The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1872-01-24

-. 44Irf ~ N--A 4. .otHA 'zsgr1.1
KNEW Judge Butler intimately
for many years; and had a very
strong friendship, and. high regard
for him. When he was elected to
the United States Senate, I took a
very active part in the canvass FOR
him. The contest between him
and Governor q Hammond was a
very close one. In exerting my
infiuence as q member tthe Leg,
islature to secure his election, |
was actnated by various motiyes.
My personal friendship. for the
Judge was perhaps the first and
the strongest. I thought he had
talents which wonld distinguish
him in the Senate, and that he
would there do great honor to
the State. / had the greatest con.
fdence in his patriotism and in
tegrity, and l did not think his
l7anpers, babits, learning or tai
ents. sni;ed to the Bench. He was
impetrous and sour on the Bench,
without Knowing it. He was not
very learned or profound law.
YER In many cases where his
Judgment was at fault, he was in.
clined to throw the responsibility
of deciding the case Oh the jury
He was so impatient in tie trial of
a case. and so fond of cutting his
wit. and making sport of every
thing that occurred, that la%ye"
felt unpleasant in, trying before
himSa long and complicated case.
Judge Butler was aman of high
intellect and noble nature, jnstland
honorableI He was cordial and
afectionate in his disposition, but
excessively fond of telling anee
dotes and making sport of his best
friends. lie loved I,unor and
fun dearly. In Debates, when lex
cited, he was eloquent At other
times, when not warmed by the
subject, or inspired by the occa-
sion, Ire was dull and awkward
In speaking, he was fond of max.
ing classical illusions, and refer
ring, for illustration, to the histo-
ries of Rome and Greece, which
he had studied we'll. =" . - s1
Judge Butler was the son of
Gen. William Bntler, gallant Of
fcer of the Revolutionary army,
and afterwards a membe" of Con.
gress for many years. He was
finally beaten for Congress by
John @. Calhoun. Judge Butler
graduated at the South Carolina
College, and, after reading law,
was admitted to the Bar. He used
to tell an amusing story of his 60.
ing to, Orangebnrg to establish
himself as a lawyer, Immediately
after his admission to the Bar
Whilst at the hotel, he told the
servant who was attending to his
room, to bring something to make
his fire burn. In a short time the
negro boy returned with several
small pieces of plank, which look.
ed very suspicious ard strang to
the Judge. he enquired of the
boy where he had got this kindling
for the fire. With perfect inno-
cence and frankness he replied
Out here at the graveyaid."-
What J" said the Judge, "rob
bing the dead to kindle fire g.
Take every one Of those pieces
back, you rascal, and place them
where you got themt" They we're
little pieces of plank which had
been put up at the head and foot
of graves. The Judge concluded
it wac no place for him to settle,
where they had SO little reverence
and respect for their dead. He
returned to Edgefeld, and there
commenced his professional career
He was employed in case Of
slander for the defence. This was
his first case. The defendant came
to HIM and told him that the plain
tiff was a mean fellow. and a great
rascal, and he wanted him severe.
ly handled in the argument. The
Judge SAID lie accordingly exhaust
ed all his po~n.s Of abuse ON the
plaintiff, and had no doubt that he
had increased the verdict agains,
his client o thousand dollars by his
unwarrantable abase; but so much
pleased was the defendant with his
speech, that, he took the Judge to
a jewellers shop and made him q
a present ofa gold watch as q fec
in the case. 8, sa' al. - ~
In the Legislature, the Judge
spoke very often without prepare.