Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-02
ever the present and all future attempts ON their
With great respect, am SC.
JOHN c. CALHOUN.
To GEORGE RANKIN. Esq 80
And other members of the Committee
PrnnIrrnN In

| PENDLEToN, July 4, 1888
CENrLEMEN:--l cherished thu hope until late hour
this mornings that my health would permit my being with
you today, and that might, in person. you my
sincere thanks Tor the very aerng and friendly invita-
ton yon have given 10 unite with large and rsspec-
table number Of citizens OF Anderson the celebration
OF the Anniversary Of the American Independence; but
being compelled leave this Charleston in the course of
two or three days, do deem prudent to put nv con-
vaescence any previous by njudicous fate or
exposure ain, therefore, constrained express my
great regret that unable accept an invitation thus
kindly rendered l,might, under ordinary circumssnces
he proper TO conclude this alton with this
apology; but the occasion ITSELF the deeply interesting
crisis through which State has just passed. aud the re-
'don have borne to the latter, will, am in hopes ex-
cuse the lew remarks with which propose TO trouble yo
You viii iind IN the sequel that my purpose to in
d"se lruiess metaphysical discussions but discharge
more grateful though mournul and ae ciionate office.
he celebration Of the anniversary Of the
declared by The old thirteen free, sovereign and indepen
dent States, before their confederation i'm l77S cam
not TAIL TO produce saluary moral influence if regarded
with just estimate OF the lesson this great even, incu
Gales III, for example, il invigoraes Tor liberty it,
self, just seDsibiy every thing that looks like yran
and oppreson and Doufshes an alta bme nj 10 ba
sovereignty OF these States under an abiding convction
that as the great struggle for independence was wsged
and consumma,ed by each OF them its sovereign capa
city, however conon,ly they may have acted, furnishing
as II does, type oil their present relation each
other, exercising again conformity sovereignty which
flows from EACH and by which the agent created by this
sovereignty responsible 10 each aud ALL cannot fail i'm
its lofty and cheering associations to make us better men
ana better trustees OF that freedom which has been con-
fided care.
But it, on the other hand up false idols and wor-
ship in stupid spirit OF bgory, mere efgy for the
divinity ITSELF ii, under the OF Unon the Substantial
essence oil liberty TO be lost sight Of the very term it
sell is to be employed only cloak Tor fraud violence
and injustice, but for the baest servy man worship
we shall have learnt little our fathers as from the a
gust moral which the day caches and find that we
have approached not much alteration of the
roal objects OF the Union than the Egyptian did his God
IN worshipping crocodile
Since our last anniversary, State has passed throup
a severe trial thank God she did alter. If our
victory is not as complete could have desired as
the justice oil would have justified we have not
at least ourselves 10 reproach that
tai interests were secured and amidst almost une
pied dhcuies, the point oil honor preserved by the
single aud unasssted efforts party. If we had been
united at home, and if after South Carolina avowed
in the face OF the world, her umatum all her children
had gathered around her in id obedience de vo,ion
Lacedemon at no period OF the history of Greece, would
have presented more triumphanly glorious attitude
than this State would have DONE small she is in popula
lion and territorial extent. We should have had moi
bill oil compromise but bill OF penary repeal and pac
The intestine dissensions which prevented such con-
summation to be deeply Janenied But do not let uy
despond Let US bold last 10 the faith that is i'm US Let
US pause gaer strength abstain from any unnecessary
agitation Of the public mind. keep lamps burning, and
our ranks hrm and unbroken The truths hich
lie at the foundation OF principles must 90 on waxing
stronger and stronger. until these plantation States shall
which antiquity has before revealed, that stockholders
themselves the vgilant guardians the civil and
political liberties OF their country Depend upon it. the
day IL not lar distant. when all must be-
not Killed"
Whilst thus guard the sanctuary Of our principles.
let us always rrmember, with grateful affection, when
the hand oil death comes among u.s. who have worshpped
asrs. The iaven OF tho DESTROYER has brought
down TO tho cold chambSrs OF death. within the short
space OF isw weeks two of strong men, whom at
# this moment, could least have spared or him. who
has found s last resting place whinte bosom of his
our mother land, shall speak. This proud
painful office, viii devolvc upon me elsewhere and al
another time. But OF him, hose grave turned 10
the last rays oil that setting whose broad disk" he
never destined again Furnishing in lis ecning
beams, the blue hills OF his own Virginia" desire, liz
II tho iu'n"ss oi my heart, TO say one word.
nj John Randolph has NJ uf a fyyhe
prepared to have served Ii God had fit to
have permitted him 10 have taken his ssat in the next
Congress OF the u States and TO have allowed him
II joy even temporary respite from his almost eIentin
disease period of his eventual life, brilliant
could have been con,rss,ed with the splendor Of those
closing efforts, which know it his design 10 have
made for the regeneration OF the liberties country;
or. II this failed, OF lousng his Virginia from her
sumber and reminding The one-e king uished fires her
watch towers Existing there Was, between US, al
4 most an hereditary friendship, during The whole pro-
gress OF our struggle in constant correspondence
with this highly gifted and most extraordinary man.
If Whatever he may sometimes have supposed
" had committed ffoin TOO much arior in good cause hs
aered for moment, in the strong Affection
ate interest he took in fse, and in the Of our
in the deep indignation which lie expressed
the aoeious espotsm of the Proclamation, tile time
a serving proligacy OF Of its supporters In of
his letters he remarked TO me- 'f cannot be booted and
If will at least be horne, like Muey Moluch, litter TO the
field Of battle, aud die in your ranks
he'd designed TO have sent you letter, which no
wrote me few hours after the Presidents Proclamation
b. had reached him. when he stretched what al
most his last bed of sickness; but mature
Election, have deemed il advisable consult mutual
friend both Of the deceased and myself, in Virginia
such parts OF correspondence asst might be proper
make public before any Of his letters appear. The let
- ter, however, TO which sude shall the ghi-
80 When ii does, promise YOU that Andrew Jackie Esq,
will not have skin enough upon bis back TO determine the
l. color Of his epderns.
To have lost at this exgont moment who, with such
rare aud extraordinary eBdownens for the crisis pos
sessed and exercised such spe-ke influence pub
- Tic opinion in his State, caani that only be
contemplated with conposurc, when reflect that death
at las to release this bright smaDaon Of the ethereal
~ spirit from broken tenement, long suHeng sinking
e decaying from almost The frst dawn 10 tie last vesges of
~ life. Peace TO his manes The South never had and
-, gifted champion one who enphatiealy honest
One who knew fear 10 the cause OF truth and
forth defence inyncble armor brandishng
- his FURNISHED lance 10 the lghtof Heaven rejecting
~ high in its bright the beams that gleDed s
polished shaft. IL thus accoulrcd, ibat he publicly
stood forth before the world, the champion Of the ber-
ties Of his country.
'e IL will be Tive ressug II less useful province OF
e the hul bographer likewise to bring us in closer
W munon t the thousand virtues which endearcd him 10
those who, knowing him beat invariably loved him most.
To reveal his gushing sensby, his inbred tender
ness OF hesr his romantic de oton TO the duties and Of
H. fees Of ondsp, his parental Kindness TO his slaves and
in dependents seemed from te very hunbleness
IL Of their allotment 10 regard his children, and wha II
the lamben OF the evening lightning be caught
the vii which sparklcd ia neverendng flashes from bis
ed lips.
us Let us then offer lisaon to lis spirit give you
s The memory Of JOHN Randolph Of Roanoke: In guard>