The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-14

the time that any one would approve Of
it except myself! When the issue was
made, like all the Union men of South
Carolina, he went heartily with his
State. 1t is true, as has been said of
him-"He staked his all on the issue and
his handsome fortune was swept away"
In his old age he found himself poor,
but he did not despair, and went to work
as cheerfully and hopefully as he did
when he commenced his profession. He
sought no Office or honors after the war.
1t is to be regretted that he was not hon
ored with a seat on the bench. He
would have made model Judge.
have stated that Mr.. Burt and myself
we're on terms of great intimacy. We
served together in the Legislature for
several years, sat together at the same
desk, slept in the same room, eat togeth-
er at the same table and were generally
together throughout the day whilst the
Legislature was in session. On the cir
cult we practiced together, though on
different sides of the same case and were
always boon companions, cutting our wit
and jokes at each other. Mr.. Burt, with
all his dignity and pride of character,
was full of fun and humor. In speaking
of our ages be affected to be my Junior.
I told him playfully in company that
when I was school boy went to Pen
dleton Court and saw tall, fine looking
gentleman, ezquisitely dressed and in
quired who he was. I was told that he
was Armistead Burt, q promising lawyer
who had just been admitted to the bar,
and was destined to be distinguished in
his profession. He replied: "That
cannot be 80, for whilst was student
in the Pendleton Academy memorized
Fourth of July speech of yours made at
Greenville, spoke il at our exhibition
and took the third honor!''
Like William Pinkney, of Maryland,
the greatest lawyer and the most accom-.
plished orator America has ever produc-
ed, Mr.. Burt was always particular and
fastidious in his dress. I have frequent.
ly heard Judge O'Neal tell him that the
honorable Warren r. Davis took him
into the Court of Appeals, where Mr.
Burt was, to show him "a natural born
dandy" 1t is true that some men are
born to be always neat and particular in
their dress, whilst others are born slovens.
1t is also equally true in regard to man
ners. Some persons, in the lowest sta
tions of life, are naturally polite and
courteous, whilst others, born and edu.
Gated in the highest stations, are rude,
morose and ill.bred. Every one has
seen in the course of his life many such
persons. When Andrew Jackson was
presented to courtly circle of ladies in
New Orleans they expected to see a
rough, ill.mannered Indian fighter. But
so great was their surprise that they
declared his manners were princely and
they would have supposed that he had
been brought up iu court instead of
the wilds of Tennessee.
Mr.. Burt did not open his heart to all
the world. I was in Washington when
he left there few days before Congress
adjourned and never expected to return.
I went to the House Of Representatives
and proposed that We should 60 and call
on the President. he readily consented
and as we were going I said something
to him about our returning to the House.
He replied, II do not intend to return
there" I said do you not intend to bid
your friends and colleagues farewell ?
NO." said he, "I will do that penance."
I mentioned this fact to his brother,
Governor Frank Burt, who was then in
Washington. He said to me, "Armistead
is not so intimate with many persons as
yourself. He does not care for every
acquaintance or companion be may make
in Congress or elsewhere"
In early manhood Mr.. Burt was dis
believer in Christianity and once pro.
nounced it in my presence "a grand
humbug" But in after life, his opinions
and convictions we're entirely changed,
and he became devout member of the
Episcopal Church. The Sunday before
death be knelt at the altar and .partook
of the holy communion. He was always
kind and charitable and obliging. No
one was ever more honorable and high
minded. Judge Huger, after serving a
session in the Senate of the United
States, with Governor McDufie and
keeping house with him; said to me that
McDuffie was Christian without know
ing it. This may have been the case
with Mr.. Burt in early life. There are
many persons who practice all the Chris
tian virtues without making any profess
ions of Christianity. And there are
many too who make great profession of
religion and practice none of its duties
in private.
I have said that Mr.. Burt did not
take the high position in Congress to
which his talents and learning entitled
him. Yet there was no member of
Congress more highly esteemed by all as
gentleman. His high sense of honor,
courtly manners and conversational tai
ents won the admiration of all the MEM
bers. He was frequently called to the