LOWNDES COUNTY. 389 



Lowndes, to be supported by them as a candidate for the Pre- 

 sidency. Other States and districts adopted the suggestion ; 

 and in his answer to the communication sent to him, he made 

 the memorable remark, " that the Presidency was an office 

 which no man should either seek or decline ;" a maxim that 

 should ever be in the minds of American statesmen. It was 

 an opinion then expressed by many of the best informed poli- 

 ticians, that had Mr. Lowndes's health enabled him to remain 

 in the United States, he would have been most probably 

 elected President. At that election there were very serious 

 and strong objections made to the other two candidates, but to 

 him none could be offered. Mr. Lowndes had hoped, by re- 

 tirement, to recover his health, but the prostration had gone 

 too far, and his physicians, finding that there was no improve- 

 ment in his health, recommended a sea voyage and change of 

 climate. He accordingly sailed in October, 1822, for Europe ; 

 but his disease was too deeply seated, and he died on the 

 voyage. The newspapers of the day spoke highly of his 

 character. 



" He was mild and unobtrusive. In modesty, unequalled. 

 Whilst living he would have rebuked the faintest expression of 

 praise. He lived for the happiness of those around him. He 

 was a great man. Wisdom and virtue gave him a moral and 

 political power." 



Mr. Taylor, of New York, said of him, in his place in 

 the House of Representatives of the United States, " that the 

 highest and best hopes of the country looked to Mr. Lowiades 

 for their fulfilment. The most honourable office in the civilized 

 world, the chief magistracy of this free people, would have 

 been illustrated by his virtues and talents." 



Mr. Lowndes was remarkably happy from his youth in all 

 his domestic concerns, being always associated with nume- 

 rous friends and affectionate relations. He married early in 

 life the daughter of Thomas Pinckney, who still survives him. 

 He left three children, two sons and a daughter, now the wife 

 of Lieut. J. Rutledge, of the U. S. Navy. 



For the above sketch of Mr. Lowndes, we are principally 

 indebted to Dr. Joseph Johnson, of Charleston, S. C. 



