Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1865-04-20
SPEECH OF BEN. BUTLER.

ful, and thank you once again that yO'
have called upon me to join you in you
congratulations upon this great triumph
of our arms, which conquers and subju.
gates finally a most heinous rebelliOr
against the American people. The sur
render Of Lee and his army puts an end
to this traitorous war, waged to over
throw the Government Even now
while the heart turns in gratitude to God
for His good providence. while the soul
burns with gladness at the result which,
rightly understood, renews the life Of
the nation forever, new, vital and con-
trolling questions, to be settled in the
Immediate future, arise and mingle, per-
force, with JOY. There are four classes
of men in the rebellious- States. What
shall be done with them? What shall
be done with men educated IN the Mil
itary Academy at the public expense,
sworn to protect our flag, obtaining g
livelihood, honor and promotion under
it.; children of the nation, who, without
qualification, excuse or ground even. be-
trayed the country, forfeited honor,
struck down It's flag used the knowl-
edge obtained at the nations school to
break down the Government which nur.
tured them, the nation that honored
them and have now ceased from the
unholy strife which has cost millions of
money and hundreds of thousands Of
lives, only because they have been bea-
ten, conquers, and subdued by the Valor
of the soldiers, whose comrades they
have starved in loathsome prisons
Cheers, and cries Of Hang every one
of them,"' chang them,'' "Give them
the rope" In the future danger to
our liberties can come only from the
mad ambition of those in the army who
may conspire against the life of the na-
ton. Shall we not by example teach ev-
cry officer who deserts his flag, that he
shall suffer the same penalty for deser-
ton which the Government enforced up
on many Of our sOldi ers for the same
crime
What shall be done with those whom
the people North and South once de-
lighted to honor, who with the truth of
God upon their lips, but treason in their
souls, put in FOUNDER capitol in the seats
of the law-givers, day by day plotted how
to destroy the country, even while in the
name of the Constitution they claimed
to sacrifice at the altar of her most cher
ished liberties? Shall they ever again
have power, place or vote to destroy the
country? T"No, no % "never, never"]
Shall they ever again be allowed to have
the loved and honored and glorious priv
ilege now made sacred by the blood Of
patriots shed to save us from their acts?"
The rights Of American citizens? mo,
never! 'FThe traitors - Hang themp'
The next class are soldiers IN the |
ranks Of the rebellion. deceived by false
statements and arguments, and preju- |
diced until their judgments were over
borne, con<cripted and driven until their
wills were overawed into the support of
the rebellion but who, even in a bad
cause, have illustrated the valor of the
American race. Are we not ready to
say to them: Father, forgive them,
they know not what they do, ''and to re-
ceive them again as brutherSl (Cres
of Good +" Good, !" That's the talk" ~ |
Still another class are those who ever
welcomed the flag with JOY and gladness,
who never failed to rejoice in Union
never lost faith in the Union
cause, who always concealed, fed and
cared for Union prisoners, escaping
from the cold. sickness, starvation, and
death of the Libby and Audersonville
prisons guarding them faithfully by the
North star through swamps and forests
TO liberty and life; who have cheerful
ly taken up arms for the United States
and laid down their lives-the true Un.
ion men of the South. "Cheers. ~
What shall we say 10 them? Shall /.
We not say, ''Llberty and equality of
right under the laws forevsr? Eyes,
yes and cheers. Good !; then we are
agreed. Condign punishment to mill
tary traitors who deserted the flag for
rebellion; disfranchisement and safe
keeping for the civilian using his place
to destroy his country; the right of fell
lowship for the misguided and deceived
victims of rebellion. and equal rights far
the black man. Cries of "go On."1-l
Let US also be the good God that, while
this war has cost Us much treasure and
blood, it has so established our honor
among the nations of the earth, that
the shedding of American blood on
American soil may now cease forever,
and in our dealings with the nations Of
5gu sdI .be