The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-01-30
General Butler at Lowell, nass..-"He e
Explains HIMSELF.

LOWELL, MASS, Jan. 29.-MaJor-Gene-
raj Butler arrived here at noon yester-
day, and in the evening addressed the
citizens. There was great and enthu-
siastic gathering, 1t is estimated there
were four thousand present. The de-
mOnstratiou was of Il tlattering charac-
ter.
General Butler said he should speak of
what had happened TO the country and
what had occurred in the department to
take command of which he had left them
A year AGO last November. On assuming
the position which devOlved upon him
bv the partiality of the President, he
had looked about him to see what lie
was to do. He found eighteen thousand
freedman needing his attention. 1t had
been demonstrated that the former slave
population could make itself selt-support-
inc, and that they were capable OF edu-
cation. He said he had settled every
point regarding the exchange ot PRISON
ers but one, viz: i'll regard to colored
troops. The rebels threatened to enslave
them He then proposed to himself to
carry on a system of special exchanges
until he had reduced the proportion OF
prisoners so that while they might have
some five hundred in their hands, he
would have fifteen hundred, and then he
could say make slaves of those five hun
dred and will set these fifteen hundred
ut work.
The General referred to orders he had
received to stop all exchange. He said
that if he was asked why he left $4,000
men starving in rebel prisons, he could
- 1,ni
not on his garments.
He spoke somewhat In detail of the
movement of the Army OF the James on
Bermuda Hundred, and of the Army OF
the Potomac from Rapidan to Mechan-
icsville, the design of those movements
and the cause of their failure; and then
proceeded to speak of the affair at Will
mington and Fort Fisher.
The General spoke at some length on
that subject, and then referred to the
explosion of Dutch Gap canal. 1t did
not make perhaps so large hole as the
mine ut Petersburg, but he had not I'LL
ed it with American dead until it ran
blood. He desired to have it inscribed
on his tombstone, III that enclosure
where his remains would one day he
laid. "Here lies the General who saved
the lives of his soldiers at Fort Fisher
and Big Bethel" He had criticised no
man, no army man but he had criticised
sharply the froth which also accompanied
the "hvely Porter"
General Butler then proceeded to dis
cuss the prospects of the national cause
He was prepared for more endurance
more strife in the service of the country
If at any time in the future the country
needed his service, it would be freely
rendered, as it had in the past. Wheth
Ell mistakes may have been committed by
men at the head of affairs, we should not
spare our efforts Don't, he said, be car
ried away by any delusive idea of peace
The time for peace has not come. Io
talk of peace until the army of Lee is
either captured or whipped is futile.
See that the Union armies are kept
filled, and that recruiting goes on. ol
our ultimate success there could be nc
doubt. In conclusion Butler apologised
for speaking at such length. He was or
dered to report at Lowell, and he had re
ported in full. They had right to know
! if their welcome was worthily bestowed
He referred to the apparent prosperity
of the people and said that Gen. Terry
would send them that from Wilmington
which would make their spindles turn
with the hum of industry,