ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt, bˈʌtlɚ wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd tə ðə tˌɛnəsˈiː hˈaʊs ʌv ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntətˌɪvz, wˌɛɹ hiː wʊd sˈɜːv ʌntˈɪl wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈaɪv.
In 1878, Butler was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, where he would serve until 1885.