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{{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]] 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>

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.