The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-30
George McDume.
IAbeville Medium.l

Abevllle Medium.
That portion of Abbeville County
which has for it's Southern boundary
the Savannah River, extending from
Trotter's Shoals to Barksdale ferry, was
once in the olden times desirable
farming country and was owned and
settled by class Of intelligent, thrifty
men who did much to advance the
claims of agriculture and place this i'm
portant profession upon more ad-
vanced and exalted plane.
These elegant Savannah River lands
from 1880 to 1915 were owned princi-
pally by such men as John G. CAL
houn, George McDuAiie, Patrick No
BILE, William Bull, Arrnistead Burt
and others who were equally distin-
guished as representative men Of the
State. But of this constellation we
propose to speak more particularly
of Mr.. McDuffie. It is known to
many of your readers that Cen
eral George McDufie was one Of the
eminent men of South Carolina, that
he figured conspicuously in the poll
tics of the State, was distinguished for
his craftsmanship, his fine oratorical
powers and perhaps was as much idol
lied by his fellow citizens as any man
who ever lived in the State, save John
C. Calhoun. AS to his career polit-
ically, for the benefit Of those.Who have
forgotten. we would state that Mr.. Nc
Dufie was elected to the lower house
of Congress blouse of Representatives.
in October 1920 taking his seat in De-
cember 1921, where he served until
1884. Also we would state that in
December, 1884,. he was elected Gov
ernor of South Carolina and in 1912
to the Senate of the United States. In
ls49 he resigned his seat in the Senate
md came nome from Washington city
almost physical wreck.
Some of your readers remember the
fact that Mr.. McDunie at one period
of his life fought duel. This duel was
fought at Sisters Ferry, South Caro-
lima, on the Sth DAY of June, 1922. The
collision between himself and Col.
William Cumming grew out Of a polit-
ical difficulty. Cumming was the
leader of the Union party in Georgia,
while McDufie's political ethics made
him Nullifer in South Carolina. A
history of the quarrel am unable to
give, but suffice it to say challenge
was passed and fight ensued. The
weapons used were pistols. The dis
tance IL PAGES. At the first fire Mr..
McDufie fell. The ball entered the
hip and tradition says was never taken
out. From the field Of battle Mr.. Nc
Dufie writes as follows to q friends
""The contest is over. lam wounded.
Five hours have elapsed since the oc-
currence and I feel perfectly comfor-
table. The ball entered obliquely into
the back just below the short ribs. The
surgeons agree there is no danger and
my feelings indicate the same. We
shall start this evening and move slow
~ home" Iwould state that this let
ter is dated Sisters Ferry, sth June,
1922.
Some of Mr.. McDufis's political op-
ponents were disposed to sneer and
ridicule because he had been shot in
the back. This is explained and truth
fully so by the peculiar way in which
he was standing. The Spartan spirit
that characterized him upon this oc-
casion made him demand to continue
the fight. The seconds and surgeons
however counseled differently and
hostilities were brought to close.
The home of Mr.. McDufie was on
the Savannah River, and was known in
the community and surrounding coun-
try under the euphonious name OF
Cherry Hill. It was situated in a
mile of the famous Waddell school,
and was surrounded by class Of cul-
tivated aud refined people who stood
par-excelIent in the first rank Of inn
portance. The seductive charms Of
Cherry Hill was the intellectual atmos-
phere that pervaded tie place. Mr..
McDuffie had many visitors and during
the intervals OF public service it was
often his pleasure to haye the literati
and learned, such visitors as John G.
Calhoun, Robert Y. Hayne, James
Hamilton, Armistead Rurt, Rhett and
others whom it is unnessarry to Eaen-
ton. Here it was that a princely hos
pitality was dispensed, and blaze OF
brilllancy surrounded his entertain
ments that was unsurpassed, and the
links of amity and fellowship made
dining at his board something worth
repeating.
Mr.. McDufie in 1s43 was invited by
his neighbors to deliver political ad-
dress upon the exciting questions Of
the day, and upon this occasion it is
said by those who heard him that he
covered himself with glory. The in-
roads of the abolitionist upon the Con-
stitution of the United States was the
central theme that marked the charac-
ter of his speech upon this memorable
occasion. He took the ground that
laws were being passed that discrim-
mated between the two sections, North
and South, that sooner or later such
laws would lead to the loss Of the peo-
ple's liberties and a dissolution of the
Union. The color Of Mr.. McDuffie's
ewes was Of blush gray and deeply
sunken in his head. Whep it was
his proviace to speak upon the
Tariff, Notification or the legal
snbordination of the African to the
Caucasian race it was then that
these blue orbs would fash with fire
and hi. very soul would seem ablaZe
.-,:.t, +ba divinity within Hie nnao