To Thomas Jefferson from William Butler, 30 May 1805
From William Butler
Charleston May 30th. 1805
Sir
Coln Lehre Commissiary general of the miltia of this State, is on a tower to the northward with his family for the benefit of their health—I have Known him for many years, haveing Served with him in the Legiselature of this State, he is a gentleman of the Strictest integrety and honor, In the many public Stations he has from time to time filled, he has all ways discharged the duties of them in Such a manner as to place him high in the Confidence of his felow citizens He is now a Representative in our State Legislature from the City of Charleston, which place he has Represented for Many years, upon evry occation he has Manifested him Self a firm and decided Republican—In the great Strugle that took place in this State in 1800 when america was convulsed to her center, he took a very active and Decided part, and was very instrumental in bringing about the happy change that was then effected—Permit me there for Sir, to take the Liberty of introduceing him to you, being assured you will find in him a gentleman of information and veracity, and one as Strictly attached to your Intrustt as any person in the union—
I am with the highest Consideration Sir your obedient & Humble sert—
Wm. Butler
RC (MHi); at foot of text: “Thos. Jefferson Esqr. Presidt. of the united States”; endorsed by TJ as received 24 Sep. and so recorded in SJL, where TJ connected it by a brace and notation “recd. by mr Lehré” with entries for letters received the same day from John Gaillard of 25 May, William Johnson of 25 May, Peter Freneau of 2 June, Thomas Moore of 28 June, and an undated letter from Paul Hamilton.
William Butler (1759-1821), a planter and Republican from the South Carolina backcountry, served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1801 until his retirement in 1813. A native of Virginia, he moved to South Carolina as a youth and became patriarch of a prominent family of planters and politicians. He saw considerable action during the American Revolution and later served as a major general in the state militia during the War of 1812 (; J. S. R. Faunt, Walter B. Edgar, N. Louise Bailey, and others, eds., Biographical Directory of the South Carolina House of Representatives, 5 vols. [Columbia, S.C., 1974-92], 3:114-16).