Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-08-17
A LETTER FROM MIR. CALHOUN.
10 the Editors Of the National Inteiigencer.
Ennr u,,. 1r,xo 90 1917

9th and 10Th instant, containing your remarks {
m volume recently published by the Harpers, I
# New York, entitled "Speeches OF Mr.. CAL !
,oun. delivered in the Congress Of the United
marks are headed, "Poli,ical Hstory-Suppres-
'ed Speeches of Mr.. Calhoun" .Suppressed''
8 a strong word. The highest authorities define
1 to be, put down, destroyed, concealed; and
your remarks leave no doubt that you intended to
use II In the strongest and most offensive sense-
that IS, that they have been entonally omitted
in the compilation in order to give a partial and
false view Of my opinions; and, tor that purpose,
a false title was given to the volume. To the
truth of this you pledge indirectly your word by
heading your remarks ''Poli,ical History" The
Charge is grave one, and made in an imposing I
manner, and If true the imposition would deserve
the public reprobation. The question: then, is, Is
1t truel Let facts answer.
The title is, indeed, fase--false every way.-l
1t covers much no. included i'm the volume, and o.
mits much that is-reports, letters, and other wri-
tings. You have noticed the former and called
public attention to it, but not the latter though
equally obvious, and very material in determining
whether the falsity of the title is mere error or
fraudulent attempt at imposition. The one
might with some plausibilily, be construed TO be
an attempt at imposition; but it is impossible for
any ingenuity SO to construe the other II is im-
possible to assign to it fraudulent object. But
1t the one is an error, why not the other In fact
the very grossness of both can leave no doubt that
they are merely errors. 1t is not possible to open
the volume without detecting them. The title
covers all the speeches of MIR. Calhoun from
1911, when he entered Congress, till the pre-
sent time, while the volume contains but one
speech prior to 1888. Again: it omi;s to men
ton any thing but speeches, when of the four
first of his productions of which the compilation
is composed, only one is a speech. To make It's
grossness more palpable, all these are headed
speeches" Has fraud ever been known to do
its work in so clumsy manner! 1t is idle to
waste words or thing so plain. The whole IT,
tie is gross blunder, Of which have much great
er reason to complain than any one else. 1t looks
much more like an attempt to injure me than to
impose on the public. l., however, can suspect
nothing of the kind. How it happened know
not; nor is 1t material, far as it relates to the ob-
ject of this communication; but deem it due to
myself to state all that know about it.
1t so happens have never yet seen the volume
saw the title and the advertisement not long
since Tor the first time. l was, as may be i'm
aginod, indignant at the blunder. | wrote imme-
diately to friend, who took an interest in the
publication and correspondent with the publishers,
and pointed out the plumbers in the title and the
objections to the advertisement, and suggested
the corrections that should be made, which | re-
quested him TO have done forthwith. 1t was too
late. received his answer few days SINCE
He informed me that he had perceived the blur-
ders before he got my letter, and had prepared a
correction, but, owing to some delay In the trans
mission, it was not received in time. 1t may be
proper 10 add, that the title suggested Gas well
as can recollecD was, "a selection from the
speeches, reports and other writings of Mr.. Cal
houn, subsequent to his election as Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, including his leading
speech on The late war, delivered in 1911" 1t
was drawn up to make it full and accurate-to
cover the whole, and no more. So much for the
ttle
come now to the selection or compilation;
and here / take all the responsibility. 1t was
m md nj thnrn ha r,,,l II
ment, am chargeable. In order that your read
ers may Judge, | shall state the reasons which
governed me in making the selection.
tits proper to premise that have been urged
iInH' -H''rih,Te my speeches collected and publish
ed, and have during the same period received MI
merous applications for copies of my speeches in
pamphlet form, with which could not comply,
because had not spare copies. Since my name
has been presented to the People in connexion
with the Presidency, applications for copies have
increased, and have been moro frequently urged
to collect and publish my speeches, reports and
other writings on political! subjects. l finally
consented to the publication, because | believed
1t to be due to the people in the position occupy
TO afford them the means of asceraining the opIn-
ions and sentiments entertain on all political
subjects, particularly on those which have agita-
ted the country of late, and which the Presi-
Denial election will probably in great measure
turn. That l believed could best be done by
publishing what had said and written on those
questions III torm which would make the work
accessible TO the People. Ii would give my o.
pInions and sentiments in the fullest and most
authentic form, and in manner much more con-
sonant to my feelings than by popular speeches
maze Tor the OCCASION or personal canvass.
10 effect the object, it was not only necessary
that selection should be made but that it should
be made from the later and not the earlier of nv
speeches and other discussions on political sub
Jecis To publish all have said or written in the
long period OF tbIriy-two years, in which have
been without lntermission in public life, would
make the work TOO bulky and expensive to be ac-
cessible 10 the great body Of the community; and
TO publish those of an early date instead of those
OF late, would not give the information intend
ed. accordingly fixed on the termination of Mr..
Monroe's Administration. when | became Vice
President, as the period from which 10 make the
selection. That may be fairly regarded as the
point of time In our political history which marks
the end of an old and the commencement of a |
new order Of things, in the midst Of which we
still are. From that to the present time is a Pc
Tlod OF eighteen years, being more than half of
mat In which have been in the service of the
Union. During the whole ! took prominent
and responsible part on all important questions
Snch was my leading motive for selecting the pc
Rod did from which to make the compilation.
There were others Of subordinate character
which had their influence. 1t was the portion of
my public life in regard to which information las
belIeved) was most desired. / infer so, among
other reasons, from the fact that the applications
have received for copies Of my speeches were
almost exclusively confined to it. There was a