Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-10-14

himself 10 the business of his father
farm, relieving his labors with the appro
pirate rural recreaiions of hunting an
fishing. After four years thus contentedl
passed, il was urged upon him TO choos
one OF The learned professions; TO whicI
he consented, only on condition that hi
little property could be so managed as II
allow him TO pursue preparatory course
of seven years study. The arrangement
was made; and his resolution rigid!y ad
hered 10. He succeeded we'll in college as
he had before done on his farm. He sue
ceeded we'll in the practice of the law, as
long as he continued in that profession.-
How well he succeeded in Congress, it is
unnecessary to speak; and this not only
as debatant, but upon the important com.
mittees on which he served. He has,
throughout political career of now thir-
ty two years, maintained, without mo-
ment's diminution, the confidence OF his
native state. During long life he has
been invariably esteemed und beloved, in
proportion as he has been known. And
absorbed, as it would appear he must have
been, in public duties, his very moderate
private property has been preserved un.
diminished and unembarrassed. Call
you this man visionary" and impracti-
cable?
But, fortunately, We are not left to con-
lecture, inference, or analogy, in judging
Of tho administrative talents of Mr.. Cal.
houn as statesman. His administration
of the War Department afforded ample
demonstration. 1t is true that he introdu-
ced there changes, which the routine.
men Of that day pronounced visionary,
wild, and impracticablc. His system Of
beaureaus was thus denounced, and it was
with difficulty that he ovorcame the VIC.
lence of the opposition. This wild and
measure. has stood the test of
twenty-five years experience, and remains
through all The vicissitudes of party, 10 this
day unchanged, and an admitted improve.
ment. When he took charge of the de-
partment twas literally without any or
ganizaliun, and every thing appertianing
70 it in apparently ineXtrcable confusion.
In very few months complete org mi
zation was established, regulated by a
new code OF rules, and the whole working
in perfect harmony. And Tor the seven
years OF his administration of il, it contin.
led as completely arranged and efficient
military establishment as any OF its size
n the world.
He found the unsettled accounts of the
department. running back (many of them
almost to the origin Of the Government,
mounting to upwards Of $40,O00,000.-
These he reduced to less than 100000.
If S4,57! ,96l drawn in 1922 by the de-
arlment, which pessed through 29l dis
ursing officers, not one cent was lost to
he government-not one defalcation oc-
urred. He found the army proper cost
ne $45l per man, and he left the cost per
nan 1887. The gross annual saving,du-
ing his administration Of the department
ut Of an expenditure Of $4,000 900, was
bout $l,3OO,O00. And yet, with the
rmy, and all connected with the depart
,cnt Mr.. Calhoun maintained an I'M
popularity throughout all his re-
)rms.
And this is tic man whom it is attempt
d to represent ss a mere dealer in alb
skiful skirmisher in scholas-
c subtleiies! Very different was Gen.
estimate of Mr.. Calhoun. This =
lyorite aide.de.camp Of the French En-.
error, who, as chief of the United States :
ngineer Department, had the means OF T
moving Mr.. Calhoun Intimately, often =
,clared that his extraordinary admins :
ativc talent constantly reminded him .
his beloved chiet--the great Napo.
on.
The truth is, that to pronounce Mr.. CAL is
,un deficient in practical ability, is to
pose mere gratuitous assertion to an un. Y
oxen series of facts, spread throughout n
long lie; which, at each step we take, h.
amps the assumption with impudence and :
lsehood.
We cannot think that we are doing any
Justice to The other very ablo and disiln-
Iished Democrats whose names have
en presented, with Mr.. Calhoun's in con-
xion with The Presidency, when we de-
ire that, in point of peculiar fitness for I
g Office, Mr.. Calhoun has something
Q advantage of any other Individual
.eat as are The acknowledged abilities oil
0 other gentlemen named, something
,re in the way of reirenchment, reform,
d improved organization Of the various -
partments Of Government, might be ex. of
c;ed from Mr.. Calhoun than from any
c else. In our view, HE is pre- sentiment
the man for the crisis.
In our next number we shall discuss the :
estion Of availability. "