Year: 1868

The New York Herald of this morning con-
tains the folowing:-


General Butler was at the Astor House yester.
day, on his way to Washington to attend the
adjourned session of Congress. The death Of
Thad. Stevens leaves General Butler at the head
of the radical party, and his views are conse-
quently Of especial Importance on the eve of the
Ieassembling of Congress, over the Republican
Caucuses of which for the past few sessions he
has 1eigned supreme. The failure OF impeach-
ment has by some been regarded as the political
death-blow OF Butler, but this is great mistake.
1t required a vote of two-thirds of the Senate to
convict the President OF the high crimes and
misdemeanors with which he was charged by
unanimous vote of the Republicans of the
House, and while this failed large majority of
The Senators were to be found on the side of
impeachment. Hence, although Andrew john
son was saved by the skin of his teeth Benjamin
Butler practically triumphed, aud his party
declared by a decisive vote in his favor.


In view of these facts his conversation with
Generals comfortable and convenient quarters
at the Aster House will be read with interest.
Our reporter, desiring first to ascertain whether
the next Congress is or is not to lose the energy
and vim of the Represen tative from Massachu-
setts, led off the conversation on the subject o f
the contest in the Generals Congressional
district.


Reporter. Well, General, see that the papers
have recently terminated your Congressional
career somewhat prematurey.


General Butler. Well as long as they do not
i
that.


HOW THE 'NAIIoNn NEWSPAPER WAS STARTED


Reporter. perceive that some papers on the
Repub blcan side oppose your renomlnation-the
Nation and the Boston Advertiser, for instance.
How is 1t that such journals oppose SO good
Republican as yourself?


General Butler-Well, for various reasons. So
far as the Nation is concerned its enmity Is
natur al enough considering the coma lndr-
mites of human nature. The truth is that was
an original opponent of the existence of the
Nation, which originated in the folio wing
manner:-An association OF charitable gentle
men in Boston had subscribed large sum of
money for the relief of destitute negroes, and to
aid in recruiting negro regiments at the South.
/ was one OF the subscribers to that praise
worthy object. and the association accomplished
great amount of good After the cessation of
the war the affairs of the association were
wound up, and 1t was found that there wa.
surplus of the fund, which hold from the
nature OF the charity ought to have been sacredly
devoted to the relief and care of the freed
men OF the South. But portion of the
trustees met together, and without consulting
with the subscribers resolved that they could
better aid the freedmen by establishing paper
IN New York in their interest than by expending
the surplus in any other way, and in accordance
with this resolution the amount OF fifteen thou
sand dollars OF more was appropriated for the
purpose of starting the Journal called the
Nation. did not see the matter in this light,
and made strong opposition TO any such dis
position of the funds, which had been subscribed





colored people of the South. 1t was this oppo-
sition that gained me the enmity of the persons
who profted by the establishment OF the Nation
with the funds of the association.


THE BOSTON "ADvERTIsER's'' ANTI-BUTLERIsM.


RepOrter-I see that the Boston Advertiser
opposes your denomination TO Congress, and
has recently published an editorial article
against you.


General Butler-Yes am aware of that, and
understand the motive. Up to short time
ago the Advertiser was not uhiavorable to me,
and was, in tact one of the first papers to
publish to the world my views on financial
questions, about which so much has since been
written in the Republican press. But subse-
quently to this was employed professionally to
commence lioel suit against the publishers. OF
the Advertiser, tor an obscene slander which
they had uttered against a talented and esti-
mable young lady; and in pursuance of my
duty l compelled them, under a threat OF pro-
secution, 10 make full and ample apology.
This was on nv part simply professional act;
but ever since then the Boston Advertiser esta-
bishment has been unable 10 discover any
good qualities in me.


BRICK PoMBRoY AND THE GENERAL.


Reporter. l see that the sore.headed Republi-
can papers are not your only assailants, General,
but that you have an energetic and determined
enemy on the other side OF the house, in the
person of the Ted-hot Democratic champion,
Brick Pomeroy.


General Butler Well, yes; Brick Pomeroy is
my enemy, but unlike the cases nave before
alluded 10, l know no good reason why he
should be SO. | suppose he abuses me as the
Springfield Republican does, because he supooses
that II sells his paper and puts money In MS
pocket. But Brick Pomeroy Is character. he
used to publish some very hard stories ABOUT
me, SO much so that several OF my friends came
10 me and asked me why did not prosecute