The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-01


of President by the House Of Representatives, in
1925, was made, Mr.. McDuHie contended that it was
the duty Of the House to vote for Jackson Is ne had
received the highest number OF votes IN the electoral
colleges. Mr. Calhoun also contended In his letters,
that true construction Of the constitution should
induce the House Of Representatives, when no choice
had been made by the electoral colleges to elect the
person who had received the greatest number OF
electoral votes. If Adams, instead Of Jackson, had
received the highest vote, MIR. Calhoun said he
should have felt bound to support his election by
Congress. This novel and curious doctrine, sus-
tanned by Messrs. Calhoun, McDufie, and few
other Jackson men, found no countenance among
the friends of Crawford, Adams, and Clay, who
comprised about two-thirds Of the House. Mr..
Louis McLane, then Crawford man, said, in reply
to Mr.. McDufhe, that the election being referred
TO the House of Representatives in consequence Of
no choice having been effected by the electoral col
leges, the members Of the House to act us
judges under the constitution, and to elect the man
in their Judgment best qualified, even if his eecto-
raj votes stood lowest on the list Mr. Adams, it
will be remembered, was elected, and neither Nc
Dufie nor McLane were pleased-the former voting
for Jackson, and the latter for Crawford.
Amendments of the constitution were proposed
in Congress, after the election of MIR. Adams, in
1928, proposing to take the final decision OF the
election Of President from the House of Represen-
tatives, and to choose electors by districts. Mr..
McDufie advocated these amendments, (Which
failed,) and made Ia great speech thereon, in
which he attacked MIR. Clay, and his friends
in Congress, who had voted for Adams, reite-
rating the charges which had been made
against them of bargain and corruption. This
speech caused violent quarrel between Mr.. Me.
Dufhe and Mr.. Letcher, Of Kentucky, and duel
was threatened, but prevented. II was In reply to
Mr.. McDu6ie that Mr. Edward Everett made his
first great effort in Congress Some time after
wards Mr.. McDuffe quarrelled with MIR. Metcalfe,
q member Of Congress from Kentucky, which led to
q challenge from McDuffe. Metcalfe chose rifles
as the weapons, and McDufie refused to try them,
rifles being then unusual articles in single combat
and so the affair dropped, without bloodshed.
The Jackson party having obtaineda majority in
the Congress which met IN December, 1877, pre-
cedng the election of General Jackson to the Pre-
sidency, MIR. McDufhe took prominent part as
leading debater, and a member Of committees of
the House, and was on the very top OF the hoodtide
of popularity which carried General Jackson into
the Presidential chair, and retained his friend, Mr..
Calhoun, in the Vice Presidency. Both of these
gentlemen, however, refused to sustain Gen. Jack
son in his war upon the Bank of the United States
MIR. McDuffe, as well as his patron, Mr.. Calhoun,
warm friend Of the bank, and as Chairman of
the Committee of Ways and Means, on the 10th Of
February, 1892, made report in favor of the re-
newal of the charter Of the bank This report Mr..
McDufe advocated in various speeches, and de-
Tended the bank against the attacks of its oppo-
nents The bill for renewal, it will be remembered,
passed both houses Of Congress, and was vetoed by
General jackson.
Previous to the attempt TO renew the charter Of the
bank in Congress, Mr.. Calhoun had quarrelled with
Gen. Jackson, in consequence of discovery by the
latter that Mr.. Calhoun, while Secretary of War, had
disapproyed of the Of the General in the Semi
mole war; in 1918. The first cabinet of Jackson had
also been broken up, and the Calhoun men thrown
out, in consequence Of the affair of Mrs Eaton. Mr..
McDufie, Of course, followed the fortunes of his
friend, Calhoun, and was never on good terms with
Gen Jackson again. He took decided stand with
the nullifers of South Carolina, in 1881 and 1882,
and went for the tariff compromise, which was
brought in by Mr.. Clay, and stopped notification,
in 1888 He had been the most active among the
opponents Of the protective tariffs Of 1924 1928 and
1882 lie acted with the wings in Congress in de-
nouncing Gen. Jackson for removing the public de-
posites from the United States Bank.
Retiring from Congress, in 1884, in consequence
of being elected by the Legislature of South Caro-
lima Governor of that State Mr.. McDufie served
the regular term Of two years in that capacity and
then retired to private life. He emerged in Decem-
Der, 1892 although then in feeble health, to accept
the appointment of United States Senator in the
place OF Hon. VIM. G. Preston, resigned, and took
his seat in that body afterwards. His term
piring March 3, 1888, he reelected for six years,
and served part of his term a. colleague OF Mr..
Calhoun, the latter being short time in the
cabinet of John Tyler The declining health of
Mr.. McDufie did not permit him to display the
energy and frequent participation In debate in
the Senate, which had characterized has former career
in that body but he took prominent part in the
nnexation Of Texas, the enactment OF the tariff
Of lsi6, and the passage Of the Sub Treasury bill
but not waiting for the close OF his senatorial term,
he resigned in lSi6 after the close of the long
sion, and retired to South Carolina with shattered
constitution, a mere skeleton OF his former self.
During the few years OF retirement which preceded
his death, he struggled with disease, almost unno
ticed by the world in which he had played 80 pro-
minent part. The Charleston Mercury Of the 18th
Of March says; SO completely had his feebleness
shut him out from all commerce with the world, that
we seem now 10 be speaking Of great man long
dead, rather than of one who breathed his last two
days ago"
The Greenyille MountainsT says:-" 1t was the
writer's good fortune to know the deceased well and
and we may say, with entire truth, that
we have never known human being of more ex-
allied patriotism and integrity Of private character
George McDufhe was emphatlcay an honest man
With a large amount Of worldly wisdom, he dis
dained all trckery and indirecton IN his private and
public life Filling, n he did, the largest space IN
the public eye As politician, it is remarkable
fact that at no time in his eventual life and brilliant
career has the purity of his heart and motives been
questioned by political opponents Ills extraordi-
nary genius, practical mind, and thorough honesty,
caused the people of this State, and unsolicited by
him, TO thrust upon him the highest honors and
most exalted trusts. And no man ever bore his
blushng honors more meekly. We know that II
was positively Irksome 10 him 10 receive the merlted
Difference and distinction which his genius and cha
racter always commanded. AT the Inauguration Of
President Polk, were in Washington, and re-
manned there few days after completing our busl-
ness at the request Of Gen. McD. 70 accompany him
home-he then being quite feeble, and requiring the
assistance OF friend IN his homeward travel. In
Richmond, Va, MIR. Calhoun joined and accom-
panied u to Charleston. We reached the latter
rites waited upon Mr. Calhoun, rendering him the
Inequalities Of the city, and dinner. After the
committee retired, Mr.. Calhoun very kindly said,
McDufie. you and Mr. Il. must consider yourselves
NV guests whilst you stay in town. Gen. Med.
good hunoredly replied, Where do you stopP
Mr. Calhoun informed him. Then, sir, said Gen.
McD., Il shall 90 10 another house, for ! want mo-
hing to do with you and the politicians In truth,
be appeared neHously apprchensiye at any time, OF
being the observed Of all observers In general
society Gen. Med was extremely taciturn. In the
private circle. among intimate friends no one con-
versed more freely and pleasantly. We have never
known any possessing keener sense OF the rldi-
culous, or one who told and enjoyed an amusing
aneciote better than himself
''AIcDuffic has left an only child daughter, just
grown. To this young lady, 90 whom he was ten.
derby attached, he leaves immense fortune, and
an honored name, yet more valuable than her
i rincely Inheritance"
Mr. NIcDufie enjoyed a high degree Of popularity
with the people u South Carolina, and he served
hem With a singc-hearted real and commanding