Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-02
Asor. -aen- Rutlsr.

A gentleman from Philadelphia, while
visiting Fortress Monroe in 1864, very
indiscreetly undertook to criticise the
Official conduct Of Major General B. f
Butler, the present Radical leader in the
House of Representatives at Washing,
ton. His STRUCTURES were oply reported
at headquarters, and the otherwise loyal
gentleman wasimmediately arrested and
confined in the guard-house. Chatting
under this cruel and unexpected treat
ment. Mr.. T. wrote a pleading letter TO
a friend in Washington--a lawyerof con-
siderable MISUNDERSTANDING that he
would frame such a letter, either to the
public or to Gen. Butler as would lead
to his release. The friend applied to
answered by mail, taking t. severely 10
task for passing unjust censures upon a
man "who at that hour was deservedly
the pet of the nation, and would ineyita-
bly, be the next President Of the United
States The letter, of course, had to
pass through Buffers hands, and, very
naturally, he read it first; and so de-
lighted was he with its contents that he
made the following Endorsement:
Mr. D.. Much obliged for your good
opinion. T. was an indiscreet fool, and
after keeping him till his folly was harm
less, turned him loose.
yours truly, b. f. BUTLER,
Major General.
Mr.. T. was forthwith released from
prison, and arrived in Washington stimuli
taneously with d. S letter containing the
Endorsement. After the friends had their
laugh over their successful ruse, L.
dropped Butler these few lines
WASHINGTON. March 18th. 1864.
"SIR-I have the honor to inform you
that | have in my possession letter,
mailed to me from Washington, while
was a prisoner 1T "Old Point" and
which miscarried for reasons best known
to yourself. Whence you derive author
ity to tamper with the mails and inter-
cept the correspondence of a loyal citi- |
zen have yet to learn; but that is inn
material as the letter in question was in
tended for you alone, although addressed |
to me, being very bunglingly putup by one
who ,detests you, and who, aware of your
habits respecting the mails, and who, |
knowing you thoroughly, having served |
under you, assumed, also, to read your
character, stalking his reputation as a
Judge of human nature that you would
imbibe it all
For the proof of his correctness, he
has only to point to your Endorsement on
the letter
Not disposed to think so poorly of
your understanding inclose you an ac-
curate copy of the original for reference,
and for the purpose Of proving you to
have been the fool and one whose dis
cretion will hardly plume itself after hav-
ing penned the Endorsement The clev-
erness of my friend you will hardly deny,
as he argued that wholesale abuse of
me, with extravagant laudation and full
some praise of yourself, with some mys-
tifcation of the affair, and an aElusion
to the popularity yo1 covet but fail to
enjoy, would constitute a bait of sufi-
cient allurement to attempt even the as
tute Benjamin to bite at
To me it is a tribute to the universal
ity of the great dramatist' S genius, whose
creation Of the Prince of Fools has
been embodied to the life by the cutest
Of the cute Malvolio is cast into the
shade, appearing no longer cross gar
tered and ambitious of Olivia's smiles,
but transposed, struts rs Major Gene
raj who fights women only, and who es-
pecially affects to be the bulwark of lib
srty and the recipient of the fair god
less favor
Verify, you must give DER your aspi-
atoms as ridicule will prove more
potent than copperheads in barring your I
way.
Remember the 'rici Irish brogue' and
he sweet German accent, and take
reed Obliged for your opinion The
'eriest dolt would have doubted such abb !
urd expressions of regard Malvolio j
vas never more befooled, and yet I was
in indiscreet fool.
| fail to see it, and am laughingly {
ours. $