Daily Kennebec Journal

GENERAL BUTLER ANNOUNCES HIS INTENTIONS.

On Friday afternoon at three o'clock fifty-nine gentlemen assembled in the Revere House and sat down to a sumptuous feast by invitation of Colonel Jonas H. French, who presided. On his right sat General Butler, and Dr. George B. Loring was placed on his left. After the cloth had been removed, Colonel French made a few remarks, and called upon Colonel Hoyt of Athol, who proposed a sentiment which brought out General Butler. The latter made quite a long speech, in which he mainly defended his course on the salary grab, giving a history of its inception in Congress, and stating that the subject was referred to the committee on the judiciary, of which he was the only member whose term of office held over, and therefore the committee selected him as the proper person to present the bill. He denied being the author of the bill, and stated that he was at first greatly opposed to it. Later, however, he became convinced that it was right, and so he advocated and should defend it. He spoke of the number of times Congress had voted in favor of similar bills in regard to back pay, and gave one instance in which Senators Sumner and Wilson and Governor Washburn had taken their back pay. Then General Butler squarely announced himself as a candidate for governor. He would be glad to receive all votes, but should not feel unkindly to those friends who might oppose him, though his heart would beat a little warmer for those who voted for him. Dr. Loring was the next speaker. He burlesqued the legislature a little, and said that all he asked or expected was permission to re-occupy the chair of president of the senate; but he fought shy of the governorship, never mentioning Butler in connection with it. Senator Harmon of Lawrence, Judge Sanger of Cambridge, Mr. Judd of Lee, Mr. Titus of Worcester, Judge Thomas Russell, Mr. Plunkett of Worcester, Mr. Bailey of Charleston, and Mr. Howes (the previous question man) of Dennis, all came out strongly for General Butler, Judge Russell in particular, being explicit and sanguine on the subject. Among outsiders well known to the public who participated in the banquet, were United States Marshal Usher, Major R. C. Nichols, General E. D. Foster of Cheshire, Major Bishop, United States shipping agent, Captain Bestieaux, Samuel J. Tuttle, Esq., and Messrs. George W. Young and Benjamin Dean of Lowell. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed and the meeting broke up at seven o'clock with three cheers for "Ben Butler, the next governor of Massachusetts," and a unanimous and strong declaration in his favor. - Saturday Evening Gazette.