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

uehs ADuther'S war Profits.
In spite Of the watchful guardianship of Score.
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 has in
some way fallen into the hands of the Represent.
atives OF the press, aud it is to-day made public
1t will be remembered that the invest;gat;on
was made under Mr.. Lincoln's admin;strat;on
and that it was conducted by Maj Gen. "Baldv"
Smith and James L. Brady, of New York. Con.
gress some time since passed a resolution callino
for its publication, but the request was eyaded
by Stanton, ON the ground that 'the good of the
public service demanded" that the desired docu.
ment should "nOt be made public"
In the instalment made public, and which
Stanton has succeeded up to this time in SUD.
pressing, the testimony Of several of the witness.
es examined on the investigation is given The
well.known Jacob Barker testified that Rntler
told him that he had but 800 Sin 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
i CO. is fully described by the other witnesses.
b. f. 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 across the lake to Mobile, then
held by the rebels. Through this firm the rebels
were supplied with salt, quinine shoes, LIQUORS
and such other articles as they required. Wit
ness received Onethird of the profits, which must
have been considerable, as the articles sold for
two hundred per cent. above their vaue-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.
He asked me the question, and $lS. 900 went
after that. Col. Butler got everything fixed up;
French, Provost Marshal General under General
Butler, signed the passes Butler decided tina.
unless the rebels sent back cotton they could
have no further supply. To this the rebel Gen.
Lowell. in command at Mobile, readily consent
cd. This was an admirable stroke Of business
on Buffers part, for it enabled him TO make
money both ways. The cotton was purchased
from the rebels a. ten cents per pound, and was
sold at New Orleans at forty-fve.
All OF the operations Of the Butler firm were
not quite 50 fortunate, and the business was
brought to close in this way: With desire
10 extend trade and relieve rebel necessities else
whore, three vessels were cleared from New York
TO Matamoras, Admiral Farragut seized Que Of
these vessels, and called Buffers attention 10 the
! fact that the Captain had pass from him But
Ter denied that the pass was in his hand writing
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 tn the regret of the rebels, no doubt
These facts will serve As 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 his own account and
risk after the manner following:
George HONEYWELL, examined May ), 1866
states, that on the 18th Of September 1869 Gen
Butler compelled him to sell to him the steamer
Nassau for S3l 800 in curren, funds he called
| it s2S,OOO in yreenbacks; he gave me his check
on the Citizens Bank for S3l $500 equal to S20,-
900 in United States Treasury notes; l had
offered 10 charter her to the Government for $50
a day. and If that was too much, they might
have had her for $40; he Butter said he was
gong to send her on perilous errand, and
could not charter her; General Butler sold the
. steamer few days afterwards for So, 900 in
greenback-; he afterwards chartered her to the
Government for S3i0 day-$l0, 800 a month l
saw the check for the first months charter
! The public interest which demands the sup
preston Of these facts requires S,an.on's ret.n-
ton in Office, To screen CHER delinquents, and
| accounts for the onslaught, on the Executive.