The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-11-26

General Buffers Peace PrOposi-
saon-The Oovo with the O1Ave
Branch.
The da2tsring public reception given to
0aneral Butler at the tilfh Avenue Hotel,
on Monday eyening lAet, was, IN many re-
spects, . remarkable event. It was remark
able in view Of the object Of his visit to this
metropolis and in view q the object Or the
meeting: Il was remarkable from the NUM-
bers Of distinguished, beautiful and inter
esting ladies who graoed the festival with
their presence; but 1t was most remarkable
"a this-thas General Butler, disguised IN
the plumago Of war, appeared on this occa-
sion q the dove. returning from the subet-
ding waters Of the deluge, and bearing II
his mouth the olive branch Of peace.
for our .:miseuided brethren Of the South. ,
Regarded by them a. the embodiment Of
all the vices, all the cruelties and all the
crimes incident to human depravity, they
have learned to designate Gen. Butler a.
"Butler. the tyrant," ''Butler, the robberJ"
sBut.er, the Infamous" and .Rutler, the
Beast" This last choice distinction. - ex-
pressing all that is vile and abominable,
of JEFF. Davis a. that other favorite epithet
Of "Lincoln, the Ape" What will these
people of the South think Of this much
abused man Butler, whom they have de-
clared m outlaw, beyond the pale OF ran
som or pardon, and for whose head they
have offered the value Of hundred negroes
what will they say of him when, seixing
the overwhelming verdict OF the country
for the war, he gracefully and graciously
peace9 If there be anything OF Southern
chivalry remaining, between Richmond
and Mobile, surely this voluntary oderlng
from General Butler of kindness for ha-
tired, and charity for abuse, will disarm
even the most feroCi0us fre-eater Of his
resolutions Of vengeance. General Butler
thinks that the late election has 90 far Sus-
tanned the administration, and has 70 COM
pletely strengthened .ts hands for decisive
war, that it is now in the best possible po-
sition to try again . liberal offer of peace.
This il what he proposes to our rebellious
Southern brethren. Hewould say to them:
ssCome back, come back, and leave of feed
ing ON husks, and share with 10 the fat Of
the land, and by-gones shall be by-gones,
and in one country, and with one law, We
shall live in peace hereafter" And it Is no
stinted or halfway forgiveness that he Of
fers. He proposes it ITO all, If all will sub
NIT to the laws" and he very convincingly
asks :-"By SO doing shall we not. in the
eyes Of the world, have exhausted all the
resources Of statesmanship' in our effort to
restore peace to the countryf"
Such is the amnesty suggested by Gen'l
Butler in behalf Of peace. II contemptu-
ever, he proposes the fearful alternative Of
war on the plan Of civilian the Conquer
or''-war to subjugation, confscation and
the colonization Of the enemy's lands by
our own soldiers. This terrible alternative,
we do not think, from the present military
situation, will be necessary in any event;
but We do most cheerfully concur in the
Invitation to peace to the rebellious States
on the basis Of q liberal amnesty. In trying
It, whether accepted or rejected, the admin
istration will be viudicated before the world
and the people Of the loyal States will be-
come unit in its support.
From the interesting fact that, upon the
heels Of this peace speech Of Gen'l Butler,
the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher nominated
him for the next Presidency, we infer that
isfactory to the abolition war radicals,
while, on the other hand, the universal am
nesty proposed is all that could be reason
ably asked by Vallaudigham and the peace
copperheads. Therefore, when the Sscre-
tary Of War shall have heard officially from
General Sherman, and that the military
game Of chess now being played in Georgia
is completely under his control. we would
respectfully recommend to President Lin
coin the adoption Of General Buffers peace
propositions, and the allowance of the in
terval Of grace suggested TO the anniversa-
~ Of General Jackson's victory of New
Orleans. Inthe meantime it will be feath-
er in the cap of the General that he stands
the first public man in the country to pro-
pose generous amnesty in behalf Of peace
after q national election which has fully
justified and strengthened the administra-
ton for the subjugation of the rebellion by
force Of arms.-N. Y. Herald.