The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-10

There has been isolne discussion of late
among the Independent newspapers of the
North as to whether Beast Butler really did
steal spoons in New Orleans, the Radical pa
pers having all insisted that the story was 60
rebel slander." The correspondent of the Gill;
cinnati Commercial, an independent Republi-
can journal, writes as follows from New Or
leans, under date Of the 30th ult.:
Dir. Dana, of tie New York Sun, wants to
know if there is any foundation tor the often
repeated charges against Butler, Of stealing
from the people OF New Orleans.
Men of veracity and soberness, belonging to
this city, pain my ears with stories of theft and
pillage in Louisiana by the men and officers of
the New England DIVISION. One Of these gen.
tlemen remarked to me that if it had not been
his good fortune to know the people Of New
England by other signs than those afforded By
portion OF its soldiery in this State, he would
that section were little better than race Of
thieves. In fact, I am more than half con-
vinced OF the literal truth Of tho allegations
against Butler OF appropriatlng silver spoons.
That he did carry on on illicit trade with the
rebes across the lake ID officially authenticated.
This established, why should the spoon story be
doubted? gentleman at my elbow, who does
thieves, says he had frequent opportunities,
during the butler occupation, OF purchasing
from Union soldiers, for song, rare paintings,
fine mattresses, &c. Of which houses along
the upper river coast had been despolled.
Smaller articles OF value and Uertu, obtained in
the same way, were boxed up and shipped
North to the friends OF the captors. Near the
close OF The summer Of 1862 steamboat arriy-
ed here from Baton Rouge, having stopped at
number ofpantatlons on the route, with sixty
nine pianos, for which no return was ever
made to the government, aud which now,
doubtless, adorn the private Northern resi-
dences Of many Of our volunteer officers.
Statements Of this kind, and well authenti-
,,ated ones, too, might be multiplied almost in.
definitely; but.I have given enough to show
the: grounds OF the constantly reiterated
'charHes of the Southern press rejecting upon
Eho honesty OF the Yankee character. The
duty which have thus assumed is an un-
grateful one; but common fairness sld honesty
seem to demand it's fearless discharge, and 1
the representative people Of New England and
the North will be the first and foremost TO de-
I,ouncesand repudate these v1llanous and dis
graceful transactions. 1t is by no means
strange that an unrefecting and passionate
people, personally cognizant of such spola-
tious as above mentioned, should hate and de-
nounce as thieves people who seem to have
Dtou L0pEOoShpoo W ooSh o0ie.SAS "A~A Se~A~E
followers as came here with Butler.
The New Orleans Times, alluding to the
same subject, says:
~ The New York Sun, in it's issue Of the 18th
instant, asks for evidence OF General Buffers
propensity to to-appropriate the spoons Of 9th
ers. The instances are innumerable, and are
easily susceptible Of proof. As o specific one
is required, we will select that Of DR.. Camp-
bell. During the occupation Of the city. But
Ter seized his house, and upon lts restoration
the silver was retained and carried North by
Butler, some of it having since been seen in
his own residence. It consisted Of nine
dozen pieces, all marked. A suit for it's re-
eovery is either about to be or has already
been brought against the spoon fancer. 1t
is notorious that the first acts Of Butler
were to Institute search for silver plate, all Of
which he proiessel to confiscate in the name
of the United States. SO actively dId he prose-.
cute the search that many OF the resident fam
lilies endeavored to transport their plate to Eu-
rope. MIR. Hamilton Wright and MIR. Gillls,
two of our most respectable merchants, were
arrested and sent to Ship Island on this charge.
In one case Butler succeeded in capturing the
silver, in the other it eluded his vigilance. If
the New York Sun is sufficiently honest IN its
desire to investigate these charges, we shall
return to the subject again, with numerous
other well-credited and traceable charges, Sc
lected from the hosts OF instances, Of the spoon
spolation, either committed BY Butler himself,
OF, in his name, by the creatures under him.