The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1865-04-28
Ghe Xenta Sentinel.
SETH w. BROWN, EDITOR.
Speech Of General Butler.


The following tpeech was delivered by
Gen. Butler, in Washington, one evening
last week, on the occasion Of a serenade
given to the late President:
FELLOW -CITIzENs:-I am profoundly
grateful, and thank you once again that
you have called upon me to join you in
your congratulations unon this great tri-
umph of our arms, which will conquer and
subjugate finally most heiuous rebellion
against the American people. The sur
render Of Lee and his army puts an end
to this traitorous war, Waged to overthrow
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 controlling ques-
tions, to be settled in the immediate fu-
ture, arise and mingle, perforce, with our
Joy. There are four classes of men in the
rebellious States What shall be done
with them? What shall be done with the
men educated in the military Academy at
the public expense, sworn to protect our
flag, obtaining aliVeiihood, honor and pro-
motion under it children of the nation,
who, without qualification, excuse, or even
ground, betrayed the country, forfeited
honor, struck down It's flag used the
knowledge obtained at the nations school,
to break down the Government which
nurtured them, the nation which 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 beaten, con-
quared and subdued by the valor Of our
soldiers, whose comrades they have starved
in loathsome prisons Cheers and cries
of Hang every one of them Hang
them Give them the rope In the fu-
ture danger to our liberties can come only
from the mad ambition of those in the ar
my who may conspire against the life of
the nation. Shall we not by example
teach every officer who deserts his flag,
that he shall suffer the same penalty for
desertion which the Government enforced
upon many of our soldiers 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 yonder capitol in the seats of
the law-gi7ers, day by day plotting how
to destroy the country, even while in the
name of the Constitution they claimed the
sacrifice at the alter of her most cherished
liberties I? Shall they ever again have
power, place or vote 70 destroy the coun>
try? ['No, no, never II Shall they ev-
e. again be allowed to have the loved and
honored, and glorious privilege now made
sacred by the blood Of patriots shed to
save us from their acts? The rights of
American citizens? T'No, neverP Hang
them! The next class are the soldiers
in the ranks of the rebellion, deceived by.
false statement and arguments, and preiu-
diced until their judgements were over
borne, conscripted 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 receive
them againas brothers? [Cries 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 victory, never lost faith
in the Union cause, who always concealed,
fed and cared for Union prisoners escap-
ing from the cold, sickness, starvation and
death of the LIBBY and Ander8onvilIe
prisons, guiding them faithfully by the
North star through swamps and forests, to
life who have cheerfully taken up arms
for the United States and laid down their
lives-the true Union men of the South.
TCheers.] ] What shall we say to them
Shall we not say, Liberty and equality of
rights under the laws forever?' Yes, yes;
and cheers Good, then we are agreed.
Condign punishment to military traitors
who deserted the flag for rebellion; dis
franchisement and Safe-keeping for the
civilian using his place to destroy his
country; the right of fellowship for the
misguided and deceived victims of rebel
lion and equal rights for the black man.
[Cries of 60 on,] Let US also be thank
full to the good God, that while this war
has cost us much treasure and blood, it has
SO established our honor among the ma
tions of the earth, that the shedding of
American blood upon American soil may
now cease forever, and in our dealings with
the nations Of the earth we can adopt
without fear the motto of jackson: ASK
nothing but what is right, and submit to
nothing wrong God bless you-good
bye. TCries How about Macmillan ?1
Mazimilian-I beg your pardon; I am
not your Secretary of State, and have no
power to direct your foreign affairs. Good
bye. Laughter and cheers,