Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-11-23
MAJ.-GEN. BUTLBR's SPEECH.


Butler at the Fifth Avenue Hotel New
York, on Monday evening, November 18th.
Hon. j. Wadsworth on behalf of the assem-
bled guests expressed their qualification at
seeing Gen. Butler, and on their behalf re-
quested from him some expression of his
views as to the results of the late election
and prospect Of the war. Gen Butler then
said:
Mr.. NADswoRTH, LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN The citizens Of New y lork have done
me honor oyermuch, your kindness, exhaus-
! ting every form known to Christian courte-
sy, oyerEhelmS me that should be able TO
add anything 10 the sum of intelligence. isa
| stlli greater honor. That | entertain very
/ distinct views upon the subjects Just advert
ed 70, Is most true. Peace hath her victo-
ries 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 O.
yer this land on the Sth 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 10 all the world who
! shall look on, and it is not now a vain boast
to be said Of America that the eyes of all
! the world are upon Us, that we are able in
| the stress and strain OF q civil war ike that
never seen before 10 carry on our institu-
! tions in peaceful quiet; that we can change
! Qr Te-elect our rulers as we weigh them in
the balance and find them either meritoriOus
or wanting, without 50 much Of trouble or
disorder or riot or commotion as attends a
constabes election IN parish in England
The moral, then, Is that a Government
| embamed III the hearts Of the people, de
pendent on the intelligence Of the people
the strongest governmental earth-strong
In the affections, stronger still in the right
arms Of the people. And when we have
heretofore been told that it was necessary
there should be either monarchy or despot-
ism to wlcld bayOnets, we see the bayonets
wielded 10y hundreds Of thousands where
other countries have not been able to WELD
ii EN- by tens, and these entirely subSerVient
to the people will.
The material results are not less striking
first in the tact that all disputed questions
which have divided- the country are now
settled by an almost unanimous verdict Of
the people. Does any one complain that in
the conduct OF military operations there
should be the arrest OF a traitor, that ques-
ton has been argued and settled and the
verdict IS guilty and arrest him when he
Is guilty cheers. does any one complain
that the true theory Of the Constitution has
been carried cut which enrolls all able bodi-
ed men to tightin defense of the country
HE and liberties, that question has been set
tled-and hereafter 1t viii be more honora-
Die to be drafted than to volunteer
Does any one complain that the Govern
ment IN It's wisdom has organized troops
irrespective OF color, and believes that the
black man would fill as much of a grave a.
If his color were winter, when he falls in
battle IN defense Of his country liberties
that question has been settled, and has pas
sed 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 queS-
ton Is settled by an overwhelming majority
LCheers and laughter And let Us look for
Il moment at the fact that if we count every
Rebel against hm-if we count every Rebel
sympathIzer against him, "a it were-if we
count every untrue, disOyal man against
him-yet he Is elected by majority second
only TO th@t with which Jackson swept over
the land In a season Of financial peril
These material results have been achiev-
ed. Now, then. what Is the duty Of the
GOveTnmentin the present and future? The
war cannot last always. The history of ua-
tiOns and the experience Of the world has
shown us this War, therefore, must come
to an end; but how? In what way? A war
Of this kind Is to be prosecuted for the pur-
pose 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 heunanimity of the
American people. In view OF the strength, |
the majesty, the might Of the nation, might
II not be suggested that now is a good time
once again to hold out to the deluded peu-
pie OF the S0sth the olive branch Of peace
and say to them come back come back
now, this Is the last time of asking. come
back and leave off the feeding on husks and
come with Us to feed upon the fat OF the
land and bygOnes shall be bygones-if' by
cones are bygones-our country shall live
IN peace hereafter Cheers Are we not
able TO offer them that, are we not strong e
n0ugh, do We not stand with Union enough
to be able to offer that to the leaders and to
all?
There might have been some complaint. |
| think, among proud and chivalrous peo-
pie, that they would not desert their leaders
IN answer to the amnesty proclamation Of
PRESIDENT Lincoln; but now, as we come to !
them and say come back and YOU shall |
find the laws the same Save and except as
they are altered by the legislative wisdom of
the land, are we not IN a condition not tax |
ing counsel of our fears or weaknesses, but |
from our strength and Inagnanimitv, again /
to make the offer, and the last time to cali |
on them, and then shall we not have ex-
hauSted all the resources Of statesInanship !
IN the effort to restore peace TO the country: !
and who shall hinder this, and if they do |
not come back who shall complain?
| ask not for the Rebel to come back af- |!
ter he has fought as long as he can and then /
70. /