Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-06-04
jM(i M(istelaneoHs 8eaail1g
From the Columbia South Carolinian.
SENATOR BUTLER.

LII HOIlcluS Lue uedtn VI sucu d uiau ds
Senator Butler, it seems to US more fit to i'd.
vert to the prominent incidents of his life
than to attempt minute account of it, as
we would designate large territory by lati.
tudc and longitude, and conspicuous inter,
nal marks, rather than by the links of the
chain or the notched trees. The estate which
South Carolina held in Judge Butler was a
very wide and grand possession. He was
born of revolutionary parents, both father
and mother having acted and suffered in the
conflict. His (fathersD acts are recorded in
history hers (the mothers shine amongst
the biographies of the Women of the Revo-
luton, sketched by the graphic pen of Mrs.
Ellet.
The child of these parents, Andrew Pick.
ems Butler, was born in Edgefeld, district
fertile of distinguished men-amongst whom
the names of the brothers, Pickens Butler
and Pierce NJ. Butler, are of themselves e.
nough to illustrate it.
Pickens Butler, as happens with most
spirited young South Carolinians command
ed In his youth company of Cavalry, and
then came into the Legislature. He enter
ed that body just as the States-rights prin-
cipes were becoming identified with the
doctrine of publication, and by sort of ma
tural necessity, joined the nascent party
His first CONSPICUOUS manifestation of ability
and power, was as one of the managers of the
impeachment of Judge j. In the per-
formance of this Office, he was associated
with R. Barnwell Rhett, Robert Barnwell,
Judge D. L. Wardlaw, and Col. Irby, each
of whom, in the subsequent career of life,
has shown the sagacity of the Legislature in
their selection; for each of them has since
had conspicuous distinction.
The old Judge had unfortunately permit
ted the habits acquired as soldier in the
camps of the revolution to hang upon him,
when change of morals and manners rem.
-dered such habits offensive to public senti-
ment, and unfit for public Office. An i'm
parchment was therefore moved; but those
who entered upon it as public duty, were
not inseusible to the pain of wounding an
old public servant and revolutionary soldier.
Mr.. Butler, especially, felt the paiufulness
of the position in which the commands of
the House of Representatives placed him,
and throughout the impeachment manifested
the liveliest sympathy for the accused. He
more than once whispered to his friend, who
was counsel for the defence, ~ wish Icould
change places with you"
But while this sensibility was apparent
throughout the trial, his duty was faithfully
and sorrowfully discharged, and his speech
for the prosecution upon the close of the tes-
timony was most vigorous and powerful ef-
fort in the general estimation-surpassing
those of the very clever gentlemen, his as
sociates. When the Senate rendered its de-
cision, adverse to the old Judge, shower
of tears streamed down Mr.. Buffers cheeks,
and he buried his face in his hands, until he
wrs relieved by the dispensing Of the crowd
In this his earliest exhibition on a conspicu-
GUS stage, he manifested all his prominent
oharacteristics-rich talent, extensive knowl-
edge of law, conscientious devotion to duty,
and that activity and tenderness of sensbil-
ity which promptly spring into tears upon an
occasion of pathetic excitement. He was
tender and true-soft and bold-soft as a
woman and bold as lion. His nature was
impulsive and explosive. .. .....
When the two opposing parties met, by a
sort of accident, in the Senate Chamber, on
night when there was a struggle for the
lead in some party movement, Judge Smith
and Gen. Huger being the leaders Of the
Union party, no one who was present can
ever forget the burst of feeling and elo-
quence from Butler, elected by some remark
of Judge Smith. Mr.. Buffers intense ear
nestness seemed for the moment to have ig-
nited the compressed crowd, and to produce
a terrible confagration luckily, or more
justly, providentially, it did not spread, and
no scene of violence ensued. Throughout
that long and fiery controversy, Butler bore
leading part in front of it; and came out
of it, such was the amenity and generosity of
his nature, without an enemy in the oppos-
ing ranks, or drop of bitterness in his own
heart. The districts in which he practised
were Edge6eld, Barnwell, Lexington and
Orangeburg. On this circuit, if he was not
facile princeps, he was clearly prin'us inter
pares.
At Orangeburg, for several terms of Court,
he was marked on every case on the docket,
summary process and issue-a thing of very
singular, perhaps unparalleled occurrence
His high standing at the bar, Of course, pre-.
sented him a fit person for the bench, and
upon the death of Judge Martin, the place
was offered him by the general feeling of the
State. He himself hesitated, as his.cour
of life had led him through the more pas
sionate scenes of effort, and be doubted whe-
ther his habits of thought and action did
not in some sort disqualify him for the Sc
dateness and gravity Of judicial administra'
ton. Besides, he was devoted to the prae,
tice of his profession, and delighted in the
social enjoyment of circuit life, and the ex'
citement of popular effort; in short, with
that scrupulous self-scrutiny and distrust,
which was constitutional with him, he doubt
ed whether he ought to assume the station
He was prevailed upon, however, to take it.
and this habitual feeling Of distrust was
high element of his great success in his new
| Office, making him cautious and laborious