The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-10-04
alntelligeneer.
Benjamin L. Bntlcr.
.lugy,t cAroai,,e n con,ttaionuli,t

Now that the Massachusetts Rcpubli-
cans have nominated their most intellect.
ual, if not their strongest, man on a
platform that, boiled down, means "auy.
thing to beat Butler" word or two
about the redoubtable individual thus
conspicuously assailed may he in order.
1t may be admitted that Benjamin +.
Butler was not very agreeable satrap ut
New Orleans in time of war. He did
many things that were harsh ard per
hapa cruel. He Issued some orders that
so iniamed Gen. Bcauregard and Mr..
Davis that retaliatory counter orders Of
the scvercst character were promulgated.
But il is also true that he performed
many acts of Kindness, and that numcr-
Gus accounts OF his msdccds are mere
fiction. We think toe that he was not
10 be compared in despoic or iagrant
acts with Sherman or Sheridan. The
writer was put TO much trouble by Gen
Butter, but that was a fortune Of war, and
we do not now hold him blamablc for any
personal mishars III our own. With Il
majority Of the people Of the South, we
held him in horror and dctcstation, but
time and experience have soitcncd All
mositics and modified some opinions.
Gen. Butler has, We believe, very SUN.
marily put to rout al men who accused
him Of stealing anything for his own
individual benefit. We have heard him
speak in the highest terms Of Gen. Lee,
while in the same breath, he cxcoriated
Grant. His reference 10 Southern sol
dicrs was always rs "Confcdcratcs," ncv-
CIR as ''Rebels," and this too when con.
vcrsing with the Cabinet Of Mr.. Hayes
AM ONE military dignitares We do
not admire him, in all things, and his
rcco is not specially TO our taste but
he IS very smart man, often mcrciful
one, and then did he not vote fifty. six
times for Jefferson Davis ns worthy of
the nomination to the Presidency OF The
United States? # aii tho members oi
the Charleston convention had been OF
the same mind az Gov. Butler, tho Dem
ocratic party would have been harmOni-
Gus and Mr.. Davis would have succeeded
Buchanssslas President Of the Republic.
Think of that! What change would
that have entailcd and what different
condition from that brought upon the
country by the men who slaughtered
Douglas and ruined the South.
Now we read in the papers that Mrs.
Stonewall Jackson and her daughter are
the cherished guests Of Governor Butler
We also read that they are the guests of
the State of Massachusetts. They arc
not allowed to spend cent Of money for
anything and are always escorted about
by some distinguished attendants. Car
riagcs and street cars are always ut their
disposal free, and they are always given
private boxes in the theatres. The
greatest attention is being shown them
wherever they 90 and Boston is lionizng
them. 1t il also stated that the first oi
the many tokens received by Mrs. Stone.
wall Jackson and her daughter during
their stay in Boston was superb basket
of roses, with tho compliments Of few
members Of the Grand Army Of the Re
public" These are significant and pa
thetic facts.
Gen. Beauregard, recently interviewed
by the World reporter, told the following
story, which bears upon this subject lu-
minously
"How would the candidacy Of Gen.
Butler be received at the South ?"
81 nm not prepared to speak for the
South" said the General, but think it
would meet with strong opposition in
that quarter, although he may not be
guilty of all the charges brought against
him while in command there. His sub
ordinates may bo responsible for many of
the acts complained Of"
"How did he treat your family and
frlends2" was the next question.
"With proper consideration, ns was
more particularly informed Un lily return
to New Orleans. left home suddenly
February %. 1861, having resigned from
the United States corps of engineers on
the call of the provisional government of
the Confederacy at Montgomery, Ala.
expected at that time to return in about
fOr -, s11, 20 s, I
where had been stationed for many
years. Instead, was ordered to Charles.
ton, S. O., thence to Manassas, thence to
West Tennessee, etc, to tho end Of the
war, remaining absent from homo four
years and three months. When started
from New Orleans. Mrs. Beauregard was
in very bad health, and was compelled
to leave her with her own family TO be
taken cnre of, hence l was extremely
anxious to return, to ho with her; but in
war soldier belongs first to his country,
and then to his family. Shortly after
New Orleans was taken possession of by
the Federals my wife and family--com.
posed only Of ladies', The gentlemen hav-
lug gone 10 the war-received an order
from General Buffers chief quar-
termaster to vacate their house, in
forty eight hours, as it was TO be
occupied by Federal officers. An old
friend Of the family, DR.. Mercer, who
was we'll acquainted with General Butler,
went to him to demonstrate against such
proceeding, and to explain the condi-
tion Of Mrs. Beauregard's health. Gen.
eral Butler ut once countermanded the
order. which he said, had been given
without his approval. Moreover, he
sent guard to protect the house from
further intrusion, but the ladies request.
ed the guard to be withdrawn, which was
done.
''The war progressed with variable re.
suits, while Mrs. Beauregard's health
became worse and worse. At last, in the
early spring Of 1864, it became evident
to her physician and her family that she
had not long to live. Our good old
friend, DR.. Mercer. again went to General
Butler to know If tho,s were no posi-.
bility Of my seeing more the tender