The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-06-20

uChs ASutAer'S war Profits.
In spite of the watchful guardianship of Secre-
tary Stanton, chapter Of Gen. Buffers military
administration, at New Orleans, has lately been
brought to light. The Brooklyn Eagle gives the
following condensement Of this revelation with
appropriate comments
One chapter of the Butler Investigation hos :,
some way fallen into the hands of the represent.
atives OF the press, and it is to-day made nubl;o
1T VIII be remembered that the Investigation
was made under Mr.. Lincoln's administrative
and that it was conducted BY Maj. Gen. "Baldv.
smith and James L. Brady, of New York. Con-
gress some tune since passed a resolution calling
for Its publication, but the request was evaded
by Stanton, ON the ground that "the good of the
public service demanded" that the desired dozen.
ment should "not be made public"
In the instalment made public, and which
Stanton has succeeded up to this time in sup
pressing the testimony of several of the Witness
81 examined on the investigation is given. The
we!i.known Jacob Barker testified that Butler
told him that he had but 800 Gin his military
chest" when he arrived in New Orleans Butler
drew on Barker for 100000 in gold, which he
afterwards confessed was for the purpose of es-
tablishing his brother in business The nature
OF the business embarked in by "Butler Brothers
Co" is fully described by the other witnesses
Is. T.. Smith swore that he was a resident of New
orleans for twenty-five years, and was there
when Butler arrived. Joined Buffers brother
who figures as Colonel in this business-in
shipping goods acros. the lake to Mobile, then
held by the rebels. Through this firm the rebels
were supplied with salt, qunine, shoes, liquors,
and such other articles as they required. Wit
ness received 0ne-third of the profits, which must
have been considerable as the articles sold for
two hundred per cent. above their value-salt
selling at thirty dollars per bag. The witness
was asked If he believed Gen. Butler knew of the
contraband trade in which his brother was en-
gagged He answered: "Yes, sir | told him.
lie asked me the question, and Sl., 900 went
after that Col. Butler get everything fixed up:
French, Provost Marshal General under General
Butler, signed the passes" Butler decided that
unless the rebels sent back cotton they could
have no further supply To this the rebel Gen.
Lowell, in command at Mobile, readily consent
ed. This was an admirable stroke of business
on Buffers part, for it enabled him to make
money both ways This cotton was purchased
from the rebels at ten cents per pound, and was
sold at New Orleans a, forty-ive.
All of the operations of the Butler firm were
not quite so fortunate, and the business was
brought to close in this way: With a desire
TO extend trade and relieve rebel necessities else
where three vessels were cleared from New York
TO Matamoras Admiral Farragut seized Que Of
these vessels, and called Buffers attention to the
iacI lEdt the captain hdQ q pass from him. But
Ter denied that the pass was in his handwriting.
and threw the responsibility upon his brother.
who was arrested in $4,000 bonds, and held.
and, adds the witness, he FINALLY ran away
much to the regret OF the rebels. no doubt
These facts will serve Is specimen OF the dis.
closures made and suppressed by Stanton, on the
ground that the public interest would be injured
thereby. After the departure Of the junior
member of the firm, Colonel" Butler, the Cen
eral did a little business on his own account and
risk after the manner following:
George HONEYWELL examined May ;. 1866
states that on the 18th of September 1862 Gen.
Butler compelled him TO sell TO him the steamer
Nassau for s3l 1850 in current funds he called
it $4,000 in greenbacks; he gave me his check
on the Citizens Bank for S3l 800, equal to SEQ
900 in United States Treasury notes: had
offered to charter her to the Government for $50
day. and if that was too much, they might
have had her for $40 he Butler said he was
gong to send her on a perilous errand, and
could not charter her General Butler sold the
steamer few days afterwards for $4,000 in
greenbacks; he afterwards chartered her TO the
Government for S340 day-$10jO month; /
saw the check for the first months charter.
The public interest which demands the sup
preston of these facts requires Stantons ret.n-
ton in Office to screen ether deinquents, and
accounts for the onslaught on the Executive.