[270]In the matter of the address in quotation, I but copied the address assumed by one of the numerous military secretaries who write me on behalf of the Governor, and it was because of the formality of that address. “His Excellency Governor Andrew” is neither a baptismal, inherited, or constitutional title; and, after using it once in the letter alluded to, I carefully used the title of the Constitution, and marked it in quotation to call attention to the difference.
It appears by this, that General Butler ‘carefully used the title of the Constitution, and marked it in quotation to call attention to the difference.’
Mr. Parton, in his ‘Life of General Butler,’ says,—
The person who made the copy sent to the Governor, with perverse uniformity, placed inverted commas before and after those words (His Excellency), as if to intimate that the author of the letter used them reluctantly, and only in obedience to a custom. It looked like an intentional and elaborate affront, and served to embitter the controversy. When, at length, the General was made acquainted with the insertion, he was not in a humor to give a complete explanation; nor, indeed, is it a custom with him to get out of a scrape by casting blame upon a subordinate.
This information, Mr. Parton says, he received ‘from a confidential member of General Butler's staff, the late General Strong,’ who was killed at Fort Wagner.
This letter appears to have closed the controversy regarding the letter of Oct. 12; but it introduced a new element of controversy. Respecting commissioning the officers of Battery No. 4, General Butler alludes to the objections which the Governor had interposed in regard to one of the persons recommended, and says,—
If any base charge can be substantiated against either of them, I shall be happy to substitute others. I believe, however, that neither of them have ever done any thing worse than seducing a mother, and making a father wifeless and children motherless; and that, you know, is no objection to a high military commission in Massachusetts.
On the 30th, the Governor addressed a note to General Butler, in which he quotes the words in the above extract, and requests to know what officer it is to whom he refers:—
