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

[974] that document upon him, and I claim no credit about the matter except for the selection of the proclamation of Governor Gore, which seemed to me to be the best of those I examined.

I heard that after the publication of my statement in the newspapers pretty much the whole Commonwealth enjoyed themselves in laughing at the ministers' mistakes.

It is needless to mention that the good clergymen of the Commonwealth have subsequently preached against me, although I earnestly hope they all now pray for me.

During my term of office I appointed a few executive officers and some judicial ones to which my council would not consent. I appointed some other officers to whom they were obliged “to advise and consent.”

Massachusetts, as it may be remembered, was a strong anti-slavery State. That very humane but rather aggressive doctrine absolutely flamed over the State for years, but no governor had ever appointed a negro to any prominent office.

In the judiciary district of Charlestown, a portion of Boston, the office of judge became vacant, and as we had as a member of the bar in Boston a very reputable and well-read lawyer who was a negro, a Democrat, and formerly a member of the legislature, Edwin G. Walker, Esq., I nominated him for the position, but my Republican council would not advise and consent he should have his commission. I then looked around for another reputable negro lawyer who should be a Republican in politics, and finding one, George L. Ruffin, Esq., nominated him, and the council dared not take the responsibility of his rejection. This judge held his office during his life and to the entire acceptance of the community.

The State prison being in a condition of revolt when I took possession of the executive office I appointed a fellow-soldier, Col. Roland G. Usher, an independent Republican, to be its warden. It had been the custom of former wardens to go around through the prison armed from head to foot. Indeed, years before one warden had been killed by the prisoners. The new warden carried no weapons, and had no guard, and the prisoners treated him as their friend and benefactor. He retained his office through several administrations that succeeded mine, and was asked still further to retain it but resigned to attend to his private business affairs.