Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-04-08

~ 1Euse Dasler."
Were certain individuals whom We nov
hsve in our minds sys brought into the pres
snce Of the stern patriot Ben. Butler, Ne
don't belisvs there ID one Of them that could
stand the ordeal Of . searching investigator
such ~ the Rev Dr.. Patterson, Of Norfolk,
Va, was recently called upon to undergo.
We give below = portion Of the conversation
between "0ld Ben" aud the clerical gentle.
man, and AK our Buttsrnut friends to Try on
the garment and 80 II It IL not betting
them:
Gen. Butlsr-1 psrcsivs that In your for
msr examination you declined to answer this
question: "Do you call yourself . loyal man
in letter and spirit today"
Mr.. Armstrong Il do not decline to answer
now; If were to put my own Interpretation
upon it I should say am; but don't
know, sir.
General-Well, cir, perhaps can teach
you. Now, cir, what 10 the name Of that
gentleman who has taken the oath, and while
coming out Of the custom house with you,
made The remark that be "would Ike to spit
upou the Northern Yankeesr
Mr.. Ar. Chas. Reid. I declined to
answer on my former examination because
had not his consent to tell, sir; but since
that have seen him, and be has given me
hiS consent to mention his name.
Gsneral-Whsre il Mr.. Reid2
Mr.. Ale il in Norfolk.
General-(To IN aids.) Telegraph to Col.
Wheeler, Provost xarshal, Norfolk, to ar-
rsst Charles Reid and send him here. He
lives on Main street. -,....s,
Gsnsral-Hs stated that, % he came out
from taking the oath? .-.,
Mr.. Ayes, sir. t.-s
General-With the oath fresh on his lips
and the words hardly dry in his mouth, he
said no wanted to spit In the face. Of the
Northern Yankees? -.
Mr.. A.-Well, General, he took it with the
same view a. l did. .-.,.-.....'., .'-..'
General agree to that, sir. ,~.
Mr.. Al meant to say -- 80.
General-Stop. sir, don't like to be In.
suited. You said, cir, that that internal Sc
csssionist wanted to spit in the faces Of loyal
men Of this Union, and that you took the
oath with the same view as he did, or rather
he took it with the same view that you did
it makes no difference which, agree, sir,
that you did. I have treated you, Dir, during
this interview, with propriety and courtesy,
up to this moment, and yet you, sir, here tell
me, in order to clear this vile wretch. who
shall be punished IS he deserves, that you
took the oath to my government with the
same view that be did.
Mr.. A.-Well, sir, it was . Notifying fact
to confess that We were conquered people
and it Was the irritation growing out Of that
fact.
General-You have not helped il, sir. You
had not better 20 on in that direction any
more, sir, for your own sake. Now, sir,
while you did preach very virulent sermon
upon "the Victory Of Nanassas," At the rec.
ommendation Of the Confederate Congress
have you ever since preached in your pulpit q
sermon favorable to the Union cause, or one
that would be likely to plea.e the loyal and
displease the disloyalf
Mr.. A.-No. sir, never have.
After some further questioning, the exam.
nation was continued Is follows:
General-You said you looked upon the
hanging Of John Brown - just and right,
because he interfered with the peace Of the
country. t
Mr.. A.-Yea, sir. 7t ID
General-Very good, sir. Now, then
would you look upon the hanging Of the
prominent rebels-Jefferson Davis, for in
stance-as just and rights You know the
rebels have interfered with the peace Of the
country, and have caused rivers Of blood to
flow where John Brown only caused pints.-
What do you say to that!
Mr.. Al would not, sir. . ...
General-Are your sympathies with the
Union or Confederate cause? 4
Mr.. A.-With the Confederates.
The examination concluded with the fol.
lowing order from the General: .".
'Make an order that this man BE- commit.
ted to the guard house, in close confinement
there to remain until he can be consigned t.
Fort Hattsrss, there to be kept in solitary
confinement until further orders; and send !
copy of this examination to the officer IN
command there"
That is the style Of orders We endorse. -
None of your milk.and-water policy: sentenc,
one day and pardon the next. Those lying
rebels who take the oath of allegiance with ,
mental reservation require severity and no
leniency, and because Gen. Butler metes GU
punishment commensurate with the crime
every whining rebel in the North and out 0
it join with one accord In denouncing Butle
% "Brute." Would that the nation hai
more Brutes like unto him, who fully under
stood the crime Of Treason. 1907