The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-11

Benjamin franklin Butler was born at
Deerfeld. New Hampshire, Nov. 5, 1918.
graduated at Waterville college in 1885, and
in 1s41 began the practice Of law At Lowell,
nent part in politics on the democratic
side. and in 1858 was elected to the
tatives. and in 1869 to the state
senate. In 1860 he was a delegate
to the national democratic convention,
The convention broke up without making
any nomination for the presidency, and
when a portion of the delegates reassemb bled
at Baltimore, Mr.. Butler announced that
majority of the delegates from Massaohu-
sets would take no further part in
for the reason. am ona others, that
they would not sit in a con ven-
tion in which the slave trade. which
by law was piracy, was advocated" In
that year he was tho democratic candidate
candidate for governor of Massachusetts.
He had before held a commission as briga-
dier-general of militia. On April II. 1861,
he marched to Annapolis. Maryland. with
his regiment. and was soon afterwards
placed in command ut Baltimore, and sub
sequsntly at Fortress Monroe. While here.
some slaves who had come within his lines
were demanded by their masters. He re-
fused to deliver them up. on the ground
that they we're ''oontraband Of war;"
whence originated the term "oontrabands,"
mated during the civil war. Early in Feb
rua y. 1862. combined naval
% osns Ths se land psnn foos The satsI ba1s
70: ce, under FarraRut, passed the forts be-
low. and were virtually in possession of the
city on May l, when the troops came up,
and Butler took formal possersion, and
governed there with great vigor until No.
vember, when he WAS recalled. Late in
pnrtment of Virginia and North Carolina,
and the forces here were designated the
army of the James. When Gen, Grant was
moving towards Richmond in July,
1864. Brtler made IN unsuccess-
tul effort to capture Petersburg.
Ia Dec, 1864. he made an Intellectual at.
tempt VI on Fort Fisher, nenr Wilmington,
North Carolina. and was then relieved OF
his command. In 1866 he was elected to
congress by the republicans of MaHsa-
chusetts and he was repeatedly reelected
until 1878. In 1871 and in 1873 he was an
unsucoessful candidate for the republican
nomination for governor Of Massachusetts.
In 1877 he left the republican party to ue-
enter that OF the democrats. and was their
candidate for governor OF Massachusetts, in
1878 and 1879 but was defeated.
In 1882 he again secured the nomination
and was elected. but held the office for only
one year, being defeated bv the republicans
In 1888 He was the candidate Of the
Greenhack-Labor party in 1884, but received
only 133,4 ,42S votes out OF the 1000 SGS cast.
Gen. Butler was 22 yenrs OF age when he
was admitted to the bar. As law seudent
he had been hard worker as we'll as n
quick scholar. and his memory and appli-
cation were equally great. Before his ad-
mission to the bar he had practised a little
in the police court at Lowell, conducting
suits brought by factory girls against
mill corporations for wages withheld
on ons pretence or another. and glad
enough to earn an occasional fee of 81.
law gave to the mill girls of Lowell on the
occasion OF strike wns an incident OF his
early legal days which made HIM we'll ro-
gnrdsd by the mill owners. Two or three
thousand of the mill girls assembled In
n grove TO discuss thoir grievances.
address them. nnd gave them sound advice.
admitting the justice Of their claims, but
advising them to return to work and strive
either by remonstrance or appeal to the
legislature, to secure shorter hours and
better pay. This advice caused the girls TO
return to work.
Gen. Butler had great practice before
tho war For years he had two offices. one
in Boston aud ono in l.owell-and a partner
IN each engaged In the preparation of cases.
He was trying cases in court almost CON
atantly for nine months in the year.
Then. as now, he was punctual and
in his comineH and Roings
between Lowell and Boston. When tho
Wat broke out he had one OF the most lu.
crative practices In New EnRlAnd-worlh |
probably S25, coo pear. He was trying a |
case in court when the order came for She |
sixth regiment OF his brigade to muster on |
Boston common. In readiness to pi ioceed to |
Washington. by the courtesy OF the op-