Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-11-17

From Washington SPECTATOR
MR.. CALHOUN
We publish below article from the New ] ORR
Journal Of Commerce on MIR. Calhoun, which shows
that this npersle press compre the Characters
tics of this great statesman We particularly
struck with The remark "ar Calhoun has taken
any part arranging elections; he has had wires
to pull, or machinery to manage; but has been
spectator and has always treated his prospects
when he was candidate, with less interest than almos
any other man bas treated them. If we to Judge
by certain presses we would suppose that MIR. Calhoun
was moving heaven and earth TO affect the Presidency
But let pass through the retired little village
Able lille in South Carolina and ask for MIR. Calhoun
he will probably learn, that he in the village, a
church. on the last Sabbath, and is now al his farm
three miles off Let him go to visit him. Ii the day
permits lie will find him in his fields diligently attend
ing to the details of his farm hearty welcome and
bright smile will cheer the visitor, and the great man
will only be in the kind host and simple gentle
man. If he enters the paror, he may piles of let.
ers unanswered and of newspapers nnresd; but look
al that bursting olio there his thoughts accumuat
ing for his country Not station honor intent, but
shedding from his deep and brilliant mind the results OF
its long experience in the principles and policy of our
Government. There will be his claim TO Immortality
"a claim that official station neither give nor take
away. Milton still lives in his mighty thoughts, 10
/
well only remembered for their questionable deeds
and the dark tragedies they produced in lfes poor da
ma. His days, he knows, are now few; and although
the clouds of popular prejudice, raised by that hatred
which prosecuted the Saviour of the world, may
obscure its setting rays, his glorious burns liter
and brighter in the empyrean, as It PUSHES 10 its de-
cline; and when it is sunk, men will then wonder,
and learn, and love.
MR.. CALHOUN.
| The political of this gentleman and al
ways has been peculiar He has commanded the votes
of the whole country at election; has been chosen,
by unanimous reclamation, Vice President of the U.
States yet he never had q party, in the common ac-
ceptaton of that There has been between
him and any set of politicians through the country,
any arrangement for mutual support II he were
elected President morrow, there would not be
in the whole country, to whom he would owe the least
obligation, who could claim any thing OF him. MIR.
Calhoun has never taken any part arranging cleo
tons he has had wires 10 pull, machinery TO
manage, but has been mere spectator, and has al
ways treated his own prospects when he has been
candidate, with less interest than almost any other man
has treated them. His friends have done much
to organise themselves. They were, in old times the
whole country, and 50 needed no organization. The
support given MIR Calhoun, has always BEEN to an
unusual extent, the impulse of personal esteem. AT
home it is peculiarly There ne mingles not at all
with political partisans. From Congress he goes home,
and buses himself upon his farm, and his family,
and scarcely all in public until he returns 10
his official position. He wall not conform 10 the South
custom of stump canvassIng for votes, dong
any thing which looks like seeking for office. a.
educated at Yale College, and studied law at ltchf-ld
yet he has visited ,boSe places since his youthful
education completed, aud chiefly because his posi-
ton has been such, for Of years that he could
not travel through the country without exposing hlm
self to the charge of seeking for votes. During the
whole of his life d. recollact that he has
been charged with untaiE!ulness 10 any of his
anu a nIous Ina "a
always been frankly avow"G, and when avowed, there
has never been any doubt 10 what they were, or
whether they would be adhered 10 lie hes never
waited fer public sentiment 10 be formed before lie
dared to disclose his opinions but, whenever a
subject has before the body TO which hr onged
has taken his cround respecting it, md uniformly with
so thorough comprehension OF all itS bearings, that
his opinions have wanted modification afterwards
In this way lie has been much the most consistent oil
all leading public men. II is not at all disreputa
BILE 10 any that he IL sometimes IN error, nor that
when he pefceive- the truth, he ayows the change
which his opinions have undergone 1t is alleged We
know, that MIR. Calhoun is inconsistent, because he I'D
vocated the stimulating of American manufactures into
existence, for increasing the Tariff at
time, and now advocates free trade upon lis broadcast
and most incorporating principles. MIR. Calhoun
himself in his late letter, seems 10 allow that his po
stion not exactly what It once, but it
that he made the concession more matter OF
magnanmity, than because II really demanded By
the circumstances At time when threatening
gathering around infant country, MIR Calhoun
did propose that duties should be advanced two
TO FIVE per cent making them up to fifteen or seven
teen per cent in all, and he gives one reason for
doing so, that il would stimulate manufactures into
existence but he advocated any other tariff than
of adequate revenue a man who drinks glass
of wine the table of his friend, might we'll be
tainted with Inconsistency because he protests against
drunkenness in the II is for certainly TO
call inconsistent, for is just what have agreed
TO. There modifying circumstances almost always
attendant upon the prac.ca application OF great prin
cpes, and yielding 10 thsm practical spirit Is mol
pledge to carry out those modifying circumstances
until they become ascendant principles and destroy the
fundamental rule 1t is true that Fundamental prin-
cpe, trade should be left free altogether, and entirely
fee yet it would be ything bu, practical wisdom to
determine that nothing should ever modify this prncl-
pie in its practical operation.
In his personal character, MIR. Calhoun is model
for statesmen. Amid all the bitterness with which he
has been assalled the purity Of has HE ques-
toned. He processes to make the precepts OF the
Bible his rule of life, and no questioned the
sincerity of his profession. Many who stood re-
puiab!y our churches, have fallen under the ,empta
tons of public life, made shipwreck Of The faith become
vicious their personal habits ard unworthy OF trust
in their political associations But MIR Calhoun has never
been charged with personal vice political achery
Although do not think that personal pety should be
test for Office yet II is right that Christian men, who
have been praying that may have rulers "who fear
God and hate coveonsness, should know that Mr. Cal
houn is such man, and that when h. 10 nominated
for Office, they have an opportunity unless his oppo
nent be of similar character to test the sincerity OF
their petitions. From own obseryation however,
conclude that most men will vote for their own
party.
That Mr.. Calhoun is statesman of the first class,
we need not say: and that his plans Of policy would
secure the peace and quetude of our Union, we are
every believes who las atentively considered
his The agituons of the country have always
been caused by strong measures bearing unequay upon
the country and of doubtful constiluiionahly. The
Southern policy of constituting the powers of the Fede
raj Government strictly, and exercising only those
which unquestonably conveyed 10 Congress, would
be emineniy promoiye of The prosperity as OF the
peace ard happiness OF the country. We need states
men whose views na.iona who do not depend upon
blowing the flames of civil in Rhode Island 10
please the Democracy expedition against Oregon
please the Western borders, protective tariff 10
please n land Pennsylvania and LOUISIANA, al the
expense ojuslice 10 all other paris ottc country mild
but expanded policy, securing liberty 10 every ciiizen
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