The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-05-23
Sketch Of Hon. Alfred Huger, Of Charleston.

records the death of Hon. Alfred Huger, one
of the oldest and purest citizens of this State,
whose long life has exempliied the highest
public and private virtues. He was stricken
with paralysis on the 4th inst, and slowly
weakened until the final summons came, though
retaining his consciousness until the last mo-
ment of long and useful career. We make
the following extracts from biographical
sketch of the deceased, which is contained in
the News:
Mr.. Alfred Huger, the son of Mr.. Jno. Huger,
was born on November 1st, 1888, in the old
house at the corner of Mazyck and Broad
streets, Charleston, which was destroyed IN
the great fire Of 1861. He was first educated
at the old Grammar School at Strawberry Fer
ry, but subsequently entered Princeton Col
lege, where he graduated with distinction
Returning home he established himself as a
planter upon his estates in St. Thomas and St.
Dennis. and in 1922 was elected Senator from
that parish, his service in the Legislature COW
ering a period of about ten years. Soon after
his graduation he married Miss Sarah Ann
Rutledge, the daughter of Chancellor Hugh
Rutledge. In 1882 Mr.. Huger was appointed
Postmaster at Charleston by President Andrew
jackson, which Office he held until 1861
Upon the organization of the Confederate
States Government he was at once re-commls-
stoned as Postmaster so that he occupied the
position for more than thirty years. For twen-
ty wears he was director of the South Caro-
lima Railroad, only resigning when, in his own
frank words, he felt that his place could better
be filled by younger man. This is the brief
record of q life as honorable and as useful as
it has been given to man to spend.
In speaking of the public life and private
character of Mr.. Huger we can only hope to
give the bare outline, which may be completed
and made perfect by the loving recollections Of
the people to whom he was unshrinkingly and
unswer7ingly loyal to his very last breath
He was honored because he proved that devo-
ton to the Union was compatible with the
staunchest fidelity to his native State. He
was honored for his conservatism in what was
pure and good, and for his wise liberality in
promptly accepting the modes of action which
altered conditions forced upon his people. He
was honored for the splendid uprightness which
made him truest when the popular clamor was
loudest against him; for the unseltishness OF
his whole life, and for the alacrity with which
responded to every call made in the name of
South Carolina, or of any of her suffering peo-
pie. And he was loved; loved by the young
and the old, by those who only knew him when
the locks were gray and the step was feeble, as
by those who were his companions IN the bet
ter days when Alfred Huger, physically and
morally, was as noble man as ever trod the
legislative hall, or adorned by knightly courte-
sy and stately grace the homes OF Southern
chivalry.
Mr.. Huger was opposed to notification and
to secession. In his own brave words, the
Union was his Inheritance" and early in his
public life he ranged himselfon the side of the
opponents of disunion. In the Convention
which met at Columbia in November, 1882
and passed the ordinance of notification, Mr.
Huger voted with the minority; and he was
equally outspoken when President Jackson is
sued his proclamation against the nullitiers.-.
Feeling ran very high, and it was proposed in
the State Senate to adopt resolutions denounc-
ing the President Mr.. Huger, however, rang
ed himself with Legare, Petigru, Poinsett
Grimke, Memminger and others, threw all MS
influence on the side Of conciliatory measures
The powerful speech which he then delivered
in the Senate incensed his constituents, who
requested him to resign that they might choose
q representative more in sympathy with their
views His reply was worthy remonstrance
against the dangerous right OF lnstruction.
Mr.. Huger recognized the right OF ms n G constitu-
ents to demand his resignation If he we're
morally or Intellectually incapable of discharg-
inc his senatorial duties but he could not con.
sent to vacate his seat, where his voice and
energies were needed to guard the highest IN
terests of the State, only that his place might
be filled by an opponent of his policy at the
moment when war was waging for the dlsso-
luton of the Union and the overthrow of the
Constitution. This course, while seriously in
turing Mr.. Huger with numbers of influential
men. produced corresponding increase OF
confidence and admiration on the part OF the
friends of the Union in and out Of the State.
Mr.. Hurer had known Andrew Jackson since
1915, and had great confidence IN his tirmness
and discretion and it may be remarked, in
passing. that he always believed that had
General Jackson filled the Presidential chair
IN 1860 the secession Of the Southern States
would have been ayerted. The friendship be-
tween the fiery soldier and the young states
man was sirens gthened by the course of events
in South Carolina, and in 1882 President jack
son rendered Mr. Huger q commission as Post
master at Charleston. Again was the conduct
of Mr.. Huger in striking contrast with that OIL
the spoil-seeking politicians of these Later
days. He told President Jackson that nc de-
sired no reward for doing his duty as he un-
QerStOOQ IL DuG IL uc iiau uhJ StoAHi' 49,
consideration of the President he would ask
that Mr. Bacot, the incumbent b. retained as
Postmaster. Post MIR. Bacot was the nolitical oppo.
nent m of Mr.. Hugcr and of the Ps;sident but
he had been appointed by General Washing
ton, to- and was a highly acceptable officer; Up
on these grounds Mr.: Huger asked that he
might be retained in Office, The letter OF MI; aI
Huger to the President ended as follows, III
NV nuhlic conrse in sustaining YOUR patriotic
Union policy has commended me to your ia
yor, I shall regard myself amply rewarded,
and be under lasting obligations to your Ex-
celIency should you restore Mr. Bacot to his
former position" This appeal was successful,
and upon the death of Mr. Bacot, a few months
later, the appointment was again rendered to
Mr.. Huger, who accepted it, and held tae Po, ISo
surrender of General Lee at Appomattox.
Another evidence of the breadth Of his views
;s found in the fact that he seconded the reso-