Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-03-20
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EDGEFIELD. y. G.
THURSDAY, MARCH 20 1851.
DEATH OF GEORGE McDUFFIE.


y DEATH OF GEORGE McDuFFIE.
4 OUg columns are put in mourning this
aweek, on account of the intelligence, which
Shas reached us from various sources, Of the
) sdeath of GEORGE McDrrF1E. His better
spart, it is true, had been lost to us for several
syears but the consummation of his mortal
career occurred on the lltl Of the present
ssmonth.
The noble victor in many hard-fnught
sfeld of forensic and parliamentary warfare,
sthe man of stern integrity and iron will, the
unsurpassed orator and the spotlcSs parrot.
lis gone at length to his long res1ing-place.-
The spirit, which had come from its Makers
hands, endowed with the rarest Of human
spowcrs, and which, by the decree of mystic
.rious Providence, had been suddenly and
completely stript Of its Heaven-born plumagc.
shas been liberated from Its sud thraldom, and
! has flown back to Him from whom it came
alEhilc we can but drop tear at the loss of
seven the emacated body, in which once glow
led the genius and patriotism of one Of the
/ smost brilliant and loyal sons of Carolina, we
syet thank our God that it has pleased him to
:release, what he would not, in his Wisdom
srcsuscitatc.
How heart-rending, to all who knew him
sbcforc, WAS the condition of the afflicted
! sNlcDUFF1E, during the dreamy existence OF
shis last years! He suffered-alas! in ourl
sshort-sightedness, we know-lGGtt~wha may
shave been the tent of his sufferings. For
4 ssSS}f6 may understand the anguish of de-
scaycd intellect and blighted fancy! Who
can calculate the untold moments of intcnscj
agony down-stricken genius may endure.
! (which sees, by The occasional fitful glimmer-
fling of its own cmbers, the contrast betweenl
fits present imbeciIily and its former great
mess! The fallen eagle, glancing back tot
sthe clouds where it once scared, conveys thcI
sidea but fcebly. And how know We but that
1our once exalted statesman may have had
some such glimpscs Of his wreck, during the
ssmournful ordeal he was required TO pass
3While it is saddening to indulge the mean-
3choly supposilion, is it rot more so, to be-
Slicve that his great mind had become utterly
sblank and dark, like The sky of 4 gloomy
swinter night, with never q ray Of light "to
| break the dismal continuity Does not hu.
smanity shudder less to think that there wrrrl
Sudden flashes of truth upon his great soul.
seven though torturing for the moment, than
Ito believe that all was dark,-continuously
dark? But however this may be, the dread
4 SPELLS now broken, and ne can all find com.
fort for the past, in the reflection that his soul
(which struggled in vain with its mortal
scoil,n issnow u1fettered in tbe clinesofI
eternal Truth, and cxulting in the knowledgeE
Sof God and his Infinite perfections.
Mr. McDUrFIE was, for long time, s|
member Of our community. 1t was here hc|
commenced his public life. He studied lawl
here, and went to the practice at our bar.
Some of his most powerful and eloquent
speeches have been made to the people of
aEdgefcld. From our early boyhood, we
ahare been impressed with his goodness, As
] well as his greatness Our citizens hare
ever known but one feeling towards him-a|
attended feeling of confidence and admira-
J ation. The offerings of praise which have sol
I aoften risen from their hearts, to reward his
faithful cxcrtions in their behalf, have been;
! 8most unafIectedly sincere. And they mcurn|
ahis loss with unspeakablc sorrow.
We trust that arrangements will be al
aoncc made, TO have his Eulogy delivered
aherc, amid the scenes Of his first and Of his
! snoblcst efforts. And we would suggest
sJudge BUTLER, his old friend and co-lelnpo-
rary as the most suitable person TO discharge
athat duty.