The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-04
OBITUARY.
James A. McDougaII.

James A. McDougall, late United States
Senator from the State of California, died in
Albany yesterday Mr.. McDougan was a native
of New York He was born in Bethlehem,
Albany county, November 10, 1917; was edu-
Gated at the Albany Grammar School; studied
law, and commenced the practice Of his profes
sion in Pike county Illinois, to which place he
removed in 1887. He was elejted Attorney
General of that State in 1912, and was reelected
in 1874. He had some skill as a civil engineer,
and assisted in the survey of the first railroad
built in this country, the Albany and Scheuec-
tady Road, while he was still very young. In
pursuance of these tastes, he originated, in
1S49, an exploring expedition to the Rio
del Norte, the ella, and the Colorado,
which he accompanied, and, as the gold fields
of California had just been discovered, and
emigration was tending that way, he was in
duced to make San Francisco his home, where
he resumed the practice of his profession. The
only office he held in California, besides United
States Senator, was the same he had filled in
lllinois-Attorney-G -General-to which position
he was elected in 1858, declining a nomination
in 1866. In 1861 he was elected to the United
States Senate. His term expired on the 4th OF
March, and he was succeeded by Cornelius Cole.
In the Senate he served on the Committees on
Finance and Naval Affairs, and was Chairman
of the Committee on the Pacific Railroad. In
the early part of the Rebellion he took strong
grounds in favor of vigorous prosecution of
the war, and was for time identified with the
War Democrats, of whom the late Senator
Douglas vas the chief but he never severed his
"
a delegate to the Chicago Convention which
nominated General Mcclellan for President in
1864, supporting that hero along with his col
leagues from California.
The Albany Evening Journal of yesterday
says:--
In this city, to-day, at No. IL Park street.
died James A. McDougau, formerly Senator OF
the United States from the State of California,
and in his time one of the most brilliant and
honored of the galaxy of American politicians
whose talents gave bright promise of future
eminence and usefulness. A few days since one
of our most respected physicians, while visiting
a patient in the vicinity, was called to enter the
dwelling in question and see sick man. He
did go, and found poor, broken wreck of
humanity, tottering upon the verge of the grave,
in the last stages of dreadful disease. Despite
the ruin, physical and mental, which this un-
fortunate presented, there were, at occasional
moments, gllmmerings of intelligence which
showed that the wretched being had
been something more than an ordinary
man. When the physician left, he was
informed that he had seen what was left of Sena-
tor McDougall. To-day the mourntul drama is
ended, and the curtain has dropped, Senator
McDougall was born in this city, and educated as
a lawyer. At an early period in the history OF
California, he emigrated thither, and soon at
tanned high position by virtue of his remarka-
BILE talents and great energy, He was a member
of the Legislature, and took prominent part
in the organization of the State. Afterwards he
served in the Federal House of Representatives
with great acceptance to his party and his con
stituency. In 1860 he was elected to the United
States Senate. In that body he took foremost
rank. The same fervid eloquence which had
made him lion of the masses in California,
rendered him powerful in the deliberative body;
and some of his speeches will be long remem-
bered as masterpieces of oratory. But pas
sion for strong drink proved his bane and the
cause of his ruin. Long before the close of his
term, he became an object of shame to those
with whom he was associated, and his super
session would have been a matter of course,
even were his party in the ascendant in the
California Legislature. Since his retirement
his only public appearance was at a Democratic
meeting in New York, where he was shockingly
incapacitated. His subsequent steps have been
rapid and certain towards the fatal end. The
story is one too sad to dwell upon. Let US re.
member the unfortunate only with pity for his
sad fate Himself the worst sufferer by the vice
which destroyed him, his mournful death fur
nishes sad warning to others against the fol
lies hv which he was DESTROYED.