The Washington union., 1857-06-04
TRIBUTE
To the Memory Of the late Judge Butler.

=
Another brilliant star in our political hemisphere has
set-another light has gone out.
For eleven years this distinguished man has occupied
prominent position in the public eye, faithfully perform
ing onerous dutes-ably executing high and weighty
trusts But it not merely statesman and jurist
but far more a man, that he was remarkable
All who have been most familiar with his efforts in
the Senate chamber will agree that what he left most inn
pressed upon his hearers the interest with which his
own character and temperament invested his subject
All who have heard him recall the extraordinary
pictnresqueness and yigor of his style There was
glow, rich feeling tansused throughout his speeches
like the outpouring OF improvisatrce unequal but
fascinating OF power and variety, and pregnant with
material for thought In controversial debate he al
ways impetuous-his noble head with its wild float
ing hair and the sympathetic motion Of his frame, ev
IDENTIFY taskod to the uttermost keep pace with the
rapid outpourng of the mental fountain There in
the presence of the MANN his whole style of thought
and utterance something vivid, heroica and generous
The qualities of his heart softened and checked the inn
pulses of a fiery temper and vehement will That he
should have been without disliklngs well as
attachments would imply an impossibilty; but
from everything petty ncorous he absolutely free
His opposition, if it was uncompromising was always
open and manly To the good qualities of his opponent
he always did Justice and not few Of the leaders of the
opposite party learned to in him the
and impartial settler of disputes
But leave to abler pens the task of deneatng the
character of Judge Butler he appeared in his public
capacity limited object is to mbody in few
words our sense of what he The more he
is examined and understood the greater does he appear
before us in that highest of all aspects. No
descended to the grave widely honoed and respect
ed by those who did not personally know him,
tenderly beloved by those who did. Never in any hui
man being such high intellectual qualities neigh
bored by perpetual radiance of noble and gener
GUS thoughts The latest act of whose whole life
was kindness for the good of those who had claim
upon him his kindly impulses leading him to exertion
under the pressure of disease The ruling purpose
of his life seemed to be to duse happiness to his fellow
creatures We dwell upon this because it pervaded and
is nseparable from every thought connect with the
memory Of this venerable To his surviving daugh
ter the priceless legacy of such character should be more
precious than rubes.
Among our public men he stood almost alone In his
generous appreciation and notice of the artistic and tea
ry talent Of our city
Oh inexorable Death Depressed and overlooked in
this worldly and political atmosphere, to whom shall
they look He stood alone and has died leaving fell
lows. There, perhaps man gifted with
such universally Of sympathy with talent and intel
lectual superiority But his generosity liberal and
failing wasknown only TO the donor and the recl-
ientsis not theme for discussion here. We leave it
in that obscurty to which his own wish it should
be consigned; it is registered above and written the
memories of those who were tho objects of his aid.
The heart is cold his voice is hushed forever We
shall no more encounter his figure the of
city we shall recognise in the distance the
weknown slvery hair streaming dsheveled around his
countenancc In the social circle which delighted in
the genial company Of the cold eloquent, his place
shall know him We feel of truth that he has
left a void which be filled that in him Wash
ington has lost beloved presence from her midst.
In the union Of Judge Butler varied mental gifts in
the attractive and endearng qualities of his character he
is one Of the most remarkable men whom country has
produced Should we not feel it an honor to have
ceiyed any demonstration of his confidence and kindness
Is not the death of such suggestive of high and
solemn thought Upon whom shall his mantle fall
Can the Senate still have echoes glad when silent is thy
voice
Thy empty place chair and desk orbds us to rejoice
To boon companions back again thy image they recall
How sadly sits thy memory, oh faithful friend, all
WASHINGTON CITY, May 30. M. j. w.
---- y