Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-11-21
FOR THE ENQUIRER
JOHN C.. CALHOUN-No,I

N"" 90 nor mean 10 say that the feeling
entertained for Mr.. Calhoun in Virginia by his
particular opponents amounts TO hatred; or
that he is not knotcn and admired by many of
our distinguished citizens; but will assert
that very unjusiifable means have been
resorted to among us to excite distrust of his
political views, and To depreciate his great
talents and services. For these purposes
erratic statesman--some distinguished
by the etfugence, and sometimes by the dis.
astreus twilight" of his genius, very early led
the way by denouncing him in public adj
dress, us the army candidate" and The par
tisans of Mr.. Crawford lose no opportunity
10 scatter the suspicion, that his plans Of adj
miDisirali0n would be too splendid for n re-
public BY these and similar misrnpresenta-
tons it cannot be denied, that many honest
and even intelligent citizens among us, have
conceived dislike to Dir. Calhoun almost
wholly unknown To the other states-a dislike
which perhaps, it would SOW be impossible for
any power ofevidence or eloquence TO over
come. Leaving then his opponents in the
quiet possession of their prejudices, l beg
leave to address myself to the unbiased mass
OF our popuation-Awith whom the admiration
OF genius combined with virtue and illustrated
by splendid public services, is yet and trust
will ever remain, 4 distinguishing charac
| teristic.
John G. Calhoun was born in January 1899,
in Pendleton, South Carolina-of Pennsyl-
wanna parents and found himself, in point of
fortune, IN that state of happy mediocrity
which has ever proved itself The most fayoura
bile TO moral aud intellectual excellence
Being, by his worthy father, designed for the
bar, he was early initiated in classical literature
under celebrated scholar 10 whose school
several other conspicuous public men were
educated about the same period. In that
I Schnpl rloiIffco liz LII
nresy where else in those days of party heat
| between '97 and 1902 and confidently APP
peal 10 the contemporaries Off. C.. e.. whether
| he did not there invariably support republican,
| principles and republican men against youth,
sgr. aud authority Pie was now transferred
| to Yale College, Connecticut. Here again he
soon became distinguished for classical attain
ments and = certain manly eoquence, that has
since been often displayed in the service of
his country. A professor of Yale, having at
| the and of "a lecture on government or political
PHILOSOPHY, declared that it was yet douhtfnl
whether a limited monarchy might not he
more conducive 10 the happiness of these
states than republic, the suggestion called
forth all the zeal and ability of ]. C.. C. in OPP
| position and so struck was the professor
with this and other exhibitions of youthful
powers, on the part of thu Carolinian, that he
more than once predicted, he would rise TO
the highest eminrnce in The country. For the
| truth of these facts, have heard a member of
Congress cite with confidence the names
of several of Mr.. Calhoun's classmates now
high in Office.
Perhaps these references to the politics OF
schools and colleges may call down upon me
| the censures of the same morbid sensibility
that was lately excited against an essayist in
the EDqsirer, for a similar allusoD. beg
leave, therefore, to justify the liberty have
taken.
We are told by Anacharsis, that I" all who
have reflected on the art of governing men.
acknowledge, that il is on institutions for the
education of youth that depends the fate
of empires )" and he laws dow n the principle
that education !; political institutions and
manners ought 10 be in strict harmony fOiM each
other The immortal Plutarch, who had been
the prereptor of Tralan, thus writes TO the
II pupil on his elevation TO empire" Shopd
your future government prove in any degree
apswerab!e To your former merit, shall have
reason 10 congratulate both your virtue and
my own good fortune on this great event
But, If otherwise, you have exposed yourself
10 danger and NE To obloquy. The faults Of
the scholar will be imputed to the master.-
+ Srneca was reprOachrd and his fame still suf-
fers far The vices of Nero: the reputation Of
Quintilinn is hurt by the i'll conduct of his
scholars; and even Socrates is accused of neg
iigence in the education of Aiclbiades." In
our times, the slightndicaOns If maguanimi-
mIfy displayed IN the earlier government of the
:. Russian Auiocrst have been attributed to- his
!, Preceptor, the philosopher La Harpe and TO
our own Wyihe has been yielded the honor
of forming Mr.. Jefferson's principles on the
: republican models of Greece aud Rome II
then praise be due toa preceptor for impart-
ing right principles in government would ii
not b. reciprocal duty TO censure him for Ut
tempting TO teach tehdf is mol in harmony 10Th
our institutions ? The proposition seems too
clear for disputation.
From YALE, Mr. Calhoun entered himself "a
student Of the law-school Of Judge Rec, es M
n Lltch6cld Connecticut. During his residence
here, an incident occurred that may BE- appeal
ed TO as another proof of his early and dpci-
dcdrepulIicanism. Seeck Osborne 1.-THE first
native poet living was, at that time. The editor
Of democratic paper published NJ Litchield
Having rendered himselfb y his politics highly
, obnoxious 10 the federal rulers Of The land Of
steady habits, he was prosecuted and imprson-
ed for libel on the state government The
law student G.. g. warmly Interested him
self in behalf Of Osborne, and by his writings,
speeches, and 0th,' exertiOns WIS IN no little
danger Of sharing the fate Of the prosecuted
T editor This occurred about the fifth year ol
I Mr.. Jefffrson's administration, who, soon az
ter gave Osborne 4 capiaincy in the army
Il After an absence of five or six years, j G.
= G.. now returned to his native state, and enter
ed on the practice Ofthe law with the success
. usual to ~ his rudeatours. But the national
d excitement against England daily increasing
s with her INCREASING arrogance and ioustice
he was rendily prevailed upon to become
member ofthe state legislature. Indeed b,