Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-09-29
From the New York Courier and ENQUIRER
MIR. CALHOUN AND MIR. BENTON.

AT the late Sandy Spring dinner a scene took
place between MIR. Calhoun and Gen. Thompson,
the able Representative in Congress from South
Carolina, an account of which is now going the
rounds of the Southern journals. MIR. Calhoun
made long speech about himself and the Divorce
and Alexander Hamilton, and the Constitutional
Currency. Among other observations in regard
to the Treasury, he spoke of its origin. He
denied that it was Ben,on's h.. abug, but claimed
the honor for General Gordon of Virginia, who
first introduced the measure in 1884. II up-
proceed Of the Dirorce them" said Mr.. Calhoun,
shut thought it premature. Colonel Benton in
trOduced the measure in the Senate in 1886. I
voted against it because deemed it impracticable
at the time, and proposed United States Bank
for limited time on certain conditions, rs a bet
ter and moro practicable plan to unbank tho
Banks" But what was premature in 1884, and
impractieabe in 1886, in the very fulness and
ripeness OF time, and capable of reduction to i'm
mediate practicabity.
After Mr. Calhoun had finished his harranpue
Mr.. Thompson called for, and though in the
midst of opponents, promptly responded. In the
course of his remarks he frequently alluded to
Mr.. Calhoun, and read portion Of one of his
speeches. with extracts of letter from Condy
Racquet to prove Mr.. c. 'sinconsistent'' in his
course on this subject. We presume that this is
the same letter quoted by Mr.. Preston at the Co
lumbia dinner, in which Mr.. Racquet declares that
when he waited on Mr.. Calhoun originally with
his subTreasury plan, it was treated by that dis
tingulshed Statesman with much GOODNESS and in
difference. When Mr.. Thompson reached this
portion of his observations, he was cut short by
Mr.. Calhoun, i'll most abrupt and petulant man
ner, better fitting any other place. would sup
pose, than dinner table. Ii he had been cross
questioning Mr. Thompson in court of law as a
witness summoned by legal process and duly
sworn to tell "the truth, the whole TRUTH and moth
| ing but the TRUTH he could hardly have been
more free and easy with him.
MIR. Thompson alluded to the sub Treasury as a
measure of Mr.. Benton-but Mr.. Calhoun is SO
anxious to place himself forward as the champion
and leading supporter of the measure, that he
took hre at the suggestion, and attempted to vim
dictate his own claims TO what may be called kind
OF collateral paternity. This take tn be the OBJ
| icct of Mr.. Calhoun's interruptions Mr. C. rose
and observed that shat matter had better be set
! tied then"-then turning to Colonel II. question
ed after the following fashion :-sSir. did not Con
dy Racquet bring this system to Washington, and
propose it to several gentlemen, in 1S34?" Gen
/ L. answered, ''Yes."-Again. ssDid not Gen
Gordon introduce that plan in the House, in 1884
Gen. T. answered es'-"Did l not in 81 de
clare IN my place, that if no else did, should
under certain circumstances, deem it nv duty I.
bring forward this very measure of Divorce ?
The answer was again, "Yes." siHow then, sal.
Mr.. c., can you declare Col. Benton the authe
of system in SO, which you acknowledge Gen
Gordon introduced in 1S34e'
If Mr.. Calhoun were really guilty of availine
himself of the courteous admissions of Genera
i Thompson TO wind up his interrogatories with :
q. f. D. so insulting In its implications he has a
dapted himself with singular facility to the man
ners we'll as the politics of his new associates
We do not believe that he would permit himself t,
violate far the conventional decencies as to in
dulge at a dinner table of his own partizans IL
i propounding questions which Mr.. Thompson wa
not called upon to answer. and in afterw ards ma
king such discourteous use of his too civil replies
II Mr.. Calhoun admitted in his speech on this oc
casion that he had twice rejected this Sub-Trea
sury; once as premature, and again as impracti
cable. He might have admitted still, further. tina
he suggested the alternative Of the "Strons Box,
as something that would hardly occur 20 the min,
OF sane statesman Something less conven
lent. less SAFE and in all respects less desirabl,
} than that OF a Bank agency He advocated If
preference the re-charter Of the National Bank