The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-12-25
...s,.,,. Batter.

GprELEY's rejoinder to BUTLER
"miehty interesting reading" for u
bspedt of the followers OF BUTLER II
tbis State. we subjoin the closing para
graphs: ,,,o,
sv words concerning repentance
xhich Won think should precedo enifa y
.h;s.msnt. shall not otfeud you
sIInJing TO the fact that you were vi
Is6I y Pro-slavery Democrat-douotie'
.;nc.rely so. AT length great Crisis
ag,e,t national peril-constraine on
tncnt loose from the party wltn'gs
ron had 40 long and 80 efiicies eyes
"a seek the public good Nnty years
o;a,;ons AN su radeed, If they
6;ffsrent .ssdose with whom
49, hat tbevSe 1861 had met you
lo ,vonlIdwIth the Inquiry, do
80 a having hitherto been
1Sp am sure you would have
yIded the query as an untimely i'm
>ortinence, aud replied: Judge me bJ
my acts. Ii have been dishonest and
insiucere hitherto, il is not probable
that am now truthful and patriotic.
On the olher ha id, if have thus far In
good faith acted up to the light vouch-
saIed me, l shall probably do so here
after" At all events, this seems TO me
the spirit of a true mans answer. So
that my compatriot does right to-day,
aud purposes to do right Tomorrow
do not wish him to tOIswear his self
respect by Illuminating confessions and
atjuratiOus with regard to what he
though right yesterday.
There are sharp passages in your let
ter which mi = ht provoke a sharp retort;
bu. my object being TO win you TO
kiudlier spirit, must repress the temp
taIinn. Lot me- close then, with
thought suggested by your plausible
claim that public ssntimaIt is over
wholmingly with you and against me
OIL the issue which divides Us:
I think you will not, on reflection,
insist that your view prevails outside o
the Republi can party or outside OF our
own country. On the contrary, you
must be aware that il has Ubsolu ely no
champions save among hose to whose
passions it appeals, whose personal
grievances it proposes (after fashion,
TO redress. Grant that our political ad-
yersarIes, whether here or abroad, are
partial Judges, you must have read the
stirring appeal of Victor Hugo TO Jusrez,
imploring him to spare the life of Maxi
indian, and mnst have discerned therein
the vSfcs Of European Democracy, en-
treating us not to stain our great tri-
umph with one drop Of blood not in
evitably sh,d in battle. / have heard
no expression Of opinion from Euro
peau Liberal adverse to this, think you
have heard none. On the contrary, our
friends across the Atlantic are proud Of
the lesson of humanity aud mercy we
have taught alike TO insurgents and op
pressors. And, while l concede that a
majority of our party here are decidedly
with you, rejoice in the faith that it Is
smaller majority than 1t was last year,
smaller still than it was the year before,
and mus, steadily waste away until IL
ceases to be any majority at all. The
murderer has but his hour; his victim
has all eternity" says Lamartine, con-
tenplating the lawless exesution OF, the
Due d'Enghein; and, seeing how pas
sions cool and wrath abstes. l cent
IDENTIFY look forward to the time when
thousands who have cursed will thank
me for what have done and dared in
resista nce 90 their san culinary impulses.
And, though know that the prophets
vision outruns the dubious, hating,
hayward steps of the multitude, i am
sure it does not mistake their general
direction, and that the greatest poet OF
your own State and vicinage is only in
advance of the millions, not in conflict
with them, when he sings. 70 I,
Thank God that have lived to see the time
When the sres. truth begins at last to find
An utterance from tho deep heart OF mankind,
Earnest and clear, that AZ REVENGE Is
CRMu"
In the joyful trust that this will be-
come at last the common faith, and
even your own, I remain. Yours.
-.,.-....---..s--s HORACE GREKLEY.
NHw YORK, December 20, 1869.