The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1893-01-18
General Builder.


General Benjamin f. Butler, a learned
lawyer brave soldier, an unscrupu-
lous politician, rich manufacturer,
and one of the most unique men of his
times, died on January the eleventh of
heart failure.
Gen. Butler was born at Dearfield, N.
H.. on the fifth of November, 1918. He
graduated from Waterville College,
Maine, and was admitted to the bar in
1910 and hung out his single, which
may still be seen, at Lowell, Massachu-
sets, soon afterwards.
AS a lawyer, Benjamin +. Butler made
a record which will accord him place
in the front ranks of the most able of
his contemporaries, and students of the
law having occasion to consult the re-
ports will frequently meet the name of
b. f. Butler
Early in his career this able man be-
came politician of prominence; was
elected member of the Massachusetts
House of representatives in 1858, and
became member of the Senate of that
state in 1859.
In 1860 he was delegate to the Ma
tional Democratic Convention at Balti-
more, but with others left that body,
declining to sit with the advocates of
slavery. The next year he was defeated
us the candidate of the Democrat party
for Governor of Massachusetts. In 1851
he was made brigadier general of
militia and in May of that year occupied
the City of Baltimore, having entered
it unmolested at the head of force of
less than a thousand men. Soon after
wards Butler was created major
general and assigned to the command
of Fortress Monroe and the department
of Eastern Virginia, During his COM
mand of this department he refused to
deliver up to their masters certain fugi-
tive slaves who had taken refuge within
his lines, declaring them to be econ
trabands" of war.
On May first, 1862, he took possession
of New Orleans, and his famous career
at that city is well known. He after
wards was in command of the depart
ment of Virginia and North Carolina
and the army of the James, and con-
Quoted an unsuccessful expedition
against Fort Fisher. Subsequently he
was removed from his command by
Gen. Grant,
After the war Gen. Butler entered
congress as Republican, and was one
of the managers appointed by the
House of Representatives in 1868 to
conduct the impeachment of President
johnson.
Gen Butler was several times a
candidate for election as governor of
Massachusetts, but was unsuccessful
until 1882 when he was elected as a
Democrat. He was defeated for re-
election in 1888, and in 1884 was the
candidate of the Greenback- anti-mO-
nopoly parties for the presidency, poll
ing 133, S25 votes
Gen. Butler was as variable as a
weather-cock in matters political, and
as cunning, vindictive, selfish and un-
scrupulous man as could well be. He
was great man in many things and
yet small man. He cannot he classed
as a statesman, though he evinced con-
4 IL G.
General Butler conducted large man
ufacturing interests, being concern
ed extensively in the manufacture of
bunting for flags. He died seven times a
millionaire and his life, failures and
accomplishments twill make promi
nent page in the record of the events
of the period covered by The war of the
rebellion and the years of so-called re-
construction.
He will not be remembered as q
philanthropist or humanitarian, but as
one of the most erratic, aggressive, pos
tive and, in no small degree patriotic
man of his day.