The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-21
BEN BUTLER IN NEW YORK.
A Talk with the General on Social, Local, Per-
sOnal and Political Affaifs.
What Congress VIII Do---How Sey'
mour VIII BE Disposed
Of If Elected.

m0ur VIII Dc O1SpoSe0
Of if Hlected.
General Butler was at the Aston House yesterday
on his way to Washington to attend the adjourned
session Of Congress. The death OF Thad Stevens
leaves General Butler at the head OF the radical
party, and his views are consequently OF especial I'M
portance the of the reassembling OF Congress-
the republican caucuses OF which for the past
few he has relgned supreme. The failure OF
impeachment has by been regarded as the poll
tcal deathblow Of Butler but this Is great mis-
take 1t required vote of twothrds Of the Senate
to convict the President Of the high crimes and mis-
demeanors with which he was charged by unani-
nous vote of the republicans OF the House, and
while this failed large majority OF the Senators
to he found on the side OF impeachment Hence,
although Andrew Johnson was saved by the skin OF
his teeth Benjamin Butler practically triumphed,
and his party declared by decisive vote in his
favor. In view Of these facts his conversation with
reporter of the HERALD held yesterday in the Gen.
erals comfortable and convenient quarters at the
Ast0r House. will be read with interest Our reporter
desiring first to ascertain whether the next Congress
Is is not TO lose the energy and vim OF the Repre-
sentative from Massachusetts, led of the converse
ton the subject OF the contest III the Generals
Congressional district.
REPORTER-Well, General, gee that the papers
have recently terminated your Congressional career
somewhat prematurely.
General BUTLER-Well, as long as they do not
terminate it practically have objection to that
HOW THE NATION NEWSPAPER WAS STARTED
REPORTER-I perceive that some papers on the
| republican side oppose your renomination-the Ma
td0n and the Boston Advertiser, for instance. How
is it that such journals oppose good republican
| as yOurself2
| General BUrLER-wel for various reasons. So
far as tho Nation Is concerned its enmity is natural
! enough considering the common infrmities of hui
man nature. The truth Is that was original OPP
| ponent OF the existence Of the Nation which Orig
| mated In the following manner:-An association Of
| charitable gentlemen in Boston had subscribed
large of money for the relief Of destitute negroes
| and to aid in recruiting negro regiments at the
South was Of the subscribers to that praise
| worthy object, and the association accomplished a
great amount OF good After the cessation Of the
the affairs Of the association were wound up, and it
| was found that there was a surplus OF the fund,
which hold from the nature of the charity ought to
have been sacredy devoted to the relief and OF
the freedmen OF the South. But portion Of the
trustees met together, and without consulting with
the subscribers resolved that they could better aid
| the freedmen by establishing paper in New York
| in their interest than by expanding the surplus
| In any other way. and in accordance with
this resolution the amount OF fifteen thousand dollars
appropriated for the purpose OF starting
| the journal called the Nation. 1 did not see the
matter In this light and made strong opposition
any such disposition Of the funds, which had been
subscribed solely for the direct use and benefit OF
the cOl0red people OF the South 1t was this oppos
| ton that gained me the enmity Of the persons who
prOted by the establishment Of the Nation with the
funds OF the association.
THE BOSTON ADVERTISERS ANTI-BUTLERIsM.
/ hat
poses your denomination to Congress, and has
recently published editorial article against you.
General BUTLKR-Yes, l am aware OF that, and
understand the motive. Up to short time ago
| the AdUerttser was not unfavorable to me, ana
| was, in fact Of the first papers to publish
| to the world my views financial ques-
| tions about which so much has since been writ
ten In the republican press. But subsequently to
this was employed professionally to commence
libel suit against the publishers OF the Advertiser for
an obscene SANDER which they had uttered against
talented and estmable young lady, and in pursuance
| OF my duty 1 compelled them, under "a threat OF
prosecution. to make full and ample apology. This
| was on my part simply professional act; but ever
since then the Boston Advertiser establishment has
been unable to discover any good qualities In Inc.
| BRICK POAEROY AND THE GENERAL.
REPoRrEB-I see that the soreheaded republican
| papers not your only assailants, General but
| that you have an energetic and determined enemy
the other side of tine house. In the person Of the
Il
General BUTLER-well, yes; Brick Pomeroy s
my enemy, but unlike the cases l have
%hV he should BE- So SUPPOSE e he aSases
me as the Springfield Republican does, because he
snpposes that t sells his paper ana puts money IN
used to publish some very hard stories about me, 80
much so that several OF my friends came to me and
asked me why did not prosecute and punish him.
But only laughed at 1t, and would no more have
thought seriously Of prosecuting Brick Pomeroy than
would have thought OF bringing an action for dam
} ages against o mosquito that came buZZing I'm my
ear. very funny circumstance happened, how
ever, In regard to Brick. Soon after had returned
from trip made to the West in 1865 statement
was published in the La Crosse Democrat to the
eject that had commenced suit against the pro-
prietor for one hundred thousand dollars damages.
| or course saw nothing OF this: but shortly alter
wards Brick rOmeroy published letter purPorting
Way place l never was In, to my recol-
lection. IN IN, my lfe-in , which Oh. l offered .u 70
agree to stop his libeous attacks. friend took the
trouble to show me copy OF the paper containing
Thought It proper to write brief communication,
which published in the tribune denying that had
the thing might nave been concocted a. q sell upon
| Brick Pomeroy and the letter written a hoax In
| my name; but then remembered that as had never
sued that person for libel anything else he could
| not have been unwiLtngly taken In, and hence
a. 80 forgery committed TO sustain lie.n Brick
was then on featuring tour, believe, down South,
and you may Imagine my astonishment when. rev
| graphed by Brick through the Associated Press to
| the effect that the tribune letter the forgery
| and that the letter previously published by
| Brick was the genuine one. I regarded
| this a. the very omnip0tence OF lying, and gave
IL up, consoling myself with the reflection that rs
the london Punch had subssted for year and
| half on the Duke OF wellingtons long Roman nose,
and for another year and half on Lord Brougham's
inveterae pug nose, there could he no good reason
| why Brick Pomeroy and the copperhead journalists
generally should not endeav0r TO subsst on defect
| In my eye Or any other popularity they might lind
| about me.
REroRrKR-You see, General, that Brick Pomeroy
IL trying his fortune at the newspaper business
| In this ctyf
General BUrLRR-Oh, yes, see that: and Brick
aud your copperhead journals here lighting for the
leadership Of the Five Points and Mackerelvie de-
mocracy. feel much the same interest In that con-
test as the lady felt when her husband lighting
the bear am perfectly Indifferent to which side