The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-01-30

Lowell, Mass. Janl 20.


Major General Butler arrived here a
noon yesterday. and 10 the evening I'd
dressed the citizens. There was ! grea
and enthusiastic gathering OF people, prob
ably 10000 present. The demondtratior
was very fastering.
ten. Butler ssid he should speak oil
what bad happened to the county, and
what bad occurred in the Department u
take command Of which he had left them
year agol'ast Navembsr,on asIu ming
tue pos'uon which devolved upon him BY
the Partially OF the President. he had
looked about him to see what he Was to
do. He found $4,000 freedmen ueediop
his action. IL had been demonstrated 4
that the former slave population could
make itself self sustaining aud the were
capable Of education. He said be had
suited 10 every point regarding tbe ex.
change OF prisoners but one, namtly in
regard to colored troops. The rebels
threatened TO enslave them. H1e then
proposed to himself to carry on a system
Of speciAlsxchange, till be hsd reduced
the proportion OF prisoners SO that whiI.
they might have some 5000 Cd their
hands be would have Is. 900, and then he
could say: Make slaves Of those 900,
and ! will SET these 5000 at work, and
We will see the result.
The General referred to orders be haa
received to stop all exchanges, and said
that if he was asked why he left 5, 900
men starving ip rebel dungeons, hb could
declare that the stain Of their blood was
not on his hands.
lie spoke in detail Of the movements OF
the army of the James on Bermuda, and
of the army Of the Potomac from the
Rapidan to Aechanic.ville. the design Of
these movements, and the causes of their
failure. and then proceeded TO speak Of
the affair ut Wilmington and the capture
Of Fort Fisher.
The General spoke at length on this
subject. and then referred to the explosion
of tile Datch Gap canal. Ii did rot make,
perhaps, SO large hole as the mine al
Petersburg. but he had not filled it with
American dead till il run food. lie
desired to have il inscribed on his tomb
IN that little enclosure where his remains
should one day be laid !: 'Her lies the
General who saved the lives Of his SOL
diers at Fort Fisher aud Big Bathei'
He had criticized DO man, no army
man, but had criticized somewhat sharply
the fruits which always accompanied i've
ly Porter.
General Butler proceeded then 10 dis
cuss the prospects of the national cause.
lie was prepared for more endurance,
more strife la the service Of the country,
if At any time in the future the country
needed his services. 1t would be freely
rendered - 10 the past. Whatever mis-
takes may have been committed By men at
the head Of Office We should not spare
our Efforts. Don't, be said, bd carried
away BY any selusive idea Of peace. The
iiae for peace has not come. To talk OF
peace until the army Of Lee is either ca p
tured or whipped is useless. See that the
Union armies are kept filed and that re-
cruiting goes on. OF our ultimate success
there could be no doubt
In conclusion Gen. Buller atologized
for speaking at such iength. lie was
ordered to report at Lowell aud be had
reported in full.
He refe~ed to the apparent prosperity
of the people. and saia Genetal Terry
would send them that from Whining ton
which would make all their spiuAles turn
with the hum of industry.