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

And then my voice rang out as it can do on occasion :--

You are stronger than they. You have your right arms and your torches, and by them we will blot out this accursed outrage.

As God lives and I live, by the living Jehovah! if one man is driven from his employment by these men because of his vote, I will lead you to make Lowell what it was twenty-five years ago,--a sheep-pasture and a fishing-place; and I will commence by applying the torch to my own house. Let them come on. As we are not the aggressors, we seek not this awful contest.

The effect was marvellous. A yell broke out like the agonized groan of wild animals when they feel the deadly knife at their throats. Some cried out, “Let us do it now,” and applause broke out all over the hall and continued some time.

I waved my hand for silence, which was given with a hush: I shouted,

Oh, not now; not now! Let us do all things decently and in order. We are men of peace under the law. Perhaps this notice is the act of some unauthorized, superserviceable agent of theirs, some over-zealous underling,--and the heads of the corporations have not ordered it and really don't mean it, although I have heard of no withdrawal of it.

We cannot vote Monday under such a threat. We will vote as free men and not as slaves. We have given them here and now notice of our solemn determination; let them take up the gauntlet we throw down if they dare! We must vote next Monday as free men or we don't vote at all: no election will be held. They shall have Thursday and Friday in which to adopt or repudiate this threat of theirs to the working-men of Lowell.

Let us wait and see what they mean to do, and we will notify them that this meeting stands adjourned to meet here again at eight o'clock on Saturday evening to hear their answer, and then we have the Sabbath before us in which to act, and “ the better the day the better the deed.” Now, let us all go quietly home. Don't do any-thing or say anything that will give our enemies any hold upon us. I know as a lawyer where I stand in saying what I have said, and I desire in this matter that you will carefully follow my advice. If we must come to blows, it must be upon their invitation.

I do not think they will call upon the militia of Lowell to suppress us, for you are the militia and I am its commander. Now, let