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|name=Roderick Randum “R. R.” Butler

|name=Roderick Randum “R. R.” Butler

|image=Roderick Butler.jpg

|image=Roderick Butler.jpg

|party=[[Whig Party|Whig]] (before 1960s)<br>[[Republican]] (since 1960s)

|party=[[Whig Party|Whig]] (before 1860s)<br>[[Republican]] (since 1860s)

|spouse=Emeline Jane Donnelly<br>(died 1899)

|spouse=Emeline Jane Donnelly<br>(died 1899)

|religion=

|religion=

His middle name Randum<ref>[https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/butler7.html#884.57.28 Butler, O to R]. ''The Political Graveyard''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref> is sometimes misspelled as "Random."<ref name=findagrave>[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8036959/roderick-random-butler Roderick Random Butler]. ''Find a Grave''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref>

His middle name Randum<ref>[https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/butler7.html#884.57.28 Butler, O to R]. ''The Political Graveyard''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref> is sometimes misspelled as "Random."<ref name=findagrave>[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8036959/roderick-random-butler Roderick Random Butler]. ''Find a Grave''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref>

Butler's grandson, Robert R. Butler, was a later U.S. representative from [[Oregon]] who served in the House from 1928 to 1933.

Butler's grandson, [[Robert R. Butler]], was a U.S. representative from [[Oregon]] who served in the House from 1928 to 1933.

==Background==

==Background==

{{cquote|There is presented evidence in the person of Mr. Butler a remarkable instance of a man of position in a community in which he resided, of influence among his fellow-men, of such mind and character and attainments among his fellow-citizens as to exert a widespread influence for good or for evil, who, at the outbreak of the rebellion never trembled in the balance between Union and disloyalty, but stepped out from associations and from influences calculated to draw him into a vortex of the rebellion and broke away from such influence, and facing the danger and peril of the hour, actuated by patriotism as pure, as disinterested, as self-sacrificing, and efficient as ever actuated any gentleman occupying a position where he could make his mark or his influence felt in the great struggle through which we have passed.|||Rep. Dawes, Chairman of House Committee on Elections}}

{{cquote|There is presented evidence in the person of Mr. Butler a remarkable instance of a man of position in a community in which he resided, of influence among his fellow-men, of such mind and character and attainments among his fellow-citizens as to exert a widespread influence for good or for evil, who, at the outbreak of the rebellion never trembled in the balance between Union and disloyalty, but stepped out from associations and from influences calculated to draw him into a vortex of the rebellion and broke away from such influence, and facing the danger and peril of the hour, actuated by patriotism as pure, as disinterested, as self-sacrificing, and efficient as ever actuated any gentleman occupying a position where he could make his mark or his influence felt in the great struggle through which we have passed.|||Rep. Dawes, Chairman of House Committee on Elections}}

[[File:Roderick Randum Butler 1874.jpg|thumb|left|Butler in 1874.]]

[[File:Roderick Randum Butler 1874.jpg|thumb|left|195px|Butler in 1874.]]

Butler was censured by the House in mid-March 1870 by a 158–62 vote<ref name=bio2/> for selling an appointment to the [[United States Military Academy]].<ref>McFadden, Robert D. (November 29, 2010). [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/nyregion/30censure.html House Censure: Humbling to Some, but Not All]. ''The New York Times''. Archived version available [https://archive.md/aXI0g here]. Retrieved November 7, 2021.</ref> An expulsion motion also received a vote, and while it elicited a 102–68 majority with the ''yeas'' supplied by Democrats and half of Republicans,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/41-2/h181 TO PASS A HOUSE RESOLUTION PROVIDING THAT RODERICK R. BUTLER BE EXPELLED AS A MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE. (P. 2031-3).]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved November 7, 2021.</ref> it did not reach the required two-thirds threshold.<ref name=bio2/> ''The New York Times'' had reported on July 30 that year:<ref>July 30, 1870. [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1870/07/31/83468664.pdf WASHINGTON.; Serious Charges Against a Congressman--The City Government Troubles--More Troops for North Carolina--The Alaska Seal Fisheries--Revenue Matters--Personal.]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved November 7, 2021.</ref>

Butler was censured by the House in mid-March 1870 by a 158–62 vote<ref name=bio2/> for selling an appointment to the [[United States Military Academy]].<ref>McFadden, Robert D. (November 29, 2010). [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/nyregion/30censure.html House Censure: Humbling to Some, but Not All]. ''The New York Times''. Archived version available [https://archive.md/aXI0g here]. Retrieved November 7, 2021.</ref> An expulsion motion also received a vote, and while it elicited a 102–68 majority with the ''yeas'' supplied by Democrats and half of Republicans,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/41-2/h181 TO PASS A HOUSE RESOLUTION PROVIDING THAT RODERICK R. BUTLER BE EXPELLED AS A MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE. (P. 2031-3).]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved November 7, 2021.</ref> it did not reach the required two-thirds threshold.<ref name=bio2/> ''The New York Times'' had reported on July 30 that year:<ref>July 30, 1870. [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1870/07/31/83468664.pdf WASHINGTON.; Serious Charges Against a Congressman--The City Government Troubles--More Troops for North Carolina--The Alaska Seal Fisheries--Revenue Matters--Personal.]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved November 7, 2021.</ref>

{{cquote|There are serious charges pending before the Pension Office against Congressman RODERICK R. BUTLER, of Tennessee. A strong array of evidence has been brought to convict Mr. BUTLER of fraud, if not of forgery, in pension cases with which he has occupied himself. An officer is engaged in getting up the remaining facts on the case, and Mr. BUTLER is expected here on Wednesday to give some explanation of the affair, which seems likely to be made the subject of judicial investigation.|||''The New York Times'', July 30, 1870}}

{{cquote|There are serious charges pending before the Pension Office against Congressman RODERICK R. BUTLER, of Tennessee. A strong array of evidence has been brought to convict Mr. BUTLER of fraud, if not of forgery, in pension cases with which he has occupied himself. An officer is engaged in getting up the remaining facts on the case, and Mr. BUTLER is expected here on Wednesday to give some explanation of the affair, which seems likely to be made the subject of judicial investigation.|||''The New York Times'', July 30, 1870}}

This occurred prior to the passage of the [[Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act]], which replaced the traditional [[spoils system]] with [[civil service system|civil service reform]]. Until the Pendleton Act passed, Republicans utilized the mechanisms of the spoils system via patronage to benefit their causes and safeguard the rights of newly freed blacks.

This occurred prior to the passage of the [[Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act]] sponsored by [[Ohio]] [[Copperhead]] [[George H. Pendleton]], which replaced the traditional [[spoils system]] with [[civil service system|civil service reform]]. Until the Pendleton Act passed, Republicans utilized the mechanisms of the spoils system via patronage to benefit their causes and safeguard the rights of newly freed blacks.<ref>Matthews, Dylan (July 20, 2016). [https://www.vox.com/2016/7/20/12233454/christie-trump-purge-federal-employees Donald Trump and Chris Christie are reportedly planning to purge the civil service]. ''Vox''. Retrieved November 12, 2021.</ref>

Following Butler's censure, his constituents in Johnson County, Tennessee responded sharply in support of the congressman, and without regard for party affiliation gathered at the county to pass resolutions praising him.<ref name=bio2/> A large assembled convention resulted in a unanimous vote affirming adamant local support for Butler.

Following Butler's censure, his constituents in Johnson County, Tennessee responded sharply in support of the congressman, and without regard for party affiliation gathered at the county to pass resolutions praising him.<ref name=bio2/> A large assembled convention resulted in a unanimous vote affirming adamant local support for Butler.

[[Category:Lawyers]]

[[Category:Lawyers]]

[[Category:American Civil War]]

[[Category:American Civil War]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Corruption]]

[[Category:Corruption]]