The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-02-01
body would have been entirely
different from what it was.

IN the 1emarkaDie lie OI MT. DuG-
ler. He was the champion sire
eater,' and so designated in the
Charleston convention of 1860.-
The result of the following election
is known by every one. The demo
cratic party was Overwhelmingly
defeated, and Mr.. Lincoln elected
president. A few months later Mr..
Jefferson Davis was president OF
the southern confederacy, and his
champion in the Charleston con-
vention was commanding general
of a northern army invading the
''sacred soil'' of the south with q
bitterness not excelled by any OF
all the extreme men of that section
General Butler went about his mill
tary campaign in the south like he
did about business in the Charles
ton convention, to make or break
all of the crockery in the china shop.
His first venture, which was in Vir-
ginia, was failure, but then his
success in Louisiana was complete
and brilliant, and made him one OF
the heroes of the war. Without in
tending to open old sores, or having
the slightest unkindness of dis
courtesy toward Massachusetts, new
governor, l can say with all can
dor what hardly any one on either
side of Mason and Dixon's line will
deny, that General Benjamin F.
Butler made himself the most odi-
Gus man that ever commanded an
army or set a squadron in the field.
Of all the million of men who in
vaded the south he was the most
hated and detestei by the southern
people. He was accused of almost
every offense known in the cata-
logue of military and individual
crime, and was odious, too, in south
err. estimation, because from a ''fire-
eating'' JEFF. Davis democrat he
made himself in short time there
after a full-fedged and bitter re-
publican, at war. with all of the
feelings and sentiments Of the
southern section OF the Union and
the democratic party of the country.
A more sudden and wonderful trans
formation in the attitude of a public
man is scarcely anywhere recorded
IN history, and what makes his
metamorphosis the still more won
derful is the remarkable change
which his position has recently un.,
dergone again in the present new
role he is playing in the politics of
the state and country.
But it is due to General Butler
and to the truth of history to say
that the change in his position in
politics during and since the war
has not been more remarkable than
that which public sentiment and
feeling at the south has also under
gone toward him in the last few
years, and especially within the last
few months. No intelligent and
impartial man in the south now be
lieves that General Butler was of
the bad character of instincts i'm
puted to him during and since the
war. Nobody believes now that he
was more cruel in warfare, BIAS
phemOus in religion, or dishonest
in his dealings with the people than
were other commanding officers of
the army of the highest rank. No
one really believes that he stole
anybody's Spoons" or treated with
brutal cruelty confederate soldiers
or citizens in his power; and it is
the most pleasant indication of the
times to know that these harsh and
unjust sentiments and feelings en-
gendered by the civil war are now
rapidly passing away. Only a few
years ago General Butler would
have been burned in efi1gy in every
portion Of the south at the mere
mention of his name, while now it
may be asserted with entire candor
that his recent triumph in Massa
chusetts has been hailed with al
most universal applause at the south.
HOW LINCOLN WAS TAKEN CARE OF.
The amusing anecdote is related
as fact by the minister who was
party to it, that Immediately after
his capture Of New Orleans, Gen.
Butler was informed that an emf
nent Episcopal divine of that city
had omitted from his service the
usual prayer for the president of
the United States, and had substi-
'tuted President Davis, of the con
federacy. This incensed the gener-
al, and he at once sent one of his
orderlies to command the presence
of the offending minister, and after
stating his offence, demanded that
he should correct the services in
the future. The minister, who was
and is native of Virginia, and a
most pious gentleman, frankly ad
'mitted that it was impossible for
him to "conscientiously" comply
with the generals demand, that as
he was a friend of peace and ready
to submit in all proper humility to
the powers, that he would agree to
omit in the future Mr.. Davis and
the confederacy. General Butler
rose to his feet with stein command
in his face and language, and said ::
"Do you see those war vessels out
yonder in the harbor and those
armed soldiers around my door?'
''Yes, sir" replied the divine with
due humility, expecting the next
moment to be sent aboard ship by
the conquering tyrant as captive
slave. But his fears were at once
dispelled, as the general, grasping
him by the hand, with broad grin
upon his face. said:
"Well, Brother P, you go on and
preach and. pray for whom you d-n
please, and-these big guns and brave
soldiers will take care of President
Lincoln and the United States.''
The two afterwards became good
friends. The general frequently at
tended the services of the minister
while commanding in New Orleans.
r. W. G.
"a Proposed Good Move.
The Chicago school board con
templates the abolition of the study
of grammar for the younger pnpils
and the substitution of oral language