Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-02-11


From Washington, Immediately at the
close of every Congress, he harries t. his
home, under the mountains of S. Carolina,
and there dcvotes himself to his farm and
his family.
Mr.. Calhoun HIS often Lecn called a
theorist, an abs'Iariionist problbly only
by those who are incapable of conpre
bending any truths, but those on the sur
face Of things; but more practical man,
one who more clearly comprehends tue
adapta ion Of means to ends, will hardly
be found. In early life, his property lay
in the middle and more fertile region OF
South Carolina, where it was impossible
for him TO raise his family, on account oil
| its sickness and the habits OF the com
munity rendered large expenditures, in
living, 10 one Of his personll distinction,
almost unavoidable. Intent on managing
his own affairs, and reaHng his children
under his own eye in habits Of irugaIty
and virtue, he sold his lands in AbJegI,le
District, aud removed mp to the healthy
farming lands If Pendcton. Here he
built his home; and if any one wishes to-
know the secret Of his wonderful admins
tralion in the War Department whilst
Secretary of War, let him 90 with Mr..
Calhoun round his farm. None, however,
but an enthusiast in lie, bees, poultry,
corn, g., with pair of weI'.traned legs
under him, shouli attempt the enterprise.
With his long sick in hand, and striIes as
long, he moves ahead, talking all the time,
now on beautiful theory OF agriculture,
then on practical resIIt--down in the
corn field. up on the cotton hill, round the
potatoe patch, through the rye-lot--hcrc Is
a bubblIng spring, there prospect-'urn
the bull into the pasture, haiIoo to the
poultry woman, see the gratis on the aP-
ple trees, hive these bees. II hapiess
neophyte in these agricultural operations
l is lett any sense, after five or SIX hours OF
hard driving, he will decline further cour-
tesy, and take the shortest cut home. Or
mount horses with him, he jlgays insist
ing on taking the la dest going, and see
his marvellous endurance Of pomme'Ilng,
under a hard jot-trot, without appuren"y
feeling its sl1calioHs--whilst prylng
round and round, he gives directions,
hastens operations, and scours over the
. whole farm, talking and &C ing as 1t he had
never thought Of, or practisod any thlng
else but the busiues OF a farmer. 1t has
been by such attention and industry, that
{ he has established the reputation OF beng
, the most practical and sDccesslul farmer
IN the upper country, and, al the same t!me'
has supported well, and educated his IamI-
llv. Like Pericles, lie has never increased
v nor diminished his fortune. The goic nine,
8 of which so much has been slid in the pa
: pers, he became possessed Of, by an act OF
I parental kindness HIS son bought the
5 lands, desparng of making them proiita
c BILE, the father trok them off his hands,
r lie affords rare specimen in our country
@ of enc content throughout life witt
!. competency in "A cheap country
o. and has, therefore, avoided those temp
n tatons and spccuh:ions which have
G wrecked the fortunes and happiness of 81
G many millions of our Countrymen. Tbs
g truth is. he has too clear and practical
n head. not to know the true value of all pro
5. perry.
But let US enter the door at "Fort Hal,
N and see the man in his domestic habits -
,e His style of living is plain as possible
n. Although no ascetc. he has not failed T.
10 perccive, that for the most efficient wor1,
h ing end improvement Of the mind, the ho
70 DIV must be subjected; and the excesslv
10 Indulgence in the grosser appetItes, mus
n. lead 10 decay, and not only repress the vii
" tues, but impede the highest growth of tn
~ intellectual powers He is therefore b.
- bituaIly a water drinker, although no men
-. Ter of a temperance society, and eat
If anything, apparently but little regardit
n. of the quality of his food, provided it
nd wholesome. A traveller once visited hi
i at his farm, for few days. Soon ate
- his arrival, he was invited in TO Dime
10 which consisted of bacon and lis usual az
mi compartments Of vegetables, white corr
in. bread and beautiful butter. "You see
70 he observed, 81 am no epicure; indeed,
N. am barb lrian, according to the theory
n civilization by some French philosopher
,va that if consists in what we eat. Bat t
90 morrow for your sake, we will do better.
Az Accordingly, the next day brought sum
u,o tuous least But it is not merely IN dlscl
NJ. lining himself to the strctest habits OF $
,Ja brietv. that his virtues consist. Self q
of NAL is a powerful, probably an indispens
Bile auxiliary to virtue; but it is not n
,or. cessarily virtue. Activity in good, as We
,.a as abstinence from evil, is essential IN
en- our conceptions of the highest excelIen
on in character. Such, at least, is the OPP
49, ion of this distinguished man, speaks
the through his life. We have been informe
om nv one who has lived m1ny years toge'
' ,er er in his family, and therefore in daily a
~. hourly communication with him, that
',n never saw HMM the slightest emotion oil
oH' A.l fr,,,n linn 4 harsh eXnreSsI