Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MATTHEW CALBRAITH BUTLER Major General Matthew Calbraith Butler was one of the conspimous figures in the military anil political activities of his native Stun. and of the South,and it was wi'.h dist-n guished honor to himself and to 1:is constituency that for near'y two de eades he represented the Palmetto State in the national engress. Gen. Butler was born near firEen ville, South Carolina, on the 6th of' March, 1836. He caue from a line of distinguished -nens and of a -family of which the n tui has reason to be proud. His father was Dr. William Butler, an assistant surgeon in the United States navy, and a congressman in 1641. His mother, Jane T. Butler, ws a daughter of Capt. Perry, of the United States navy, of Newport, - Rhode Island, and was a sister of Commodore Oliver H. Perry and Mat thew Calbraith Perry. Judge A. P. Butler, United States senator, and Gov. Pierce M. Butler, colonel of the Palmetto regiment and killed at Cherubuseo, were his uncles; his grandfather, Gen. William Butler, was a gallant officer in the American army in the Revolutionary war, and his great-grandfather, Capt. James Butler, a native of Loudon county, Virginia, was the founder of the fam ily in South Carolina. When yet- a young boy, M. C. But ler went with his father to Arkansas. After the death of his father he re turned to this, his native State, in 1851, .and made his home with Sena tor A. P. Butler, his uncle, near Ed gefield. A home was offered to him by others of his uncles and had he accepted their proffer, doubtless his energies would have found activity to distinguish him in the naval arm of the government. It is interesting to speculate upon what might have been. As the ward of his uncle, Senator A. P. Butler, he matriculated as a student and was educated at the Sorth Carolina Co".oq, Afterwards he read law, and was admitted to practice in 1857. A year later he married Maria, daughter of Gov. F. W. Pickens. In 1860 he was elected to the legislature of South Carolina, but before the conclusion of his term he entered the military service of hiz State as captain of a- company of cavalry in Hampton's legion. His Career in War. This command distinguished itself in the first battle of Manassas, and Capt. Butler was promoted major, his promotion to this rank dating from July 21. This was the beginning of his famous career in the cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia. He commanded the cavalry of the legion under Stuart in .the withdraw al of they troops from Yorktown, and was warmly commended for gallantry at Williamsburg. In Augist, 1862, he was promoted -to colonel of the Second regiment, South Carolina cavalry, Hampton's brigade, and in this rank he partici pated in the second Manassas and Maryland campaigns, winning favor able mention for gallant leadership in Stuart's Chambersburg raid. He commanded the main part of this brigade in the Dumfries expedi tion in December, 1862, and in June, 1863 he was one of the most eon spicuous leaders in the famous caval ry battle of Brandy Sitton. Here he was severely wounded by a shell, los ing his right foot, and promotion to . brigadier general followed in Septem ber. Having returned to service before his wound healed, he was sent home to recover. He succeeded Gen. Hamp tou in brigade command, and took part in the fall campaigns of the army in 1863, - and throughout the famous struggle of 1864, at tihe Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and before Richmond in opposition to Shei-idan he was one of the 'heroic figures in this last great camp.aign of the Confederate armies. The reports of Sheridan himself attest the splendid fighting of Butler and his brigades at Hawes' Shop and Cold Harbor. At Trevilian Station he was in com mand of Hampton's division, and re pulsed seven distinct and determined assaults by the largely superior for ces under Sheridan, hbis command oc cupying the most important point of the Confederate line and fighting as infantry. In September he was promoted ma jor general, and in the spring of 1865 he was detached with a small divsion for the campaign against Sherman in the Carolinas. He commanded the rear guard of Hardee's army at the evacuation of Columbia and Cheraw, and at the last had division command of cavalry, his forces and Gen. Joe Wheeler's forming the command of Lieut. Gen. Wade Hampton. In the United States Senate. The close of the war left Gen. But ler in financial rain, b)ut 'he bravely met the exigencies of the occasion. and in a short time achieved national -repute for ,the firmness and boldness with which he handled the political questions which concerned the -essen tials of the recognied social life. While he powerfully advocated obe dience of the Reconstruction meas ures as the law, as being preferable to chaos, he receded at no time from persistent opposition to infringe ments on good government in secur ing the election of Gov. Wade Hamp ton. In 1876 Gen. Butler was elected to the United States Senate, where his admission was met by a storm of par tizan protest which is memorable in the history of the nation, but his car eer of 18 years in that exalted body vindicated the good judgment and patriotism of the State which deputed him as its representative. In the stormy days of sectional de bate in congress he was one of the foremost champions of the South, but at a later period he was enabled to make a splendid record in construc tive statemanship by his staunch ad vocacy of a strong navy, of civil ser vice reform and other measures now settled in national policy. In the United States Army. After the expiration of his service in the senate, Mareh, 1895, he engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D. C. In 1898 he was appointed a, major general in the volunteer army of the United States for the war with Spain, and after peace was secured he served as a member of the commis sion. for the removal of the Spanish forces from Cuba. Maria Picken3 Butler, the first wife of the deceased general, died several years ago, and oi January 4, 1906, he married Mrs. Nancy Bostic Whit more, formerly of Washington, in New York. Three .children by his first mar riage survive him. Dr. F. W. P. Butler, Columbia. the physician at the State pPnitentiary; M. C. Butler, Jr., captain Company B, Seventh United States cavalry, Custer's old regiment; Mrs. Maria McNeely, wife of Lieut. MeNeely, United States navy, who has just completed the voyage around the world with the fleet. The youngest child, Miss Eloise, *died at the age -of 18, in 1893, near Walhalla, where she was spending the summer. SORROW IN WASHINGTON. Distinguished F'rienlds of Butler Ex press their Eegret. News and Courier. Washington, April 15.-The an nouncement of th'e death of Gen. M. C. Butler was received here today with genuine sorrow byhis former col leagues in the Senate, and his numer ous friends throughout the city, where he was a .conspicuous figure during his eighteen years in the Senate. Many 'expressions of sorrow were made by his former associates in the Senate, among them being Senators Daniel, Money, Hale, Cullom, Frye, Aldrich, Ex-senator Teller and oth ers, all of whom spoke of their high regard for their distinguis'hed friend and former oolleague. Among the many leading and prominent Demo rats with w'hom Gen. Butler served Senator Daniel, of Virginia, is the nly one now in the Senate, and he referred to that fact today in a most feeling manner. The Washington Star of today says: "Former Senator Butler, 'of South Carolina, whose death is announced today, was one of the strongest men who led the South in t'he establish ent of Democratic power there af ter the civil war. As a rule they had served with distinction in the Confederate, army, and entering pol itis oiv they displayed the same enery and capacity that -had marked their course as soldiers. The majority >f them enjoyed a long favor at home, and Gen. Butler met a numbe r of them in the Senate. "In North Carolina .Vance and Ransom were leaders for many yeas. n Virginia, Barbour and Daniel had a hard struggle but finally triumph ed. Morgan and Pugh were conspic uous among those who came to the front in Alabama. Lamar and Walt ail and George gave Mississip.pi great prestige in Democratic (cun "Georgia was led by A. H. Stepn ens, Ben Hill, Jolin B. Gordon and others, all attractive, and some of them showy, men. Arkansas had Garland and Jones and Berry; Tex as, Coke and Reagan and Mills; Louisiana, Eustis and Gibson; Ten nessee, Harris and Bate and the Jacksons; Missouri, Cockrell and Vest; Kentucky, Beck and Carlisle and Watterson and Breckenridge. "In this distinguished company South Carolina easily held her own. Hampton and Butler represented the highest traditions of the State. Both were of famous descent, and both had *'ared fame f'or themselves. They came under the designation of "'born ders:' and it was not until lateJ in. thei lesia thme were over A Week 0 Come prepared for ti of the sort that will cor and furious. We've g MIULL Ready-to-wea' In this new department our they want, and what '-they ca larrment we gunrantee a perfec Special i I We are selling many beautifi in mind now, two numbers, exc Lot 1, in white and colors, value $7 50. Sale price $4 9E Lot 2, still better grade, corr beautifully trimmed; $10.00 va EXTRAORDINARN More Parasols and Sunshades he in Newberry combined. 200 fine parasols with naturial or special 49c. each. 200 fine Parasols with natural or ioo fine Parasols with natural or 10oo fancy Parasols just landed, j "Just as good as ours but not as cheap as ours thrown. Hampton went fi.rst, but from that day Butler was marked for retirement; and when the decree eame he accepted it with dignity. "As a soldier Gen. Butler was high ly praised for dash and enterprise. As a Senator he ranked with' those iving to the office their best powers, ed all of their time. His associates n both sides of the chamber 'held hiim in very great respect. As a nan he was courtly without being tiff, affable and approachable, with >ut being familiar. We have not een in Washington a better speci nen of the American spirit which ooks to the progress of the country :hrough unity and good feeling.'' Mr. James M. Baker, assistant li rarian of the Senate, who was ap pointed by Gen. Butler more than ~ixteen years ago, also made a touch .ng tribute to Gen. Butler's memory. P. H.McG. Tribute by Father Fleming. Father Fleming, who preached to lay the sermon at the funeral of len. Butler, paid an eloquent tribute o Gen. Butler's services as a soldier nd statesman, and spoke, in affeet onate terms of the man. In words ~imple and beautiful, Father Fleming spoke of the great deeds of Butler rd of those last hours, whieh Father Eleming spent with him. Father Fleming said in part: "I have come neither to bury nor praise Gen. Butler. He needs not >ur feeble, .though' fervent tribute, that lives shortly on the lips and dies wiftly on the ear. If he, upon whose tips tihe angel of death has laid his sword could speak, he would utter he first protest against eulogy. I mn not going to disregard his wishes. The clay body that held his mortal soul, that tabernacle that kept his wreat spirit, we will soon lay to rest, o slumber with his forefathers. But is spirit, his soul, shall go march ng on and live unto the ages, grow ng brighter with years and mellowing with time. "I am not going to dwell to any length on the triple character of our great one dead. I leave that to the iographer, and his field is ample. I psover the young soldier lending is prineely presence to wvar's rude tent. I leave to history the pleasure Jf telling how this great son of Caro Tempting ie best bargains you eVE vince you that the leadi ithered specials and froi NERY A We.want you to bea we are keeping this stc ute. Hardly a day bL shapes, etc., are receiv to do the leading Mi town. Thefameof OL spread like wildfire. your headgear. : r Department. object is to give the trade what n wear. Every ready-to-wear t fit. - ingerie Suits. iA Lingerie garments. We have eptional values: trimmed in lace and tucked, es in both white and colors, lue, for $7.49. PARASOL SALE. re to select from than all the stores inlaid handles, the 75C. kind, at inlad handles, the $.25 kind at 79c. inlaid.handles, the $1.50 kind at 98C. I.49, $1-98, $2.49 up to $5-oo each. 4IMNA lina came at her call and laid his all upon her altar-how he drew his sword to shield her honor, and bled that hallowed might be her name. "I leave to other hahds and hearts the privilege of telling <his record in the halls of national legislation, his steady and sturdy fight to reunite his broken country, and his mighty ef forts to place South Carolina in her right place before the world without compromise of honor, without sac rifice of principle. "I did not know this great man in either capacity of Genier ii or Senat or. I was born toa late to hear the charm of the tantara of drum, arnd the tantaive of fif~e that luired the flower of our youth from home and health and left them to die fighting bravely on fields afar. "Death is a sad thing. It is the penalty of life. And whether the felt-footed visitor comes into the .cradle chamber and calls away the young fledgling fluttering 'on the threshold of life, or beckons with bony fingers to the chimney corner and tells the life trembling like a leaf to follow, the visitor leaves in his path bowed heads and broken hearts. "We grieve today because lie whose death we mourn represented that type of civilization that is fast passing away, that beautiful, chivalrous life that flourished in the days of the dear old South. "It is dear with all its feudal faults, all its vigorous virtues, but in this one of its last types it has l'eft to us Carolinians an 'example and to history a hero. His name and deeds shall be storied on the *marble shaft to tell to the stranger within our gates the deeds and daring of Caro lina's dead, but his fame shall live long after marble has crumbled into dust and lingers so long as Carolin ians cultivate chilvalry and Carolina cherishes courage. "I knew Gen. Butler as a man stricken. I. knew him as a man pre paring for his only surrender, his yielding to a force beyond his power to fight. What a man 'he showed him self, patient, humble, kind and long suffering. He taught us the sacred ness of government in his war rec ord. He taught us the duty of con vi'tion in his political life, but in his campaign of suffering he taught us patience and humility-humility, the adge of greatness.'' iruding II kr saw, bargains that c# ng store still leads. ThE ,m a price standpoint sho .TTRACT r in mind the fact that >ck right up to the min it what new materials, ed. We shall continue 1inery business of the ir ,tylish Millinery has Come direct to us for Great 98c. S1 12 doz. Ladies' White Linnei $2.00 Skirt ever offered, in fg alone is worth more than we as MIMNAUGH'S GOT 'EM SKII Dainty, airy Lingerie Waists, trimmed in qualities 6f Lace ani garrnents that appeal to feminir fect, the styles are the very ne $1.49, $1.98 and up to $5.00. NOTHING TO EQU) 9-3 Unbleached Sheeting, 25c. v: Bleached sheets 72 X 90, 50c. vah 12 yds. Androscoggan Bleaching 20 yds Sea Island this week for 5 200 large white Bed Spreads, $i. 200 large white Bed Spreads, $.5 Linen sheeting 90 in. wide, 89c. 5 Linen Sheeting 72 in. wide, 75C LUG H - IF TILJMAN -SHOULD QUIT. Gossip Mentions Lever, Rhett anid Gary as Possible Oanldidatesl. (Washington Correspondence of the Columbia Record.) "With four years to talk about it, the p6ssibility of a successor to Sen ator Tillman is already attracting at tention at both ends of the CapitoL Nowhere does one hear it suggested that anybody will have 'the temerity to run against t'he vigorous pitehfork Senator, but his uncertain health of late has put 'his voluntai-y retirement within the reach .of chance, and al ready there is talk of tihree men to whom his. mantle might fall. These three men don't add much to the talk that is circulating. ' The men w'ho are*now'mentioned for the Senate-that is the three men one hears, of in Washington-are Representative Lever, whose fight against Executive commissions in the last Congress and his steady work for forest preservation has given him a definite place in the House-;Ex-Sena tr Gary, whose six months in the north end of the Capitol is thought merely to have whetted his appetite Ifor .fame, and Mr. Rhett, of Charles ton, who failed of 'election in his cam paign last summer when Senator E. D. Smith was elected. "Senator Tillman is now at his ~home in Trenton,,r~esting up for the. tariff fight in the Senate and.getting his strength back. Senator Gary's acceptance of the Senatorship on con dition that he promise not to stand for re-election at the expiration of his ridiculously short term occasion ed much disappointment at the time to his friends, who felt that he would be shutting off his career beyond re pair. Since his retirement, on March 4, however, there has been a persi'st ent undercurrent of gossip as to his: return to public life. Only recently there was a short editorial in a South Carolina paper proposing him for Congress from Mr. Wyatt Aiken's district. "Whatever the outcome, in case Senator Tillman's retirement should make the race an open one, it is cer' tan that it would be sharply contest ed. Mr. Lever s activities have gives him a following that in his own die; trict cannot be shaken and over th:e State as a whole his outspoken ef fot in pushin the Appalacbian re porlunidai Lnnot be equaled, and selling must be fast uld pack this store. IONS! &it Bargims. iette Skirts,. the best-$1.50 and tct the making and trimming k for Jhe skirt. Sale price 98c. INED ON LINGERIE WAISTS. made of cloth as light as air. d Embroidery, just the kind of. ie taste. the workmanship per west, prices range 49c., 98c., kL THESE VALUES. alue, sale price 19c ies, sale price 39C this week for $i.0o. s.oo. o value, sale price 69c. each. 0 value, sale price 98c. alue, sale price 59c. alue, sale price 49C.. "utas cheap as ours b ut not as good as ours .. serve project and his bold challenge to the Repubie'ans and Democrats alike to stand by Dr. Wiley ini hisU struggle for the enforeement of the pure food. laws have given him a hold - that eannot b6 easily overlooked. Un-I der all circumstances and probably on all platfoi-ms, Mr.~Rhett could count on a strong following in the ow country, though it is possible that his low country afflictions iaoid be rather a drawbaek in a race where that decision must be made by the whole State. 4 "Meanwhile Senator Tilhoan is said to be steadily improving." MRs. moaRsoLL waIs~ SUIT. Judgment for $138,000 With Interest And Costs in Her Favor .Ends Long Litigatior. Boston, Mass., April 15.-The lengthy litigation against, relatives of the late Andrew J. Davis, the wealthy Montana mine owner, by Mrs. Eva A. Ingersoll, of Dobb 's Ferry, N. -Y, widow of the late Col. Robert G. In gersoll, ended today when Judge W. L. Putnam,' in the United States Cir cuit Qourt, handed down a fiani decree awarding Mrs. Ingersoll $138,810, with interest and costs. Followirig the death of Mr. Davis, certain of his relatives engaged Col. Ingersoll as counsel to .break Mr. Davis's will, making a contract by. whicih they were to pay him $100, 000. After Co!. Ingersoll died, his widow, as administratrix, endeavr ed to collect this amount from the Davis relatives who contested -the ase, claiming that the full services called for by the contract had not been performed. The case was fought through the Courts until Mrs. Ingersoll's victory today. Judge Hoar's Retort. Judge Hoar and Beneral Butl were opponents in a case of a trial. General Burtler quoted, "E for eye, skin for skin, tooth f tooth-yea, all that a man hath-wi he give for his life.". To which Judge Hoar replied, " the devil quoted that onee before a motion for a new trial.'' There is no tyrant like custom no freedom where its ediets, are