POST-WAR ALS—BENJAMIN F. BUTLER

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Item Code: 490-6560

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Dated Washington City / March 11, 1867. On Butler’s personal “B” letterhead. Addressed to “Hon. W.D. Northend /Salem, Mass.”. One page in ink, with Butler’s personal “B” letterhead, 5.25” x 8.25. Exhibits fold-marks. Else VG plus.

Text: “Dear Sir….Your note of the 8th inst. Is received.

The 39th Congress voted that all books that they have ordered published should be distributed to themselves. But I will try and get what you desire / Yours truly / Benj. Butler.”

One of the most colorful of Civil War-era political/military figures, he was also one of the shiftiest and highly adept at looking out for himself first and last--especially financially. Butler writes this 1867 note in the capacity of a Massachusetts Congressman responding to the request of one of his constituents. A year later the former pre-war pro-slavery Democrat will join the Radical Republican House prosecution team in their attempt to impeach President Johnson. By the 1870s he will be once again a Democrat and by the early ‘80s a Greenback party man. He will retire in the early ‘90s with an estate worth 7 million, much it garnered by buying and selling  contraband on the sly while military governor of New Orleans in 1862. When Mark Twain referred to Congressmen as swine who needed a whack on the snout, he surely had Ben Butler in mind.

A fine reconstruction—gilded age political collectible, featuring Ben Butler serving a constituent for once, instead of looking out for number one. In protective sleeve.  [jp][ph:L]

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