New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-06-27
General HSeHjaUiin T.. Butler.

The value and extent of the services of
General Butler during the rebellion, can be
measured by the amount of persecution and
abuse he has received from the rebels and
their sympathzers. lie used all the power
in his possession to crush rebellion, and
wherever he had sway rebellion hid itself,
and since the war with hearts full of revenge
for the effectiveness of General Buffers pol
icy toward them, the rebels follow him up
with prosecutions in the shape of lawsuits for
alleged Illegal seizures of property, Illegal
imprisonments, etc. In every case have the
courts justified the conqueror ofthe rebels, and
acquitted him ofevery charge ofotfense against
the laws. The late suit against General But
Ter, in New York, is another instance of per-
secution awaiting nothing to the prosecutors.
The closing scenes of the trial we take from
a New York paper:
AT the conclusion OF General Buffers
testimony, which evidently produced pro-
found sensation both upon the jury and spec
tators, eX-Judge Porter, of counsel for the
plaintiff, arose and stated that the testimony
to which we had just listened disclosed the
fact that General Butler took the steamer
Nassau in behalf of the Government that he
communicated on that subject with the
Quartermaster's Department at Washington,
and that his proposed action was approved.
Under these circumstances, in my judgment,
therefore, it would be unjust to claim that his
conduct was in any respect illegal. If it was
irregular, as he frankly admits, it was one of
those Irregularities incident to war, and of
which we all had the benefit in the result of
the war. l have consulted with my associ-
ate, Mr.. Dooltte, and my client, Mr.. Tilden,
and | have expressed to them my own judg-
ment in regard to the whole matter and am
happy to find that they concur with me in the
opinion that it is justice to General Butler
that l should say that, III view Of the evil
dence, | am entirely satisfied that, so far as
this transaction is concerned, lie acted in the
interests of the Government, and not with
view either to his own personal ends or to
the advantage of his brother, Andrew Jack
son Butler. Under these circumstances,
your Honor will Of course anticipate what |
propose, which is that the jury be discharged
and that the case be dismissed.
"Ihis rather unexpected termination of
case which had been contested with such
pertinacity and ability was received with a
perfect outburst OF applause, which was con-
tinued so long, that the Court, although APP
parently sympathiZng and joining in with
the spirit of the occasion, was obliged to
make the usual call to order. But it was of
little avail. The further business of the court
could not be proceeded with. The crowd
surged in the direction of the General, who
was congratulated, shaken by the hand, and
overwhelmed BY the empreSsmcm of his adj
mirers. This unooked-for demonstration
produced a singular effect upon the hero of
New Orleans. Instead of appearing to act
as if he thought he deserved this ovation he
was evidently taken by surprise, and for the
al nj
concealed emotion was apparent to those
around"