The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 01, 1909, Page 4, Image 4
THE SOCIETIES DIS
ANDREW PICKENS BUTLER.
The second portrait that hangs on
the wall to the left of the speaker's
chair in the Clariosophic Society hll
is that of Judge A. P. Butler, who
was the son of Gen. William and
Betheland Foote Butler. He was a
member of a very distinguished fam
ily on both sides, his father, mother
and brothers all being persons of note.
Andrew Pickens Butler was born
near Edgefield, S. C., November 19,
1796. During his early years lie at
tended Dr. Waddell's Academy,
where he was prepared for the South
Carolina College, from which he grad
uated at the head of his class in 1817.
He immediately began the "study of
lav with so much zeal that he was
admitted to the bar in 1818, when lie
settled in Columbia. He remained in
Columbia, however, for only a short
time, and then moved to Edgefield,
which he made his home for the rest
of his life. He there became first a
partner of Gen. Thompson, and then
of Nathan L. Griffith, with whom lie
conducted a successful business and
earned a good reputation as a lawyer.
He became a member of the Legisla
ture from Edgefield District in 1824,
and during Gen. Lafayette's visit to
this State in 1825, lie formed a part of
Gen. Richard I. Manning's staff of
entertainers. He was always very
popular with men and made an ex
cellent social companion on account of
his wit and humor.
In 1833, somewhat against his in
clination, lie was elected a circuit
judge, which position lie filled with
honor, but which lie never really liked
and for which lie was not particu
larly well fitted on account of his im
patience and love for the humorous.
He could never resist the temptation
to tell a good joke and frequently dis
turbed the dignity of the court with
flashes of his wit. However, in 1846,
after a very active campaign against
Gov. Hammond, lie was elected to the
United States Senate, where his wit
was more becoming and where he
made good use of it, notably in the
case of a certain Senator from Ten
nessee, who had ventured to hit at
Calhoun. He remained in the Senate
from 1846 to 1857 as chairman of
the judiciary committee, and was al
ways considered an able member of
that body in all respects. Though lie
approved of nullification in '32 he
never favored secession, and dhiedh at
heart a Union man. He closed his
long andl useful life on the 25th of
May, 187
Judge Butler wvas married twice,
first to Miss Susan Anne Simkins,
dlaughter of Col. Eldred Simkins of
Edgefield ; second, Harriet Hayne,
(laughter of Win. E. H-ayne. By his
second wife lie had one daughter, who
became Mrs. Hagood.
Judge Butler wvas considered by all,
though not of brilliant intellect, a man
of great common sense. He was ab
sohutely fair and impartial, a good
friend and forgiving enemy. IHe wvas
a man whose ideals were high, who
placed honor above everything, andl
* who never under any circumstances
di'6draced the title "g-entleman."
TINGUISHED ALUMNI
WILLIAM CAMPB ELL PRESTON.
The subject of this sketch was a
worthy representative of a long line
of orators and patriots, his paternal
grandfather being Colonel Preton,
commander of a Virginia regiment,
his maternal grandfather being Col
onel Campbell, one of the heroes of
King's Mountain, and a great uncle
on his mother's side being Patrick
Henry. William Campbell Preston,
the son of Virginia parents, Francis
and Sarah (Campbell) Preston, was
born at Philadelphia, December 17,
1794, while his father was there at
tending congress. His early life was
thus spent in the society of cultured
and influential people, and the stamp
of his early nurturing was to the date
of his death one of his greatest charms.
He was always a gentleman of the
truest type, hospitable and polite.
At fourteen years of age he entered
what was then Washington Univer
sity, but on account of the weakness
of his lungs his father sent him South,
with the hope that he would be bene
fited by the warmer climate. On his
way to Florida, he chanced to meet up
with \some entertaining young ipen
who persuaded him to discontinue his
journey and attend the South Carolina
College. Thus, by chance, he entered
the Sophomore Class in 18o9, and be
came a member of the Euphradian
Society. His work in society was
marked by his ability as a declaimer
and extemporaneous speaker. His
classmates said that in later years,
when his name had become a synonym
for impassioned oratory, his mastery
of the art of speaking was no finer
than in his college days. He gradu
ated in the class of 1812, ranking third
in a class of distinguished men. Im
mediately after graduation, for the
sake of health, he took a trip on horse
back over a large part of the country.
Returning from this expedition,
strengthened and broadened, he yet
felt that his education was incomplete,
and so went to Edinburgh to finish his
scholastic training. While in Edin
burgh he roomed with Hugh S. Le
gare, and met Washington Irving,
with whom he formed a lifelong
friendship. After returning to Amer
ica he studied law in Richmond, and
was admitted to the Virginia bar in
1820, but both he and his wife, who
had been a Miss Coalter, and Whrom he
had met while attending the South
Carolina College, preferring South
Carolina, he moved to Columbia in
1822. There he formed a partnership
wvith D. J. McCord, and from the very
first had a successful practice. From
1828 to 1832 lie was a member of the
legislature, wvhere his clear-cut and
brilliant Wrations attracted attention
from all parts of the State. During
this time, in the year 1829, his life wvas
saddened by the dleath of his wife, but
in 1832 he again joined hands and
hearts with a most excellent and cul
tured lady, Miss Penelope Davis, who
made him a loving and accomlished
helpmeet.
In 1836, he was elected to the
United States Senate, where lhe im
mediately became recognized, as one
of the most influential memtlers. He
was an ardent advocate of States'
rights, free'..t'rade, and nullification.
But in 1842, differing with the opin
ion of the majority.,9 his constiltuents
relative to certain, nytters connected
with the administration of VanBuren,
he felt compelled, from a sense of
honor, to resign his position, and re
turned to the practice of his profes
sion.
In 1845 he was chosen president of
the South Carolina College, and in
stilled into it some of his energy and
enthusiasm. Under his administra
tion the college received such inspira
tion that it rose to the height of its
usefulnessr and was regarded as the
best institution in the South. It was
during this time that Daniel Webster
visited the college. In 1846, Preston
received the degree of LL. D. from
Harvard, an honor which gave recog
nition to his worth. By reason of fail
ing health and much to the regret of
all lie was compelled to resign the
presidency in 185p.
After his resignation he settled in
Columbia, where he founded the Co
lumbia Athenaeum, to which lie gave
all his library, and where lie died, la
mented all over the country, on May
22, i86o. I. F' B., 'o.
More White Springs Verses
FROM GRAVE TO GAY.
(To an Aged Lady.)
Ah I mother dear, in precious children
rich
Richer in love and reverence from
each I
Thy feeble frame bows to the touch
of time,
MANAGER ROE
PRESENT
University N
IN 1
Annual F
Benefit Athleti
CHORUS El
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SChorus Directly Under The
MR. VAN CLE'
Thy heart is fresh, in youthfulness
sublime.
Sweet hanks I the evening o'er .the
silent tow;
In cloudless glow the gracious sut
went down.
So may the sunset of thy life be
blest:
Peace, perfect peace, and then-eter
nal rest.
With Celestet At The Waterfall
Brightest and best
Is sweet Celeste.
Her face is fair,
Golden her hair;
Her voice is clear,
Her accent rare; *
Nimble her feet,
Her hand petite
And 01 so soft
(I've squeezed it oft l)
Her soul is pure,,
None can view her
And lack belief.
But ah I her chief,
Her dangerous part
Is her sly, coquettish heart.
To love 'tis prone,
'Tis now her own,
And now 'tis-whose?
Could she but choose I
But no I 'tis vain
That heart to gain;
No tie can bind
Her fickle mind;
'In maiden meditation fancy free"
She holds her way, nor cares for you
or me. E. S. J.
* N. B.-Celeste was from Char
eston.
ERT COOPER
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