American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-12-07
Gen, Buffers Speech.

was waited upon by a goodly portion of
the ladies and gentlemen of that city, on
whose behalf Hon. James Wadsworth, ex-
pressed to the General their thanks for
his valuable services in the preservation
of order throughout the city on election
day as also, for his distinguished servi-
ces during the progress of the present
civil war, and invited the General to favor
them with his views on the present situa-
tion of affairs. The following is his re-
sponse;
GEN. BUTLER then said:
Mr. WADswoRTH, LADIES AND GEN
TLEMEN The citizens of New York have
done me honor overmuch, your kindness,
exhausting every form known of Chris
tian courtesy, overwhelms me; that l
should be able to add anything to the
sum of intelligence, is still greater hon
or. That entertain very distinct views
upon the subjects just adverted to, is
most true. Peace hath her victories no
less renowned than war, and of all the
peaceful victories ever achieved in the
interests of human freedom, that achiev-
ed in the peaceful quiet that almost brood
ed over this land on the Sth of Noyem-
Der, was the greatest.
Before we proceed for moment to
look at the material results, let us look at
the moral. 1t has taught to all the world
who shall look on, and it is not now a
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 a
civil war like that never seen before, to
carry on ourinstitutions in peaceful quiet;
that we can change or re-elect our rulers
as we weigh them in the balance and fiud
them either meritorious or wanting, with
out so much eff trouble or disorder Or riot
or commotion as attends a constable's
election in parish in England.
The moral, then, is that Government
embalmed in the hearts of the people, de-
pendent on the intelligence of the peo-
pie, is the strongest on earth-strOng IN
the affections, stronger still in the right
arms of the people. And when we have
heretofore been told that it wasnecessary
there should be either monarchy Oh des
potism to WELD bayonets, we see the bay
onets welded by hundreds Of thousands
where other countries have not been able
to WELD them by tens, and these entirely
subservient to the peoples will.
The material results are not less strik-
ing: first in the fact that ali disputed
questions which have divided the coun-
try are now settled by an almost unani-
nous verdict of the people. Does any
one complain that in the conduct Of mill
tary operations there should be the arrest
of traitor, that question has been argu-
ed and settled and the verdict is equity,
and arrest him when he is guilty
| [Cheers.] Does any one complain that
the true history Of the Constitution has
been carried out which enrolls all able
bodied men to fight in defense of the
country's life and liberties; that question
has been settled-and hereafter it will be
more honorable to be drafted than to vol
| untecr.
Does any one complain that the Gov
ernment in its wisdom has organized
troops irrespective of color, and believes
that the black man would fill as much Of
grave as if his color were whittier, when
he falls in battle in defeuse of his coun-
try'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 Lincoln is Presi-
dent of minority-that question is set
tied byan overwhelming majority. [Cheers
and laughter And let us look for a mo-
ment at the fact that If we count every
Rebel against him-if we count every
Rebel sympathizer against him, as they
were-if we count every untrue, dlsloyal
man against him-yet he is elected by
majority second only to that with which
jackson swept over the land in season
of financial peril.
These material results have been achiev
ed. Now, then, what is the duty Of the
Government in the present and future?
The war cannot last always. The history
of nations and the experience of the
world aas shown us this. War, there
| fore. 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