The Portland daily press., 1865-02-02
MISCELLANY.
James Brooks Us. Gen. Butler.


All that Brooks had to go upon in accusing
an eminent lnanof robbery, was the report OF
q case, in which General Butter was charged
with taking fifty thousand dellars in gold from
q secessionist in New Orleans, and apprcpri-
ating it TO his own use. The charge was on
Its face improbable, for, in the first place, Gen.
Butler is wealthy enough not 10 be tempted
by such paltry sum as fifty thousand DOL
lars; and again, he is too shrewd to engage
in transaction in which detection was GER
tain, and at the same time ruinous. we are
leaving out of the question the supposltlon
that he is honest, because those who brought
this accusation against him hold that not only
he, but every other Union general, with the
exception Of perhaps, Mcclellan and Buell.,
has violated the whole ten commandments.
It was shown by the documents and letters
read by Mr.. Boutwell, in the House OF Repre-
sentatives, that General Butler seized sum
of fifty thousand dollars in gold, at New Or
leans, which was claimed by firm, Smith d.
Co., who were notorious rebels. The money
was seized, under the advice OF the district
Attorney and Marshal, because there was rea-
son to believe that it belonged really TO tne
rebel government There was reason to De-
lieve also that it had originally belonged 70
the United States, and was taken Dy q rebel
agent from the mint, and concealed IN the
vault whence General Butler took 1t. Before
he could turn it over to the proper govern
ment authorities, a paymaster came to New
Orleans to pay off his troops. He had not
money enough, the soldiers had long been out
of their pay, and Butler stock the response
bility"-he lent the paymaster the money in
question, which was paid out to the troops
Meantime General Butler made himself per-
sonally responsible for the whole amount, took
care that Smith & Co.'s claim should be fairly
placed on record in the War Department, and
A,,k La f.. CT 81
counsel in suit for this sum, that he was re-
sponsible for it, and If the government would
relieve him from responsibility In the matter,
he would give his draft for the amount at any
time.
From all this it appears that the money was
seized at the instance of civil officers of the
government, not secretly, but as regular
and open public transaction; that General
Butler did not even retain it In his own pos
session, but used it for alegitimate and lauda-
BILE purpose, for the good of the public SER
vice; and that Thoughts accounts as major
general and commander of department not
being. finally closed at Washington-he is
technically responsible for the sum, the NOR
al and legal responsibility is now, and has
been for more than two years, upon the gov
eminent. - a eAi ls}o thfis.si ioHeila-ias en-
This Is not the only case In which Butler
has exposed himself to misrepresentation by
conduct for which every just-minded person
will think only the more highly rof him. We
remember at this moment another case, where
also he was for months slandered outrageous
ly, and where appearances were even more
strongly against him. . atdsr n fiysoI "
The story was, that when the transports
which took down his expedition to New Or
leans were returning north, instead of letting
them go in ballast, Butler loaded them, on his
own account, with sugar, which he had seized
In the city; and caused the sugar to be sold
for an immense sum in New York, which sum
he pocketed. OF course he was monster OF
corruption, and here was a glaring instance
of the INSCRIPTIONS manner In which he was
enriehing himself at government expense.--i
For nearly year you could not mention But
ler's name to secessionist or Vallandigham
democrat, without hearing this story.
Well, one day Butler came North and was
officially examined upon his administration in
Louisiana. He was asked to explain this
transaction, which was the worst with which
he was charged by any one. He did explain
It. The ships lay in New Orleans empty
They had to be sent North as soon as posi-
Bile, every days detention being a heavy ex-
pense TO the government. They had to have
ballast, and could not get it nearer than Ship
Island, while to get it there would have eaus-
ed delay of weeks. Meantime many thou
sand hogsheads of sugar lay on the levee for
sale at price which would yield handsome
profit upon their sale in New York. A red
tape general would have detained the ships
till ballast was got in Ship Island. 4 Butler,
with bis own money, bought sugar enough to
load them all, had it put aboard in the quick
est time possible, and sent them off to New
Yofk-with a letter to the Secretary of the
Treasury informing him of the transaction
and saying to him: Take the sugar, sell it
for government account, aud return me the
money advanced" This the Secretary very
gladly did, and made a handsome profit for
the government.-IN. Y. Evening Post X a ~