New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-23
MASSACHUSETTS POLITICS.

| MASSACHUSETTS, POLITICS.
General Butler an Aspirant for Guberna-
torial Honors-The General Explains
his Bargain with DIR. L0ring - No
Chance for TOpers Under Buffers Adj
ministratiOn-The PrOhibitOry Law to
be EnfOrced-Cauti0us Political Plat
form.
From the New York Herald.
Boston, July Is, 187I.-John B. Holmes
| and Z. 5. Watson, publishers of the Sunday
| Chronicle, submitted the following ques-
tons to General Butler few days since
concerning his intentions of being candi-
date for gubernatiorial nomination in the
next Republican State Convention:
First-Do you intend to allow the use of
your name as candidate for Governor of
Massachusetts,
Second-Did you agree to support DR..
Loring for Governor, a few years since,
when he came Quit in favor of your election as
Representative to Congress from the Essex
district 1t is asserted that you did so
agree, and you are charged by some with
bad faith in permitting any suggestion of
your possible candidacy at the present
time.
Thrd-Did the political issues set forth
in the editorial articles in the Newburyport
Herald of June q express your ideas, or do
they now meet with your approval:
Fourth-If you propose to permit the use
of your name as candidate for Governor,
what policy would you adopt if elected.
To the foregoing questions General Butler
sent the following letter, which will appear
in the Sunday Chronicle of tomorrow morn
ing:
GLOUCESTER, July Is, 1871.
GENTLEMEN have the honor to ac
knowledge yours of July 13, propounding
certain direct questions which you say
''seem to us the people have right to ask
of prominent political men," Fully &C.
knowledging your right, answer:
First-In view of the present political
situation of parties in Massachusetts and
of the withdrawal by the incumbent of the
office of Governor of his name for renomi-
nation, | do propose TO allow my name to
be used before the convention for that high
office. 1t Is one that may fill the honorable
ambition of any man, and, like every object
of honorable ambition, is to be sought for
by all proper means.
Your second question have answered in
my reply to the first, because if DR.. Loring
had made any agreement, either expressed
or implied, with me, by which | was TO give
HIM any support, however feeble, for the
high office OF Governor, in consideration of
his advocacy of myself for Congress, such
an agreement would not be proper means
by which that Office should be attained;
therefore, any intimation of such an agree
ment is a SANDER upon him as well as upon
myself. The falsity of such assertion is seen
when the element of time. which the de-
tractors of DR.. LOring and myself do not
seem to take into account, is observed. My
first candidature for Congress, when DR..
Loring was at all in the field, was in 1866,
two years only after he came into the Re-
publican party, and when it is unreasonable
to suppose he could have had any expecta-
ton or thought of becoming its candidate
for Governor, or could have been making
arrangements therefor. 1t was also
during the incumbency of Governor
Bullock, before Governor Clatin was
even candidate, so that any arrange
ment, as is alleged in some Democratic
papers, of what should happen after the
of Governor Clatiin was physi-
cally impossible. The letter of withdrawal
of DR.. LOring which was published at that
time, was written by him without any con-
with me and without my knowl- |
edge until it was in writing, and no word |
was said by DIR. LOring and myself. or |
passed between any friend of his or myself, |
upon the subject of your inquiry. | deem |
this denial, thus explicit, to be due to DR.. |
Loring as we'll as to myself
To your third question, allow me TO say |
ludb Wilt uO nOG U1edu 10 Ue DOulu Uy |
the precise language of any expression of |
political views that did not write myself, |
yet | have appended such portions of the
article you refer to as express in their gen
eral scope views that | entertain of the
present status of the two great political
parties.
To your fourth question, relating to the
of the enforcement of the law. | |
reply: No law on the statute book, affect
9la nrn1x oil nf+ ha,
Judgment. should be permitted to remain
Law is a rule of action, and
law is a rule of action for no.
body, and its place upon the statute book
s blot upon the code. 1t is the sworn
duty of the chief executive to allow
neither officials. corporations, nor any body
Of men whatever, to act their pleasure in
obedience or disobedience to law. General
Grant never gave expression to a wiser
saying than the declaration that the best
way to learn whether law is obnoxious or
'alutary is to enforce it. The prohibitory
aw is either desired by the people of the
or it is not. If not desired,
t should NOT remain on the statute book; if
desired, it should be enforced, and so long
rs it remains unrepealed, its enforcement is
s a MOTTO be-evaded duty. In regard to
his, as to every other law, whatever may
De the opinion of the executive upon its
1ropriety or expedioncy, it ought to be fully
executed
You will see that l have replied with dis
met directness to your interrogatories, be-
,ause do not wish to conceal any opinion
may have upon any subject which may
interest them, from the people of the com
but / had supposed that my
political opinions upon all matters at pres
mt at issue before the people, and also my
Jews upon the necessity of the enforce
nent of law, were too well known to be
allied in question; if they are not pledges
4dvance in regard to them upon the eve OF
IN election are enough.
| have the honor to be, very respectfully,
our obedient servant
BENZ. +. BUTLER.
In Behalf of Akerman.
From he Cbicago Trih