Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-12-14


competent to speak with some degree of
confidence MS to the sentiment and theories
of the West. Especially, | should add, as
| was chiefly educated in that great section
of our country; and as | have constantly
kept up n personal acquaintance with its
people and their leaders.
l first visited the West about seventeen
years ago, at time when Henry Clay was
advocating the Omnibus Bill, or rather la
menting its deleat and | remained there,
at different points, for several years. ]
heard the famous infamous discussion on
the Fugitive Slave Law. | was shocked
beyond my present power of description,
at what | regarded rs the doctrine of dew
lis, then unblushingly proclaimed from ev-
cry stump; and | was hardly less amazed
and panied at the apparent utter want Of
principle in business affairs. The life and
ideas of the people Impressed me rs not of
the earth earthly, only but as aggressively
atheistic in practice, Church and State
political and private life, appeared TO me as
essentially matcrialstc.
Every visit I have made to the West since
then has increased my respect for its people.
The young giant was not a rebel against
the right. Its conscience had not been
reused, and its early teachings had been
false. Therein lay its entire offence and de-
fence. The aggressions of the South on the
Missouri Compromise first woke the slum-
bering Hercules to Il sense of its duty.
The outrggcs in Kansas made it spring to
its feet. All, it acted nobly, grandly, hero
ically in those dark days! How often have
lain in the bush or under the unhidden sky,
at night, with the gallant boys Of the West,
who, urged by grand and wholly uncon
scious spirit of scll-sacriicc-thc grander
and the nobler because unconscious-had
sworn that, could their lives prevent it, Kan
sas never should be cursed with the pres
cncc of Il slave. They were not religious
men; but they possessed true puritan hero
ism-thosc uncombcd. unwashcd, rough and
shaggy 'Kansas boys They were the
forerunncrs af a great people, who, few
years later, astOnishcd the world by their
unparalleled uprising in defence of country,
and liberty, and right.
We'll, | had seen the West in its length
and breadth for half dozen years. | had
passed over it only during the war. But
my recent trip gave me the amplest oppor
tunity to mingle with the people ofall classes
and | took every means of learning what
they were and what they thought to-day.
The reception given TO Butler was one
sign. lie made triumphal progress rath-
or than a successful trip. Everywhere the
people, in numbers without number. turned
out to see and to hear him. At half doz-
en- cities, and at dozens of smaller places.
the residents said that there had never been
such mutitudcs seen assembled during the
present generation. In Ohio, for example,
special trains were run for him; and even at
the petticst depots there were cheering
crowds. Old men, young men and boys:
old women, young girls and the mothers of
I'll.
from the lowlicst ranks in life: everywhere,
with one accord united in doing homage to
the General whom they delighted to call
the hero of New Orleans.
1t matters little whether one man or an
other man be popular, unless that popuari-
ty means something more than liking for
the person. | took pains to go among the
people TO discover what Buffers popularity
implied. Not at one or two places, but ev-
erywhcrc; and not with one class, but with
all grades of society.
Curiosity and notoriety. found. were en-
tirely subordinate elements of the power
which drew such crowds together. Some
among these audiences did undoubtedly
come wholly from feelings of curiosity.
The vituperative notices Of the Democratic
| papers had made the man notorious in their
ranks, and they had gathered together to
to see Van Amburg's.
But these men were in the minority
they were the few silent spectators in a
world Of cheers.
Buffers hold upon the people comes al
most wholly from the distinguishing traits
of his personal character. He is Il positive
man, and he is a patriotic man. He cordial
| ly hates the crime of treason, and he ha,
no fine delicacy about Furnishing traitors
His administrator of New Orleans won the
heart of the people of the west. 1t embod
led with the most perfect fidelity their theo
ros of reconstruction. Butler did what Din
merely ordered; and Butler advocates now
what Dix has rcnounccd. lie succeeded
therefore, not only to the great popularity
which Dix achieved by his celebrated tele
gram-"lf any man tears down the Amer
lean flag shoot him on the spot."-but he
stands, also, before the people, as the repre-
sentative of fidelity against the seduction'
of presidential favors. Again, he is a strong
hater; aud so is the West. As the Grant
convention Of soldiers at Pttsburg were
groaning Mr.. johnson, Il General whom
knew in the field rcmarked-"I Heavens. bu
are the Americans not terrible hatcrs?" 1t il
true of the West. There is something nj
most appalling in their sentiments toward
the President. The East has never visited
its recreant sons with so severe Il punish
ment as the West inllcts. Take one exam
pie. Doolittle and Randall were the ivy,
most popular public men in Wisconsin
! Randall had been governor, Doolttle wa
senator: both had good records during tn
war They left their party to join the Pres
: idcnt When they returned to the town
where they lived for years, it is said tina
their oldest personal friends refused to rec
ognizc them on the streets. They wer
practically outlaws in their own homes,
Now this carnestncss pervades all classe.
p They insist that treason shall be made odi
Gus by the disgraceful death Of one ormor
representative rebels. SO does Butler
They have determined that no rcconstruC
. ton shall succeed which does not cradicat
all possibility of future inswrccton. 5
= does Butler. They desire to see justice don
TO the Southern loyalst Butler is the rec
ognized champion Of impartial suffrage
L the West.
Above all they are dreadfully in carncs
They are tired of trimmcrs. They hat
!, compromises. They will not be trifed will
F, They wish now to do right. "We have see
! so much mischief done by injustice that W
mean to be Just in the future.n Said lead
! ing man of the West TO me- | heard tn
same sentiment uttered in almost the sam
words at places wide apart and by men
: different spheres of life.
|, Butler represents all these longings an
: intentions. ...
! Again, he typiics the moral changes whic
II L. i.