1818. He first settled in Columbia; but after the death of his brother George, he removed to Edgefield, and there, in partnership first with General Waddy Thompson and afterwards with Nathan L. Griffin, he had a lucrative practice. He had also a large practice at Orangeburg, Barnwell, and Newberry. In 1824 he became one of the aides of Governor Mannin, and as such, was one of the brilliant cortege which attended General Lafayette on his visit to the State in 1825. From 1824 to the close of 1833, he was in the House of Representatives, or in the Senate, from Edgefield. He was one of the committee in 1827-28 charged to inquire whether Judge James should be removed from the bench. Judge James was an old Revolutionary soldier, and the charge against him was incompetency arising from the excessive use of intoxicating drinks. He was found guilty and removed from the bench; but the Senate and the whole House were in tears when the sentence was pronounced. In 1833 Butler was elected one of the Circuit Judges, and held his first court in Charleston, in January, 1834. He was made Judge to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge W. D. Martin. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1846, having filled the office of Judge for thirteen years. In the year 1847, on a trip by steamer from Charleston to Wilmington, there came an awful
