I bow reverently to the brave, modest, patriotic soldier,
who, without thought of personal gain, gave youth, health,
limb, life to save the country which he loved. I am willing
to abide by his opinion, and to yield to him every place of
honor and of office. But to you, General Butler, whose military
career is made up of the blunder and slaughter of Big Bethel;
of the powder explosion at Fort Fisher; of the engineering
at Dutch Gap; of the "bottling-up" at Bermuda Hundred; of
the trading with the rebels through the lines in North Carolina;
of the scandals of New Orleans; to you, who were ordered by
General Grant to go home in disgrace; to you whose best service
had been, if you, too, had stayed at home, I have no such
tribute to offer. When Benedict Arnold taunts Jefferson that
he did not go into battle in the Revolution, when Aaron Burr
taunts John Adams with want of patriotism, then it will be
time for you to boast yourself over the men who performed
the duties of civil life during the Rebellion."
We have had turbulent and exciting times in our State and
National politics before and since that day.
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