Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1878-07-18
SENATOR BUTLER. :,
Iii. s.0ration at Erskine College
July Sd
The. Duty of Obedience to 70!
Law El5quelltly Pre- .
= scented,
- -.---
AsIlmely aud Foreible Appeal
::::..... f::.-: to {ileyoung Men Of
.::. :s... the Stats.
K I correspondent News &. Courier ]
>. DUE VEST, July Sd.

Long before the honr appointed in
: the address of Senator Butler, thi
afternoon, the College Chapel wa
filed to it's utmost capacity anf
S: ss:steudiag room was. ia Rprsmiu m
Promptly at 8 p. m, Senator Butle
was escorted upon the stand by Pres
ident Grier, their appearance being
attended with deafening applause
In few fitting terms DR.. Grier intro
duced the anniversary dlator TO
1878. Senator Butler then advanced
and said:
GE.. President and Gentleman of til
EacuHy, Ladies and Gentlemen
I do not know that I can bette'
zoelranloF the.time allotted me.by you
Distinguished consideration in select
inc me as the orator Of this occasion
thae by.spresenting a few reflections
!. s,snpon aEhe DUTY Of. :ohedience tt
Law"
Nv mind has been so entirely en-
crossed since my acceptance OF the
Complimentary Invitation OF youl
committee to address you to-day, thai
I have not had time to bestow npor
the subject that thought which l de-
red, and 1 must, therefore, apologize
in the threshold for the crudeness
,nartistic arrangement and superficial
CHARACTER of what. shall say. :,
You will, perhaps, conclude, ane
;n,;ly Sc that not being able to soeaE
with that preparation which tn occa'
sion demands, I mad better not have
spoken at all but I could not resist
Gle temptation which your inyitaslor
ofessl c Of coming again to visit your
eharmipg community, partake OF youl
bonntifuI, AMI open-handed hospital
ity. breathe once gore your moral
health giving, purifying atmosphere
and show by ny presence. tHS aeeF
interest which | feel in your noble
work; even i'll should fail to come
MO to the measure of your expecta-
..to,,s- and nos do justice to you or to
sasssself. in my effort TO entertain you
and ip performing my, part OF yoal
proera@me. I feel, however tha' th.aa1'
, Tour aniability and kindness wall
credit to my good intentions what
shall fall short Of in my perform
.aaCe. ..-.
place gre, atfording little opportunity
for rhetorical disnsay or indulgence
of the imagination; but. common n.
lace ~ as it is, = plain md practical il
ali its bearings and aspects. back
neyed and threadbare as 1t has SSaii :.
we cannot too earnestly or too otter
stu stuSy its Lessons, and apply to 0u'
daily life the profoaq& truths involv:
ed in its proper understanding ane
Observance, that we nay reap IS F.;
neople the rich bles ings which gov
Ssom faithful practice and enlargsH
comprehension Of its fullest meaning
Is tbeas anything which would more
= Completely conduce to the happlnees:
of tkeshumap saee, the peace, quie
and well-ordersd progress OF human
society than obedience to taW.
, 1.-THE Sovereign law that with e'iteseet
na,s r hrones and globes elate.
sits Eng less, crowning good' repreasih'
smit b by .Af ascred frown, ;,.
.Tha tiend dir sep4ion like vapor Sinks,
: 40 and dee cen the all dazzling crown a.,
fJfdes his fain. rays ana at her Diooii
shriuks."
sIfs tbere any subject WHICH Ha.
young men and women Of the coun
{ry?Sthey upon whom the mantle 2, ! Q
sre SO soon to take upon themselve
the responsibilities of ,soaiety, apd !
s,usrd and protect and preserve th
..sSoesal .S fabric. :. The, young man Q Q
yolnan who begins life with we'll
Established reverence for law, and
gIeagt and lniaad subordinated to II
Iuss power and influence, has made
grand stride in the s2ce here an
I hereafter.
and to do homage TO her Is the yer
acme of human excellence, 10 wo'
ship at her shrine and abide her II
functions is amongthe highestachiesl
oents of human aspirations, ant
.--having once reached the high plan
in life, little else in that regar
you'd remain for man to 90 than az
ssreoe the laws for his governmen1 n
:. :. End gender easy obedience to tt
egorks ra hissown creation.
WI That hs t. aaEs may dwell together j
- ,,eaee and unity. rendering cheeri
,obed;snce to- Just aa& wise laws, rare
~ .'.sreouiring the enforcement OF pen
!. nrovisioSs 5r the punishment q
s 8 I prevention Of ;erime, may be regarde
as a the wild dsea@ of.an eptl!m1ist; !.
r6e illusiye fancy of yazkarren ldeahs
Perhaps this may be so Ss long
..-zanaa IS as weak and wicked as ne
but bis capabilities for elevation al 81
lmprove4ents are immense ana ID ID
reaching, Controlled, and limited al y
!. checked only: when they reach u
..sconfnes of Divinity itself, and tine
thsv may gather new power and G
s.-,ansl,n before crossing into the u
= know sea ofFgternity. :,
Every eh,%t therefore to reach Il !
= height of tEe great argument
whether upoa OCCASIONS of ceremol u
like this, in the fefGm or upon .
hustings, in the lec.sza room or :
private intercourse betwsaa nan al
Inan, i-1i-' OF from tie pulpit whers e. EoG
aews and gseataes ess sand sam; goodness a
.expauna ed and pEomal gateds whe VINE :
ever and wherever the grand trut
i. ..,tdatv-ofsohediencez.t 10 law Is 9 g
s I. s,-,oancsf anGseFgea, q step is ma,
lin dhe right g sstest iuE saf cannot