Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-08-17

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where he ever afterwards resided. Will
his own hands he commenced clearing i,
and in The midst of a wilderness he, Dearl,
sixty years ogo. erected hls own log house
without any idea Of ever rising above tn,
usual grade OF honest bard.working farm
ers. tie had no ambition. nor Throughout
his whole life did he seek for pre- eminence
He had nothing popular or attractive in his
person or manners. In fact, with small
body, stopping gait, slow speech, and q
rather negligent costume, he made a pool
impression by his outer man. With him il
was true to all intents that it is the "mind
that makes the man,"
Gov. Butler was possessed naturally oil
a contempIa'lve and discriminating mind.
tbs judgment was never made up rapidly
and II was seldom found to be wrong. He
long served as a legislator in his own
slute. and in the Congress o! the U. States.
tie was never chatter, but just before q
question was TO be taken, he gave his
"OpinlOn" as it was always called, and on
important questions looked for BY all par.
lies lie was ALWAYS followed BY o large
party. although he never q, emptcd TO be q
leader tie acquired his grea, influence.
by natural ssgacity and soundness OF
judgment upon all matters before him. and
he honest upright discharge Of his Official
duties for the public good. He never
sought an Office, or declined one, which
his health permitted him to ill. This is
saying much of a man who held office for
forty years, and filed every office in the
gift Of free slate, except that Of Senator
III Congress.
10 addition to the usual town Offices, he
was for many years the first Judge of
Washington Co. Court. lie was mem
Der for many years of one or the other
branch of the state legislature. lie was a
member OF the Congress that declared the
last war with Great Britain. He was
three times Pre>ldcnlal Elec'or; twice a
member of the Couucil Of Ctnsors. aud
closed his public life a few years ago. by
declining reelection to the GuberDalo.
rial chair. Since then he has been con
fined by i'll health, chiefly TO his farm and
house, where he has spent the evening Of a
long. useful, and honorable life. During
his whole life he never attended pollticnI !
caucus, or in eDy way lent his aid 10 the
'r,rigues Of party strife. He was a con.
sis,ent member Of the old democr ratio
party, but repudiated The party which
placed Gen. Jackson in power.
Gov. Butler was a worthy and consci.
entious disciple of Jesus Christ, and was
never ashamed of his profession. When
on public duties, he delighted to meet with
his fellow christians aud m'nge with them
in their social and religious exercises. For
nearly half century he was member OF
the Baptist Church, and exercised his
talents among them as an acceptable, and
exemplary minister Of the Gospel.
Soon after he entered public life. he
began to store his mind with solid and
useful information, and when The writer Of
this became acquainted with him, few
could surpass him in the correctness. ex.
tent, or force OF his reasoning powers
And rare indeed was the man, who in the
open fair field Of argument, with Ezra
Butler for an opponent, could boast of
victory. X. B. Y.