Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Who enters for the first time upon the discharge of the duties pertainiuf^to tlie first office in the Commonwealth, is a resident of Lowell, with which city he has been identified since early manhood.When the war broke out and the first call for troops was issued he was comiiunuler of a brigade of the State militia, and at once issued orders for the mustering of his connnand.The call was made April In, 18G1, and on the next, day the Sixth Regiment left Boston, Gen. Butler starting on the 18th with the Eighth Kegiment.under orders to proceed to Washington by way of Baltimore.Two regiments of the brigade were sent by another route to Fortress Monroe, which they garrisoned.By the burning of liridges Gen.Butler was reudert'd unable to reach Washington by way of Baltimore, and therefore seized Annapolis, repaired the railroatl between that point and Washington, and reached the cajiital in time to prevent it falling into the hands of the hostile forces.On May 13 he entered Baltimore at the head of uou men.meeting with no oppositit)n, and May 22. having been commissioned a Major Gen- eral in the United States service, he was assigned the connnand of Fortres ].It was while at this i)ort that he made bis famous point in regard to runaway slaves, refusing to send such slaves back to their owners, on the ground that they were "property contra- liandofwar."Having taken part with Admiral Farragut in the movement on New Orleans he en- tered that city May 1, 18G2, and remained there until December l(j of the same year, when he was relieved by Gen. Banks.His government of the city was vigorous and successful.In November, 18(;3, he was phiced in command of the Depart- ment of Virginia and North Carolina, aiul in the winter conceived the project of atta<-king Kich- mond from City Point and Bermuda Hiuidred, a project which he entered upon by occupying that peninsula in May, 18(i4.Here he aided the luoveuient of (ien".(irant ui)on Petersburg.He was ordered to New York during the Presidential election of 18(54.and in Deceuilicr of that year he was sent against Fort Fisher, his exiiedition jirov- ing unsuccessful.He was subsetiuently relieved of his connnand.and at the close of the war was mustered out of the United States service.He served ui the State militia some years after the war, holding at one time the position of Major General, an office which was aliolished on the re- organization of the militia in 1878.Gen. Butler was elected to Congress from tlie Fifth District in 18<',(; as a Keiuiblican.receiving a re-e!ection for three successive terms, and serving from March 4. 1867, to March 3. 1875.In the election of 1874 he was defeated by Hon.