Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-03-26
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DON CAMERON SAVED HIM.
STORY IBOUT SENATOR II. c. BUTLER
HOW IN OLD DEBT WAS REPAID.

"One of the most interesting men in ma.
tional politics is NJ. G.. Butler, of South Car
olina," says a writer in the Philadelphia
Times. "He came of one of the oldest fam
lilies in the Palmetto State, and his uncle
Pierce Butler, was Senator in Congress
while the man of whom write was boy
The uncle was very distinguished looking
man and was power in the deliberations OF
our highest legislative body at time when
it was filled with great men. His nephew
who has succeeded him, occupies an equally
eminent position in an assemblage that hard.
ly compares with the gathering ofintellectu'
al giants who sat in the Senate Chamber du'
ring the mighty events of 1850. Those who
knew his uncle say to me that the present
Senator has much of his self-pOise, fertility
of mind and integrity of purpose. I saw
him as a lofty and dignitied character OF
a recent meeting of public men in New
York. Both in relationship and the tra'
ditions by which he holds his own seat in
the Senate, an interesting political remi.
niscence was recalled to me by his asking
affectionately after the health of Gen. Simon
Cameron. But for an act of kindness by
Pierce Butler, which after generations came
back to bless the nephew, the present Sena.
tor from South Carolina might never have
held seat in the Senate. The circumstance
occurred when Gen. Cameron was second
time elected United States Senator. The
late Gov. Bigler was his colleague. Hemade
an effort to induce the Senate to investi.
gate the charges that Mr.. Cameron had Sc:
cured his election by bribery. He called
the matter up one day and made speech
detailing the allegations and asking the
Senate to take cognizance of them. Pierce
Butler espoused Gen. Camerons cause and
in 1rhinb coi1 fbot the
Senate of the United States was not the
place in which the State of Pennsylvania
could wash its dirty linen, and moved that
the resolution for an investigation be not
agreed to. The Senate followed Buffers
lead and Cameron's title to the seat was moi
contested. When the vote was announced
that settled the controversy, Butler walked
over to where Gen. Cameron sat and said:
"'Now, Simon, you ought to send me 8
bottle of whisky with which to celebrate
this OCCASION
"'By the life, Butler,' replied Cameron
'I'll send you barrel of the best made ir
Pennsylvania
"The liquor was sent and ever thereafter
the families of Cameron and Butler were
fast friends. is said that time at last sets
all things even.' Nearly aquarter of a cen
tury after this occurrence, which has form
ed one of the singular pages of the history o
this State, the nephew Of the man who die
Cameron the service knocked for admission
to the Senate, with contest on his hands
A single Republican vote would save hi!
title. The father called upon Don to repay
the kindness of Pierce Butler to him wher
Gov. Bigler was seeking to keep him out
Don assumed the obligation and voteC
against his party and NJ. G. Butler became
Senator. To-day the two families, diff
fering so widely in politics and interests
are conspicuously friendly"