Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-30
Cen. Rntler Ell Lowell.

LOWELL, MASS, Jan. ,29-Naj Gen. Butler
arrived here at noon yesterday aad in the
evening addressed the citizens. There was
great and enthusiastic gathering. 1t is
estimated that there we're 1000 present.
The demonstrations were of the most fat
/ tering character. General Butler said he
should speak of what had happened to the
country and what had occurre ed in the de-
partmentto take command of which he had
LETT them year ago last November. On
assuming the position which devolVed up
on him by the Partially of the President
he bad looked about him to see what be
was to do. he had found $4,000 freedmen
needing his attetion. 1t had been demon
strated that the former slave population
could make itself supporting and that
they were capable of education.
He said he had settled every peint re-
garding :he exchange of prisoners but one,
viz: in regard to colored troops. The reb-
els threatened to enslsve them. He then
proposed to himself to carry on system of
special exchanges until ne had reduced
the proportion of prisoners so that while
| they might have some 500 in their hands,
be would have 5000, and then he could
say, make slaves of these 500 and will
set these $4,000 at work, and we will see.
The General referred to orders he had
received to stop all exchange. He said
that if he was asked why he left 10, 600
men to starVe in rebel prisoners, he could
declare that the stain of their blood was
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 the Rapidan to
Mechanicsville, the design of those move
mesnts and the cause OF their failure, and
then proceeded to speak of affairs at Will
mlngton and Fort Fisher. The General
spoke at some length on this subject, and
then referred to the explosion of Dutch
zap canal. 1t did not make, perhaps, so
large hole as tae nine at Petersburg,
but he had not filled it with Union dead
until it ran blood. he desired to have in
scribed on the tombstone, in that little
enclosure in which his remains would one
day be laid, "here lies the General who
saved the lives of his soldiers at Fort Fish
er end Big Bethel" He had criticised no
man, no army man. but he had criticised
sharply the "froth" which always accom-
panied the "liVe Porter"
sGen. 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. If at
any time in the future the country needed
US eet iCel IL "oulu De freely rendered as
lt had in the past. Whether mistakes NAV
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
has not come. To 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. OF our ultimate success there
could be no doubt. In conclusion, Butler
apologised for speaking at such length
He Was ordered to report at Lowell and he
had reported in full. They had right to
know ii their welcome was worthily be-
slowed. he referred to the apparent pros
perity of the people and said that General
Terry would eeud them that from Whining
ton which would make their spindIes turn
with the hum of industry.