with, their cherished purpose to establish slavery in Kansas.  If he had yielded even so much as this, they would gladly have let him go.  But never for a moment did he falter, or waver, or equivocate.  He refused to make any promise.  He stood upon his rights as an American citizen.  He was opposed to slavery in Kansas, and intended to oppose it as long as he lived.  He came to Kansas to aid in making it a free State, and no fear of personal injury would change his purpose, He was one man among hundreds, but he intended, then and at all times, in Atchison or elsewhere, to express his convictions, and with voice and vote maintain his opinions.  All this he said, quietly and without a trace of boasting, but with a firmness that won from the mob a most unyielding respect.

And this saved him from a worse fate.  If he had quailed or equivocated, they would have triumphed; if he had boasted or threatened, they would have hanged him.  He did neither.  And so they first set him adrift on a raft, and again tarred and feathered him; and on both occasions manly courage and sincere faith were victorious over brute force and mad passion.

Mr. Butler lived his life, during all the years of his residence in this county, illustrating the same lofty purposes and sincere convictions.  He was not always correct in his judgments, but he was always earnest.  He was interested in every good cause.  During his whole life he was an ardent temperance man.  He was a practical, as well as an ardent, advocate of temperance, and the organization of the so-called “Third party” prohibitionists, excited, at once, his indignation and contempt.  He was one of the first prohibitionists of Kansas to distrust St. John, and to denounce him as a self-seeking, ambitious demagogue.  He had no use for any man who was not entirely sincere, or who was not willing to subordinate his own personal interest for the sake of principle.

Among the free State pioneers, of Atchison County, Pardee Butler and Caleb May were first in influence and usefulness.  The latter died only a few weeks ago, in Florida.  The Champion made notice of his death at the time.  The two men, in their personal characteristics, had nothing in common.  Col.  May was a man of very limited education; Mr. Butler was schooled in books.  Col.  May had lived all his life on the frontier; Mr. Butler came from one of the oldest communities in Ohio.  Col.  May believed in the weapons of carnal warfare; Mr. Butler put his faith in the power of reason.  Both were men of approved and unquestionable courage, but if the pro-slavery mob had attempted to capture Col.  May, a revolver, held with a steady hand, would have blazed his defiance; Mr. Butler submitted, without resistance to the mob’s will.  The ruffians did not understand this peaceful but resolute antagonist, but they were compelled to respect his determined purpose.  When Col.  May wrote to their leader a letter telling the pro-slavery rulers