The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-08-12
BUTEER PHOTOGRAPHED.


for the columns of Cincinnati paper.
Gen. Butler made speech in Cincin-
natl ut that time in which he denied
the numerous charges Of theft made
against him, and declared that he
"never took plated ware" This dec
laration and the speech were made
the text of the article. A dread OF IL
bel suits prevented its publication n,
that time, and the article has mover
appeared in type. The fear OF the
Beast not having extended to this
coast. we cheerfully avail ourselves Of
an opportunity to give our readers the
article. 1t is altogether ono of the
most mercilcss and deserved pen-cas-
legations that has ever been visited
upon the authors and abettors of the
crimes of the war:
BOTTLED BEN BUTLER.
The friends of this notorious indi-
vidual boast that he made decided
hit" when he repelled tho insinuation
of larceny ut Columbus the other day
by saying that he "nerer took plated
icarc. . Unconsciously, perhaps, in
that brief sentence he gave an epitome
of his real character. The unscrupu-
lous audacity of his character, COM
bined with his experience in "busi-
ness" would forbid his taking" an in
ferior article, particularly when it was
in his power to lay his hands upon
''yaluables." His talen. in that par
ticular is hereditary, and the instincts
which brought the father to u sudden
and ignominious end seem to have
been transmitted to a couple of no
less promising sons. The brother,
Anderson l., never aspired much to
public notice, but evinced n reniarka-
BILE talent for fathoming the lowest
depths of vice in California, but after
his connection with the "Gmernf in
New Orleans he even is said to have
become fastidious about the value of
the articles which he took"
The annals of crime hardly furnish
anything surprising the characters of
those worthy brothers. For while
they operated in different spheres
While Ben was in the Charleston Con-
yention exertipg his ability and infu-
ence for the nomination of his bosom
friend, JEFF Davis, for the Presidency,
and in open violation of the instruc-
tons of the Democracy of Massachu-
sets, who were for Douglas, Ander-
son 1. was in California, the associate
and patron OF small cut-throat gam
blers and petty thieves, "taking' al
most anything that he could lay his
hands upon. The commencement of
the Rebellion and Inauguration of war
opened a wider and more promising
field for the peculiar talents of this
noble pair. By their instincts they
were naturally attracted to the rich
and inviting field of New Orleans for
the purpose of plying their vocation"
under the security which state of
war always affords for the preparation
of revolving outrages and acquisition
of plunde1.
While one was disguised in the uni
form of an American General, and
welding despotic power, the other was
the "business man" of the firm. Then
commenced, under military protection,
the most infamous system of robbery
ever inaugurated in any country or
any age. The chartering OF trans
ports, the bringing in of cotton and
sugar, was all turned over to Ander-
son /. Cotton, sugar, furniture, plate
and money were seized as "tokens"
and sent n.rth in public transports,
and were sold or deposited for the firm.
The General occasionally made small
grab of q cargo of sugar or cotton, or
fifty or hundred thousand dollars in
specie on his individual account (ride
Smiths case).
If any man OF woman complained
of being robbed, they were either i'm
prisoned or denounced as disloyal per-
sons, and In most instances they pre-
ferred to acqu .esce in being despoiled
of their goods rather than oppose a
robber of brutal instincts backed by
an army.
Apparent patriotism was never be-
fore prostituted to such base purposes,
and when the true history of the reign
of the Buffers is published--as it will
be-to the world, the American peo-
pie will stand aghast to think that
such outrages were perpetrated under
the folds of the American flag and by
the power of an American army fol
the mere purpose of enriching two
such brothers. At one time Anderson
I. prosecuted his enterprise with too
much vigor, and being detected by the
soldiers, whom he was in the habit Of
fleeing OF their pay in using "waxed
cards" was compelled to flee on board
the feet for protection and to escape
the vengeance Of the "Boys in Blue.
He shortly returned to New York
where he died. Having no opportuni
/ ty to divide, he left the military mem
Der of the firm his share of the various
"takes" by will.
| So far as the capture of the forts
jackson, San Phillips and New Or
leans are concerned, the public already
know that Ben Butler had no more te
do with those enterprises than had tht
darkey who blacked Commodore Far
Iragut's shoes.
/ The legitimate field for the opera
tions of the two Buffers was not opei
until after the fighting avas done. Th,
iackal always observes the battle at !;
respectful distance; his talents ore no
put in requisition until after the las
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