In December, 1834, Mr. McDuffie was elected governor of South Carolina and major-general of the militia of the State, and these offices seem to have been be stowed upon him as a recognition of his political services and as a mark of popular favor. O'Neall says he was proud of his military title, though some time before that, when O'Neall himself received a similar ap pointment, McDuffie ridiculed it as " mere pomp and parade." From this time on he seems to have been popularly known as "General McDuffie." In 1842 he was elected to the Senate of the United States, which position he held until his resignation in 1846. He died in Sumter District, South Caro lina, March 11, 1851. In 1829 he married a Miss Singleton, a young lady of refinement and wealth. She, however, lived only a short time, leaving surviving her an only daughter, who after wards became the wife of General Wade Hampton. A lady friend, who knew Mr. McDuffie well in the latter part of his life, says that prior to his marriage he was engaged and devotedly attached to a young lady in Phil adelphia, and she also informs me that on one occasion she herself sang for him a ballad, which was popular at the time, called " Go, Forget Me," which affected Mr. McDuffie to tears, and he remarked to her that it was a favorite song of his Philadel phia friend, and that she used to sing it for him. Hon. H. W. Sparks, in his " Memories of Fifty Years," describes the personal appear ance of McDuffie as follows: "McDuffie was not above the middle size. His features were large and striking, especially his eyes, forehead and nose. The latter was prom inent and aquiline. His eyes were very brilliant, blue, and deeply set under a mas sive brow — his mouth large, with finely chiseled lips, which, in meeting, always wore the appearance of being compressed."
From those who remember him I learn that he was a little above the average height and somewhat inclined to be slender, and that his hair was black and remained so until his death. O'Neall says that he was very abstemious, seldom touching wine and never strong drink. If was the custom at that time in the South for nearly everybody to keep a decanter on the side-board, and visiting friends were almost invariably invited to take a drink. Mr. McDuffie seems to have been no exception to this rule. His favorite drinks were porter, claret, and other light wines, though in winter he would sometimes take a hot whisky punch just before retiring. All agree, however, that he was very temper ate, and that he never indulged to excess. To his temperate habits O'Neall attributes his living as long as he did with the shat tered constitution which he had in the latter part of his life. His habits in this respect were all the more remarkable when we re member that he was actively engaged for years in politics, where he was constantly surrounded by temptation. He was fond of playing backgammon and enjoyed also a game of draughts or whist, in both of which he excelled. He was passionately devoted to music, and his daughter often played for him. While traveling in Europe she bought for him a large and elegant music box, and often when he became irritated and excited, it would serve to calm and soothe him. He dressed very plainly. He was a small eater, and, being a dyspeptic, was extremely careful in his diet. He did not use tobacco in any form. After he became a member of Congress he resided in the south-western portion of Abbeville District, where he had an elegant residence. It was situated on an elevated spot of ground some two miles from the Savannah river and was called Cherry Hill, and one of his plantations has since been generally known as "The McDuffie Place."
