Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-03-14
onD BEN BUTLER.

politely directed to take back seat, and,
in all probability, his career as military
man is over. As to the justice or propri-
ETY. of his removal from military command,
that is a matter of which we confess en-.
tire ignorance; and having full faith in the
sincerity and patriotism of the President,
we rest assured that Buffers removal was
the result of mature elaboration and con-
eeived to be tor the best interests of the
nation, and was not an act of tyranny OF
caprice. Whatever judgment may be
eventually pronounced upon his abilities
as commander in the field, we believe
that history will yindicate his superior
merit as a Military Governor especially
in those districts where rebellion was al
the time conquered by the strong hand
but still unsubdued in spirit. The history
of his Governorships of New Orleans and
Norfolk is full of instances Of his prompt
repression of any attempts at evasions OF
resistance of the authority of the Govern
ment, no matter how cunningly con-
ceiyed or speciously argued. Whenever,
in cases of this kind, he consented to
open diplomatic correspondence, he gen.
orally closed the mouths of the disaffected
with force of argument that was unan-
swerable. Among the last correspondence
of this kind was the following, which Is
published in the Norfolk Ne'o Register:
EAsTvILLE. Dec. 10, 1864.
GENERAL: Will you allow me most
respectfully to appeal to your clemency in
behalf of three cases Of non-jurors, which,
think, Justly merit your attention. They
decline taking the oath of allegiance, not
from obstinacy or any feeling of hostility
to the North, but their sympathies being
with their friends and relatives in Vir-
ginia. they cannot look upon the oath but
as perjury-mistaken view, l admit.
have exhausted argument in vain to in
duce them to comply, but argument is lost,
when it comes in the way of conscience.
Many pious Christian has suffered at the
stake for conscience, sake.
The first is that of young lady, Miss
Juliet Nottingham, who keeps here a
children's school, living with an aged
mother, her only stay in life.
The second is young student Of Di-
vinity, whose great desire is to enter the
Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania.
The third is that of three young men,
considering them as one case, named
Corbin, two of them mere lads, the sup
port of an aged father, who has implored
them with tears to take the oath, but their
answer is: Father, would You have US
commit perjury"
The parties are nearly strangers to me
my only motive for thus engaging in their
behalf is the hope of doing good.
Very respectfully, your obi serv't,
F. II. SMITH.
Major General B. F. BUTLER.
REPLY OF GENERAL BUTLER.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,
In THE FIELD, Va, Jan. 2, '65.
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication in re.
lation to the cases of conscience in certain
people of Esstville, as therein set forth,
who have conscientious scruples against
taking the oath of allegiance to the United
States.
II their objection is to taking an oath,
then they may be admitted to their solemn
affirmation but do not understand you
to put their cases upon that ground, but
that they have relatives and friends in the
South, and they think it would be per-
jury to take the oath because of theil
relations.
do not understand their reasoning. Ii
they are well disposed and loyal to the
United States Government, it is no matter
what their relatives are. If they are moi
we'll disposed towards the United States
Government, then they have no business
to live under that Government, and should
go to some country to whose government
they are we'll disposed. There is neither
conscience nor honesty in living under g
Government to which they are hostile, re-
ceiving the benefit of its protection and
laws and returning no equivalent.
You say one of them is Divinity stu
dent, and desires to goto Pennsylvania
Theological Seminary. To his case an.
swer that he had better make himself more
thoroughly acquainted with his duties
under human law before he studies the
Divine law.
You say that another is young lady
teaching school. II she is so blind to her
own duties to her country, she is not fit
teacher of others.
Your other case is of three young men
who have been entreated by their father,
with tears in his eyes, to take the oath Of
allegiance to their country. If their re.
spect for their father, if their duty to their
country and their obligations to its laws
will not conquer their love of Secession
they will be sent to Secessia.
You urge as a reason why the orders OF
the department. should not be enforced,
that many a martyr has gone to the stake
for conscience sake. To that l answer
that many Hindoo widow has burned
herself on her husbands funeral pile, but
that by no means proves that woman
burning is highly mentorious, moral
and religious act and were / in COM
mand at Hindostan I should feel it my
duty to interfere with such exhibitions of
Hindoo conscience, precisely as I am COM
PEELED to do with the exhibitions you
speak of, of Secession conscience.
will forward this communication. un-
sealed, to the Provost Marshal at East
vile, with directions that these parties
either take the oath of allegiance or be
sent through the lines.
l am, very respectfully,
Your obedIent servant,
BENZ. F. BUTLER,
Major General Commanding.