
institutions in peaceful quiet that we can
change or re-elect our rulers as we weigh
them In the balance and find them either
meritorious or neutrality-suspicious. SO much
Of trouble or disorder or riot or commotion
as attends constable's election in a par
ish in England. Fhe moral, then, Is that
a Government embalmed In the hearts of
the pceple. dependent on the Intelligence
of TIE people, is the strongest Government,
on earth-strong in the Affections, stronger
still In the right. arms Of the people. Aud
when We have heretofore been told that 1t
was necessary there should be either mon
archy or despetism to WELD bayopets, We
see the bayonets welded by. hundreds of
where other countries have not
been able to WELD them bY tens ard these
entirely subservient to the peoples will.
The material results are not less strl-
king. first in the fact that all disputed
questions which have divided the country
are now settled by an almost unanimous
verdict of the people. Does any one c om-
plain that In the conduct of military OPP
erations there should be the arrest Of q
traitor that question has been argued
aud settled and the verdict is "guilty aud
arrest him when he is guilty" Does any
one complain that the true theory Of the
Constitution has been carried out which
enrolls all able-bodied men to fight in de-
tense cf the country's life and liberties;
that question has been setiled-and here
after 1t Will be more honorable to be draf-
ted than TO volunteer. Does any one
complain that the Government in its wis
dom has orgn nized troops irrespective of
color, and believes that the black man
would Ell as much of a grave as if his
cnlcr were winter, when he falls in battle
ip defense of his country's liberties; that
question has been settled, and has passed
away forever to be among the things that
are past. Does any one now claim, as
was claimed in 1860, that Abraham Lin
coin is President of a minority; that
question is settled by an overwhelming
y. Auu lct uS iOOh lOt d uiOuicul
at the fact that if we count every Rebel
against him-if we count every Rebel
against him, as they we're
If we count every untrue, disloyalo man
against him--yet he is elected by a ma
jarity second only to that with which
jackson swept over the land in a season
of financial peril. sis sasa1 sa1Iaaa4gs bis
These material results have been
achieved. Now, then, what is the duty
of the Governmen. in the present and
future. The war canne6 last always. The
history of nations the experience of
the world has showtll6s this. -4The war,
therefore, must come to an end but how?
In what way? A war Of this kind is to
be prosecuted for the purpose of breaking
down the power of those opposed to the
Government and bringing them into its
folds and under the supremacy of its
laws. In view, therefore, of the unanim-
ity oe the American people. in view Of the
strength, the majesty, the might of the
nation, might it not be suggested that now
is good time once again to hold out to
the deluded people of the South the olive
branch of peace, and say to them, "Come
back, come back nov; this is the last time
Of asking come back, and leave off the