Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-08

The New Orleans Times undoubtedly
thinks there is rascality about Ben. Bat
ler's settlement of his brothers. estate,
which has just been decided bankrupt.
1t draws this picture of the pair Of
worthless as they were in New Orleans:
When Gen. B. F. Butler was brought
to this city in May, 1862, by Admiral
Farragut, and under the cover of pow
erful squadron Of two hundred guns. was
landed with large military force, and
proceeded to establish himself in author
ity, and command, almost the first per-
son who made himself known to our
people, as the chief and highest authority
in all business and civil affairs, was a
large, coarse, vulgar man, previously
known to some of the more knowing OF
our citizens, who had been to California
and the Northern cities as disreputable
adventurer.
This man now acquired an importance
he never before enjoyed. He was the
brother of the General commanding; was
understood to be his partner in all his
business operations, and was invested
with enormous privileges. He possessed
large and valuable contracts, secured to
him through the influence and favor OF
his brother. As post sutler he had entire
control of all the trade which was per-
mitted to be carried on in the city. The
army and people were supplied with SUBJ
sistence at his prices. Foreign vessels
were stopped aud compelled to lay up for
some time ia quarantine below the city,
that the ships loaded with his goods and
groceries might supply and monopolize
the market. The transports Of the United
States were at his command to bear to
foreign ports the produce bought by him
from our merchants and planters at such
rates as he might determine. Permits
were easily obtained by him for parties to
go into the Confederacy, and consider
able trade was thus carried on outside OIL
the lines. He was the principal buyer Of
Confederate notes after his brother had
prohibited their use He bought vast
amounts of produce at his own prices, by
threatening the holders thereof with i'm
prlsonment, ball and chain.
In this manner and by these means,
with the countenance and active aid of
the commander OF the United States army
occupying this city, the ex-gambler of
California managed during the time he
was here to monopolze nearly the whole
com merce, and exercise an absolute
power over all the property of the city.
Next, he extended his operations into
the country, leasing sugar plantations
and cultivating them, with the protec-
ton and aid of United States soldiers,
and coercing the negroes to work on his
own terms. He owned, or held under
charter parties, most OF the river steam
boats, and was permitted to trade up and
down the river and beyond the Federal
lines, when other persons were prohib-
tied from so doing. he drew upon the
banks for large sums when he had no
deposits, and compelled them, by the
menace of his brothers wrath and vio-
lence, to pay his drafts. To preserve
and cultivate his old taste and art, he
opened the largest gambling houses ever
opened in this city, aud persons having
business with him were frequently COM
PEELED to wait upon him at his favorite
den. Never were such powers and pri-
vileges over civilized community con-
ferred upon one individual, and exer-
cised with more remorseless and unscru-
pulous audacity. This continued for six
months, during which the whole produce,
everything portable and valuable left in
this city-sll the cotton, sugar and to-
bscco-even large portion of the furni-
ture, plate and pictures Of the citizens,
passed through the hands Of this rapa-
cioHs speculator.
Meantime, his brother was the absolute
Dictator of the city, observing and know
ing everything that was going on, in con-
slant and familiar intercourse with the
principal actor in these trap sactions, fire.
auently' intervening with his military
mower TO enforce his demands, and inva-
riably sdjudging in his favor. The public
conviction, therefore, that the two broth
ers we're partners and psrticipstors in all
the transsctions described rested upon
evidence as satisfactory and conclusive
as if notarial act OF partnership had
been shown. This evidence was con-
frmed by the last testament of the de-
ceased partner, who, though leaving wife
and child, devised half of his estate to his
brother.
These are merely the general facts Of
the relations of B. F. Butler and his
brother, A. J., during their sojourn in
New Orleans. They we're complete mas
ters Of the commercial situation, and
those of our citigens, or of persons who
came here to engage in legitimate traffic,
we're forced to pay tribute to them in one
form or another or retire from the field.
In this way every large business transac-
ton, no matter BY whom conducted, was
mixed up in some way with the affairs Of
the Buffers. No sane man will now be-
lieve that such measures Of Wholesale
spoliation and monopoly Of a city, which
contained 90 large an smount OF valua-
BILE produce, could have resulted other
wise than in the enormous enrichment OF
the principals.