Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-06-10
From the Rising Sun.
ANDREW PICKENs BUTLER.

know ye not, that there IS frlnce anu
great man fallen this day in Israeli" was the
earnest, lamentng inquiry of King David, as he
mourned the untimely death of Abner.
May we not indulge in q SIMILAR inquiry OF
grief, as we notice the announcement, that An
drew Pickens Butler died, at the residence of his
nephew, near Edgeheld Court House, on Monday
evening 18th Of May last.
He is the last of the fine family of Gen. VIII
liam and Mrs. Behethlen Butler. Their eight
children who grew up to maturlty-James,
George, William, Frank, Pickens, Pierce, Emily
and Leontine, are all gone. They, with their
The venerable Mother, saw all her chidrin, save
Judge Butler, 20 to the tomb; by few years
she preceded him.
Judge Butler must have been in his G2d year.
He graduated at the South Carolina College in
1917. His graduating speech was remarkable
for its sound sense and the forcible language IN
which it was expressed He was admitted to the
Bar, as We believe, in 1919. He first settled in
Columbia, but after the death of his gallant
brother Maj. George Butler, he located himself
at EdgeGeld. His practice was principally at
Edgefeld, Barnwell, Orangeburg, Lexington and
Newberry
As a lawyer he was remarkable for his clear
perception of the strong points of his cases, and
for his forcible presentation of the same. He
came into the Legislature in 1924. He was one
of the aids of Gov. Manning from 1924, to De.
cember 1926, hence he had the title Of Col.
Butler. He was one Of the Governors Aids,
who, with him, received and attended Gen. La
E.yettc on his visit to South Carolina, i'll March
1926.
In December 1927, and January 1923, he was
one of the committee who prepared articles Of
impeachment against Judge James, for drunken
ness, and after they were voted by the House,
carried them up to- and prosecuted them before
the Senate His heart bled for the old Soldier,
and Judge, whom, it was his duty to prosecute
and that of the Senate, to remove. As soon as
the Judgment of removal was pronounced in the
Senate Chamber, in January 1923, and the
House of Representatives returned to their own
Chamber, Judge Butler moved to present to the
removed Judge, the salary for 1928, $4,000.
This was unanimously agreed to- He was i'll
the House of Representatives, or i'll the Senate,
uutil December 1888. He married first, Susan
Ann Simkins, the second daughter of Col. FL
dred Simkns, of Edgcfeld. In a few months,
he followed her to the grave. He was married
Il second time, to Miss Harriet Hayne, the daugh-
ter of William Edward Hayne, Esq, of Charles.
ton. Shortly after the birth Of their only child,
Mrs Haygood, of Barnwell, he was again called
on to mourn that greatest of all caialnites, to a
husband, the death of his young and lovely wife.
Thence forward, he lived widower; his daugh
ter, during infancy, had very much the care OF
his never enough admired sister, Mrs. Thompson.
His mother, for many years, cheered his solitary
life, by occupying his house, and taking charge
of his daughter.
In December 1888, Judge Butler was elected
to and took place on the Law Bench of So. Ca,
in the place of Judge Martin, who had died the
November preceding.
In Doc. 1916, he was elected to the Senate of
the United States, and he there remained until
his death.
An incident, connected with the commence
ment of his Senatoril life, may here be appropri-
ately mentioned On his passage from Charles
ton to Wilmington, on his first trip to Washing.
ton, the boat was overtakcn by storm which
rendered her an unmanageable wreck. She had
been IS hours at sea, the Captain pronounced
her lost. While she was rolling in the trough OF
the sea, and expected every moment to founder,
Judge Butler had all called forward, and desired
that each should know one another, SO that il
any reached the land, he, she or they, might re.
port the fate of the others. An elderly negro
woman (the Stewardess, perhaps,) said, "old
master, this is no time for introductions; you
had better pray" He said, II cannot, but pray
old lady if you can" She instantly knet down
and poured out q fervent prayer to God for deliv-
erance In q moment after, the lights of the
steamer sent from Wilmington, in search of the
missing boat, were seen, and they were saved.
Mrs. Thompson who heard the Judg ges' narration,
after his return home, said to him, brother
Pickens, that old womans prayer saved you'll"
In the various offices of State Legislator, a
Judge and a Senator in Congress, he did his duty
and did It we'll.
The writer of this short notice. who knew
Judge Butler well, can say with truth, that he
never saw him fail to meet the just expectations
ofhis friends. His was noble nature he scorned
a mean or ungonerous action. He was eminent
for his wit and convivial qualities; yet, in his
syubcrant humor, hcnever Intentionally wounded
the feelings Of any one.
In action, he was fearless; he was, however,
by no means rash he well understood what he
wished to do, before he moved.
He was not what is usually termed an eloquent
speaker; yc in his speeches, he frequently uttered
sublime thoughts clothed in impassioned clo-
ouence. He spoke from the heart and to the
heart, and hence he was always heard with atten-
ton and pleasure.
Many of his opinions, in the Court of Appeals,
are remarkable for their clear, forcible, conVinc-
ing arguments and just conclusions.
His work, his day of trial, and his journey
over life's rough ways, are ended. He sleeps the
sleep that knows no waking, till time shall be no
more.
Remember him, friends Rccoect his fine
horid face bis head of snow, his dancing eyes,
his manly Frame but above all, remember his
noble. generous heart of love to his family, his
relatives his friends his country and even to his
enemies. Hatred had no place in his generous
bosom: he might, and very likely did. desplse
MANY of his enemies, but he pilel them more
than he ever hated them.
Thus recalling him, let his name live ia ysnr
affection. as one of South Carolina's noblest sons,
.a. q