The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-08-31
BUTLER vs.. HAWLEY.
Card of General Hawley, wherein
He Uses Some Plain Saxon Con
cernIng Butler.


From Governor Hawley's Card in the Hart
ford Courant.
On my return from the Valley road
excursion at $50 P. NJ, l found wait,
ing for me dispatch from Mr. Law
son, OF the Courant, reporting at Spring,
field, reading as follows:
Butler has just said: / had Gen
Hawley under my command in Virginia,
and dismissed hin for cowardice and
incompetency, and he never has been
seen 10 the field since
TO this astounding and most auda-
cious lie | instantly responded as fol-
lows to Mr.. Adams Of the Springfield
Republican, from whom | had also re-
ceived telegram;
"If Butler said | was dismissed or re-
moved from any command, or was ever
rebuked Tor my conduct as an officer, |
beg some friend TO read this dispatch,
in which | say that the charge is an
Infamous falsehood, and the man who
uttered it liar and blackguard. The
last written communication from Butler
concerning my conduct was copy he
sent me OF his recommendation for my
promotion.
This dispatch was brought into the
hall just after Butler had concluded his
speech, and while the audience were
still present. Mr.. Trask, the president
OF the meeting, who initiates his master,
refused to let the dispatch be read. 1t
was Buffers hope to start his ISLANDERS
twenty-four or at least twelve hours
ahead OF contradiction. Fortunately, |
had friends in Springfield, in the Repub-
Hcan Office and elsewhere, and my tele-
gram branding Butler as he deserves
was sent with the regular Associated
Press dispatches.
1t appears now that Buffers words
were at first incorrectly reported. They
were precisely as follows: 81 displaced
him from command for inetficiency and
incom potency, and he was never seen
on the field aiterward." Though the
reporters disagree, the majority think
he said displaced" instead OF dis,
missed" and in place Of "corardics and
incompetency," used the words "neffi'
cheney and incompetency." l let my
original dispatch stand The words
liar and blackguard" have a lawful
place in the English language, and
though l am not an impartial judge, it
strikes me that this is one OF the times
when they may be properly used. Ny
dispatch was handed to Butler to read
after the meeting, and he received it az
patiently as he has received many sim
liar observations addressed to his moral
nature y
The Springfield Republican interprets
General Butler remarks to mean that
if he does not receive the regular Re
publican nomination he does not intend
to run for Governor. The Republican
concludes its reference to Butler speech
as follows:
Doubtless the foul-mouthed abuse
poured out by the speaker on other
gentlemen, not present or not commu-
nicated with, would have been met by
denials equally clear had they been at
hand to answer. But aside from the
general malice and mendacity OF bis
utterances, General Butler now stands
charged to the face with open falsehood,
on the authority Of men whose veracity
is unquestioned, and Of facts which only
need TO be examined to be accepted.
This is an unlucky beginning OF our
would-be Governors canvass OF the
State, and the bulk OF his speech was
Of a piece with this. Coarse,
petty, furious, boastful, unscrupu,
fous in assertion, equiyocal in ar.
gument, commonplace in oratory, this
opening address was just that which the
friends OF good order and good govern
ment would have Butler make, and the
very one that his friends would have
withheld him from making if they
could. And the quiet people Of Mass
achusetts, who will read il this morn
ing, or this evening, in q dozen news
papers, will feel new qualm OF disgus'
at the thought that this brawling dem.
agogue. this branded liar, 10 conceitet