The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-10
5a>i BEN BUTLRR.gsa
Reception. I and Speech at Lowell.
sharp Hitss as t3snefalinGrans and
Ei5d1e yAdmirak Porter, slisiFgas,rnr

Gen. Butler said he should speak Of what
had happened to the country and what had
occurred in the department. to take COM !:
mand of which, he had left them q, year
ago last November. On assuming the POI
sit'on which devolved upon him by the
partiality Of the President, he had looked
soout him to see what he had to do. He
found IL, 900 freedmen needing his action.
1t had been demonstrated that former
slave population could make itself self.
SUSTAINING, and they were capable of edu-
catlon. he said he had settled every
point regarding exchange Of prisoners but
one, namely, in regard to colored troops
the rebels threatened to enslave them. ~
He then proposed to himselft to carry on
system of special exchanges, till he had
reduced the proportion of prisoners. 40
that while they might have some 5000 in
their hands, he would have $4,000. and
then he could say, make slaves of those
5000, and will set these $4,000 at work,
and we will see. e.i
The General referred to orders he had
received to stop all recruiting, and said
that If he-was asked why he left $1,000
men starving in rebeldom, he would de.
clare that the stain of their blood was not
On his hands. He spoke in detail of the
movements of the army Of the James at
Bermuda, and of the army of the Potomac
from the Rapidan on Mechanicsville, and
the design of these moves, and the causes
OF their failure, and then proceeded to
speak of affairs at Wilmington and Fort
Fisher. The General spoke at length on
this subject, and then referred to the ex-
plosion of the Dutch Gap Canal. It did
not make perhaps SO large hole as the
mine at Petersburg, but he had not filed
it with American dead till it ran blood.
He desired to have it inscribed on his
tomb, in that little inclosure where his
remains would one day be -"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 had criticised somewhat sharply the
froth which always accompanied lively
Porter. $50 ~ a.. ;
Gen. Butler then proceeded to discuss
the prospects OF, the national cause. He
was prepared for more endurance, more
strife in the service of the country. fiat
any time in the future the country needed
his service it would be freely rendered.
As in the past, whatever mistakes may
have been committed by men at the head
of affairs, we should not spare our efforts.
Don't he said, be carried away by any de-
lusive idea Of peace. The time for peace
had not come. To talk of peace until the
army CT Lee is either captured or whipped
is useless See that the Union armies are
kept filled, and that recruiting goes on.
OF our ultimate success there could be no,
doubt eesfa f,oirrf
In conclusion Gen. B. apologized for,
speaking at such length. He was ordered
to ''report at Lowell, I" and he had report
ed in .fuH They had right to know if
their welcome was worthily bestowed. He
referred to the apparent prosperity of the
people. He said Gen. Terry would send
them that from Wilmington that would
make all their spindles hum with in
dustry. -1t-.,....