Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[716] life by Lincoln in November, 1864, Smith turned upon him. In December he wrote a letter to this same Foote to be shown to Lincoln, as was done, and the letter left with him disclosing to him the fact that McClellan had written a protest against the President's Proclamation of Emancipation, and had consulted with Smith on the question of its publication, thus betraying both his friends,--violating every duty in every relation with every general commanding, defaming, and attacking his best friends who supported him,--violating every instinct of a gentleman or a man of honor by disclosing acts which he, as a host, calls his guests to commit, calling his staff officer as a witness to the weapon he has obtained against Grant,--and in the postscript of his letter offering to procure for Foote other evidence to destroy the character and influence of Grant, and to disclose their confidential secrets. He devotes his after life to telling these tales of his own disgraceful perfidy in the magazines of his country published after Grant's death.

Does not Smith show himself to be, though of human form, only an animal of the lowest class, found nowhere but in America, the generic name of the whole species being “Mephitis Americana” ?

Decorative Motif.