Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-04

ce hrst published III the lfalcfHIan OF SALISBURY, loiW
Carolina, in which my name, that Of Gen. Thompson ana
Mr.. CaILoun's are mentioned. AS understood the pub
LEGATION, both that Editor and Mr.. Calhoun use IN? name
as connected with that portion o! Nj. Calhoun 5 CONVEX
salion which is alleged to have taken place IN regard 10
the withholding the fourth i%nsialmrnt, under The 'cpo,,
site net of lS3G-and i. is in reference 10 TINS alone, l
suppose. that MIR. Calhoun uses the following express
sinns: 'int it seems that Gen. IhoIrscn or ooulh
Carolina, and Mir. A. n %Sbr?Per! O! y. Cs7oi'nu' are
replied OF In make out this charge. IL rs not Tor me 10
say how far they have authorized their names to be used
on the occasion. They cun speak for themsel yes, liIhey
should think proper. and they ue hereby released from
every obligation, so lar as nm concerned thai m'eh' ii'
pose silence, and are al liberty 10 state what snId on 'uis
or any other occasion A conversation which | !eid WIN
Mr.. Calhoun a few days since might have enabled nun
to say how far had authorized my name 10 DC uSFo 4" u
The occasion. | then informed him that had gwen no
authority for the publication, but that supposed Inc
ne wspaper statement was made floia what had some
time since said to the editor touching the matter OF his
publication that had written to the editor, complain
ing of tbs unexpected use oil my nuine, ana rferel1ihe
the publication.
Tie statement Of The conversation, however, as con.
taincd in the Watchman, is, according to my lecnlec'
ton, Sustained by that of Gen. Thompson OF Snulh
Carolina, and Gen. Carter, OF lennesseeD SUBSTANTIALLY
correct.
In conversation upon the subject Of The repeal OF post
poncment Of the fourth nslalmcnt, MIR. Calhoun SAID,
we must hold on to il; we must have the money II we
have To take it in bank rngs.
How far this conversation is inconsistent with Mr..
Calhoun subsequent course, Is not Tor lie 10 inquire OF
determine. In speaking OF this sage conversation,
which occurred between public men, on a subject OF
great public interest, and which they were then golng TO
consider, am wholly unconscious of violating any rule
of propriety designed 10 regulate our social intercourse,
especially as i, has never been my purpose or intention
to question the purity OF Mr.. Calhoun S motives OF nc.
ton on this subject, but rather 10 express my regret aud
surprise at the course which he has felt himself bound 10
pursue. aud which was not prepared to anticipate. IN
der The impulse of this feeling, was induced, al The
moment of Mr.. Cnlhuun's remarks in favor OF postpon-
- ILL.,. r-,L: j., nl,,nn o. pnIIp 4 n n m n IL n
House of Representatives the substance Of this CONVEX
''' 80 ~ '"'' "' A. II. sHEpPERD.
DEC. %, 1897.
In an article from the Hou. J. c. Calhoun, in the In
teIli.enccr Of this morning, Mr.. Calhoun says, "But |
seems that General Thompson. Of South Carolina, and
Mr. \. Fl. Shepherd, Of y jrti Caroiina, are relied ~ Ia
make out the charge. 1t is not for me 10 say how Tar
they have authorized their names 10 be used on the oc.
casinn. They can speak for themselves 1t they should
think proper, and they ale hereby released nom every
obligation. so far as am concerned, that might impose
siirncr. and are al liberty to stale what ] said on THIS ur
any other occasion.
The doubt which this nass:Ge may be construed 10 in.
iiiua,e, rs to my lending my nauie to the publication ni
Mr.. ca!houn's conversation, have reason 10 believe
does n"t exisl IN the mind of Mr.. Calhoun, rs he had
been informed hos the matter Found lis way INTO liz" y.
Carolina new paper IN which it first appeared. II he
had entertained any. such doubts they would have tscn
removed hy n direct application TO ire.
M StattUDpI'l W !fiI. EItVfNih ''h' l ''h i't
the Slightest agency, direct or indirect, in TIE matter -
But my name having been used both By Mr.. Calhoun
and Mr.. SHEPHERD, and being directly cail,d on by the
latter. il is proper that | should say that my rccnllrc-
ton of the conversation entirely c"inclGcs with that at
Dec. Is. 1867. w. THOMPSON, IN.
WasuIxoroy, SD Dec, 1897.
Sill have read tie statement which ynu submit.
ted 10 me OF a conversation, in which MIR. Caihcnn par
ticipatrd. and which occurred on our way from Green's
Dor, ruh. n. C., to this place. to attend the extra session
of Congress. And ia conformity with your request that
| should state whether the remarks therein attributed to
Mr.. Calhoun, in relation 10 the repeal Of the tonrih IN
staiment. crrrrspnndrd with my recollection "I i'IeH:, l
have To say, that they do iii every rssenlis! particular
In this have the more confidence, heca"sc we con.
versed uf il shortly afterwards; and because, when learn.
inr, after th" meeting Of Congress, that Mr.. Calhoun had
himself III favor Of a repeal Of that install
mcni. ~as surprised, aud so EXPRESSED myself 10 you
and others. am respectfully. &C,
Hon. Mr.. SHELTERED.
WAspISGros, Dec. ~, 1887.
.Nessrs. Gales {. Seat0a-The statements Of Mr. Shep.
perd. Gen. Thompson, AMI Gen. Carter, render 4 few
remarks necessary on NY part.
In re!;rriur to the two former, in my former commu.
nica,ion, did not Suppose that either of them had anth".
rised The article which called fnrth my former REMARKS;
nor bad any intention 10 wound Their feelings. FLY
o!,ac, vYas to bring out all III. facts, "ItlI The view TO
mi down efrctually The S!anderouS charge Of inconsist.
eUgH III ~ w hy ''''
n, ibe extra session, with he vile Institutions as 10 my
motive.
we have now a fun statement of the conversation.
according To The recnlh'cItnn OF those present., AID II
,prus out. as | trit confden; il would, that, SIN voting to
,nsrunu. the Ih in:ta!mpni, rather i.ldn borrow money
10 meet H." did mi ncl incpnsIs!rnly with any lining
had said. Tn. alternative on which acted, was a con
tinarncy mot contemplated III The conversation, ana on
which, of course. it did mol turn. As 10 the fourth IN
s,almrnl. was then. AN no%, and ever have been. IN
iavnr OF executing the act, according to ITS true intent
and purppse. We all knrw its object was TO g., CHAR
Of IN uravoidahir surplus, hy dep"siting 1t with tie
States. with the double view Of withdrawing /. from the
immediate control Of The Executive, and the dfp"sIte
banks; where it was believed 10 be a dangerous source
Of patronage and cnrrur!inn, and p'acing IL in Il ~GepusIie
s1rtr than those banks; and sand prepared 10 execute
the act 10 the full. as far rs INV vote may 20, whenever
there is all available surplus beyond the probable
expenditure of the Government, which the States
will receive. whether it be cash or paper. Several
of my friends in Congress kn"w that such WIRE my
view mt the extra session, aud that there WAS nuuc
more solicitous lhnu myself {" carry out The act, Accord
inr 10 my conception of lis true intent aud object. But
further could not 90. shall nr"cr agree 10 raIse IN"
new BY loan or taxes. to make a surplus In be deposited
with The Slales; and this was the ground look in de.
bate on The pos! p"nrm"nt Of the Fourth inStaIfnemI. Such
n course would. indeed, have hcrn Inconsistent in me-,
abhorTenl to everything | have ever done or said in re-
ference 10 the subject; and rather than raise a cent by
taxing nr borrowing, to be deposited, would not have
hes,,a,ed a moment to oblitcrale the ucl from The statute
book. To do either, would be Il gross and dangerous
peryersiun of The act, and resist its execution.
In my former remarks, neither affirmed nor denied
the truth Of the statement us to the alleged conversations,
and confined myself simply to rrpell;ns the charge OF IN
consistency between what ! may have said aud did; be-
cause | had 7 very iriistinct recollection OF The CONFER
sa,ion. had an impression Of having cnnvrrscd on the
subject on my way here, but whether it was in the stage,
or on the steamboat or in sorr public house, or with
whom. or what | said. had no recollection; but of one
thing was perfectly confident. that could not nave said
ANYTHING, fairly understood inconsistent with what did,
es that rested on fixed principles, long established in my
mind, and on which stand openly committed III report
and debate. complain not. but II is deeply 10 be re-
crrl,ed, that casual conversations, which are So easy 10
be misunderstood, should find their way inl" public jour.
nails. II places those in public life in all awk ward Sitna-
L. r,La. nra r.cnrrud iLo,. u NnnsaI Lnl. q. lrcs In lne