Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-25

SPRINGFIELD. Aug. 24-Gen. B. F. Butler
addressed large audience in the city hall to-
night. He said;
Mr.. chairman, fellOlo citizens of M1Ssachu-
sets, ladies' and gentlemen | am glad TO be
here. 1t giveslme great pleasure TO meet my fell
low citizenstface to face and there tOIconfer with
them upon the questions which agitate the public
mind, and would that all the strength all the
intellect, all the endeavor which il were posi-
bic for me to exhibit could be used in dealing
sturdy blows against the enemies of the free in
situations of our country, with all the persua-
sion that might be used in bringing 10 the tue
faith of our fathers, those who have heretofore
sought to break up the government.
But that is not permitted to me, while can
claim hearing at your hands, although man
and boy have lived in the old commonwealth
OF Massachusetts more than forty years, while l
have been before my countrymen in various ca
pacities; yet, although a republican after the
straightest sect, am called upon to defend my
self by the newspapers calling themselves re-
publican from unheard of charges. (HiSses
and appause) They don't contine themselves
merely to hard names. Hard names hurt no.
body, for if hard names did hurt anybody, he
who speaks TO you would have been dead,
Qaughter) and | am a little used to hard
words. ! can remember after went into the
war, the earliest abuse got, and lit is as true
but you can all turn to the Rebellion Record,
in which is an extract from rebel newspaper,
stating that am native of Liberia and ne
gro. Equally reliable is a new pedigree of me
published to-day in the Springfield Republican.
Gen. Butler went on 10 say that he expected
abuse from the democratic press, but why
should republican papers malian him? Was it
because he led the first troops through Spring
field and Annapolis to Washington or brought
back the first thousand prisoners from Hatteras?
or hanged the traitor in New Orleans? or re-
fused to "swing round the circle" with Andy
Johnson or managed his impeachment? or
later buried (Butler's) differences with Presi-
dent Grant, with whom he had some cause of
difference? or at the head of the reconstruction
committee, insisted on the protection Of the
loyal men of the SOuthp
"And yet" said Gen. Ruler, che would read
me out of the republican party, that fellow who
ran away when he got John Brown INTO trouble
and would not even 90 and testify before the
senate of thelUnited States in his favor"
Gen. Butler was here interrupted by f. B.
Sanborn, who asked if Butler referred to him.
Butler said: do"
MIR. Sanborn replied, amid great confusion:
"Then the statement is false"
Mr.. Butler then yelled: Why did you run
out of back door and leave your sister to face
the manp
Mr.. Sanborn attempted to reply, amid yellS of
'Put him Out!" "Speechl" the audience being
fused hearing. After quiet had been restored,
Gen. Butler reiterated his assertions at length
and said that, twenty-five years ago, he had
personal collision with Warrington, the Boston
correspondent of the Springfield Republican,
and had been abused by him SINCE and because
he had nephew in New York, who put the
owner Of the Republican in the Ludlow street
Jail, nobody by the name of Butler can get
fair play in that paper.
AS far as the Hartford Courant is concerned
that paper magligned him because he, Butler,
displaced Gen. Hawley from his command
for inetticiency and incompetency. The BoS-
ton Journal abused him because Speaker jew
ell, who wants to be governor, is one of the
trustees of the Rogers estate, and this same re-
publican journal charged twelve dollars for
printing report of republican caucus, at Bey-
erly, because Butler delegates were nominated.
The Boston Advertisers enmity was accounted
for by his, Buffers, threats TO sue thatpaper for
libeling Anna Dickinson when she, a poor,
friendlesS girl, gave her first lecture in Boston.
Gen. Butler then proceeded to rehearse his diff
ferences with the republican party, and de-
elared that the bond holders ought not to be
paid in gold till the soldiers pensioners are.
In referring to his past political career, he ac-
knowedged that he voted fifty-seven times at
the Charleston convention for JEFF Davis as
presidential nominee, and did it to save the
Union. But, when his southern friends became
traitors, he was ready to beat down secession
and, after the war commenced and other gener-
ais were sending back slaves who escaped, he
declared them "contraband of war"
Gen. Butler also rehearsed and defended the
principal events of his congressional career, and
said that he had been urged by his friends to he
candidate for governor. He concluded to do
so, and would announce it openly and toldly,
and not get Il committee down in a rum tavern
somewhere to say it for him.
The remainder of Gen. Buffers speech was
devoted to an attack on the Massachusetts
board of state charities, and to a long dis
cusSi0n of the labor and tariff questions.
GEN. HAwLEY SAYS BUTLER LIES.
The following dispatch was received from
Gen. Hawley after Butler had closed, but before
the audience had dispersed. The chairman re-
fused to allow it to be read
"HdrtfOrd, Aug. "a, 1S71.-If Butler said |
was dismissed or removed from my command,
or was ever rebuked for my conduct as an Of
fcer, beg some friend to read this dispatch, in
which say the charge is an infamous falsehoOd
and the man who uttered it Il liar aud blac :
guard. The last written communication from
Butler concerning my conduct was a copy he
sent me of his recommendation for promotion.
j. K. HAwLEY."
ADDITIONAL STATEMENT FROM MIR. HAwLEY.
Hartford, Aug. 24.-Gen. Hawley respect
fully requests all papers that publish Gen. But
ler's attack on him TO publish the following adj
ditional statement:
came under Buffers command as a colonel
commanding brigade, April, 1864, and was in
nearly all the battles of the army of the James,
After the battle of Deep Run, Aug. 49, 1864, |
was recOIHSRe1ded for promotion by Birney and
Terry, and HHtler added separate and cordial
letter, Of which he sent me copy. took part
as brigadier in the battle Of Oct. 18th. Gen.
Butler himself gave me command Of division
for the battle of Oct. 9th. Butler HIM
self gave me command of TerTy's division
while Terry went to Fort Fisher After the cap
ture, Foster of Indiana returned from leave,
and, being senior to me, took the division, and,
at my own request, was allowed to reon my
old troops in the reOrgaDized tenth corps in
North Carolina. Terry made me chief of staff.
That was the last of my connection with Butler.
He was sent home while | commanded dis
trctin North Carolina, or served chief of staff
in Virginia till October, 1865. and was honora-
bly, discharged, January 10Th, 1866, having been
hreYetted major neneral. Rniler,s slanlers are