The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-01-16
THE BUTLERs AND cAMERoNs
Why two Prominent Families stick
Together I'm spite of Politics.

Why two Prominent Families stick
Together I'm spite OF Politics.
We, ,hington Letter. a
Oue Of the most interesting men in
national politics ia General NJ. O. Butler
of South Carolina. He comes OF one of
the oldest families in the Palmetto
State, and his uncle, Pierce Butler, was
Senator In Congress while the man of
whom l write was boy. The uncle
was very distinguished looking, and was
power in the deliberations of our high
est Legislative body at u time when it
was filed with great men. His nephew.
who has succeeded him, occupies an
equally cmminent position in an assem-
blage that hardly compares with the
gathering of intellectual giants that sat
in the Senate Chamber during the nigh
ty events Of 1850. Those who knew his
uncle say that the present Senator has
much of his self. poise, fertility Of mind
| and integrity Of purpose.
As saw Senator Butler at the Holt
| man House last night, an interesting DO
| litical rcminiscence was recalled to me.
| But for an act Of kindness by Pierce But
ler, which after generations came back to
bless the nephew, the present Sepatoss
from South Carolina nigh: never have
held seat in the Senate. The circum-
stancs occurred when General Simon
| Cameron was second time elected
| United States Senator. The late Governor
| Bigler was then his colleague. He mad
| an effort to induce the Senate to inyesti
gate the charge that Mr.. Cameron had
secured his election by bribery. lie
called the matter up one day, and made
a speech detailing the allegations aud
asking the Senate to take cognizance of
them. Pierce Butler espoused General
Cemeron's cause, and made speech ia
which he said that the United States
Senate was not the place in which tho
State OF Pennsylvania couId wash it's dry
linen, and moved that the resolution for
investigation bc not agreed TO. The
Senate followed Buffers lead, and Cam
eron's title to his scat was not contested
| When the vote was announced that set.
| tied the controversy, Butler walked over
to where General Cameron sat, and
said:
| Nov Simon, you ought to send me
bottle Of whskcy with which to c2le-
brate this OCCASION"
'By the life, Butler" replied Came
ron, "l'll send you barrel of the best
made in Pennsylvania.
The liquor was sent, and ever there
after the families Of Cameron and But
lcr were fast friends. 1t is said that
'timc n: last sets all things even.
Nearlya quarter Of a century after this
occurrence, which has formed one Of the
singular pages Of the history Of this
country. the nephew Of the man who
dld Cameron the service Knocked for ad
mission ut the Senate with a contest on
his hands. a single Republican, vote
would save his title. The father called
upon Don to repay the kindness OF
Pierce Bntlcr to him when Governor
Bigler was seeking to keep him out.
Don assumed the obligation and voted
against his party, and NJ. G.. Butler be
: came senator. Today the two families
differing 80 widely in politics and inter,
ests, are conspicuously friendly, giving
the lie to the lines that were written lona
years ago:
"Time hath, my Lord, wallet on his back
wherein he puts aims for oblivion's sake.
, These scraps are good deeds past,
. | Forgot rs soon as done,