The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-05-07
From the New York Mirror.2
HON. JOHN C. CALHOUN.
SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

HON. JOHN C. CALHOUN.
SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
Although we cannot subscribe TO all democrat
lc principles, still there are some democra Tic
statesmen, Tor whom, in common with all the
world we entertain high regard. 1t is re-
reshing, after encountering in the ranks of that
motley party 80 many finished specimens of ram
part twaddle and irredeemable dullness, to NEE,
with man pronounced great by the verdict Of
The entire world, and honest by even his political
opponents. One who dare shake off the tram.
mels of party when they would bind him down
to demagognism, whose amor patrio is of hiobe,
order than modern patriotism, and who refuses
to succumb to the dictates of that spurious vir,ue
Such a man is the Hon. j. G. Calhoun.
Some people who permit political preiudice n
gain the whip hand of impartial JUDGMENT NAV
be inclined to qualify this eulogium, by averring
that the political conduct of Mr. Calhoun has been
frequently inconsistent, and even tho venera bile
y. u. Adams has recently twitted him with pr,c
Using the 'weathercock principle of politics
Mr.. Calhoun urges in justification of his yeerino
Propenstles, that statesman is kind of poli,csi
physician, who must, Of course, vary his nre.
scriPtlons to suit the different stages of disease in
his patient 1t IL very true that he does no, shine
win the steady brlllancy of fixed star and IN, !
In his eccentric wanderings through the politcal
heaven, he once got into an awkward s6x.' which
might have ended in the notification of man of
less callbre. Though he has occasionally indu,q.
ed In meteoric 'spree' through the State ham
isphore, and to the astonshment of other or.v.
political planets. adopted the habits of some fIe,k.
ish comet, which portends change,' still ba, be
never forgotten what was due to his country, and
more IMAM once refused tc step from the path of
lechtuoe and honor which he has marked out for
himself, to gain pinchback crown of sppr;ons
fha
of peace, order and integrity have been in danger
he has always come to the rescue nor would he
hesitate TO sacrifice himself to the good of the
country. NO Impartial observer can call him in.
consistent. They who do SO must admire tho
consistency of the Spaniard who refuse 10 on;cks
the stately slowness of his walk, even wbIe he
ing horse whipped, or that Of the obstinate seame,
who preferred Perishing with the burning sb;n
10 quitting MS post, because his dead commando
could not give him orders. Mr.. Calhoun ia too
wise man to be confined by such narrow vievs
he knows well that he who cannot turn. canno;
spin
Mr.. Calhoun is the son of Irish parents. and
was educated for the legal profession, but either
from want OF the aptitude for the law mr. :,
proper sphere IN which TO exert his abilities. he
acquired no great renown as a lawyer The bent
OF his mind inclined more to agricultural pursni,s
until ne was elected to represent his native State
In Congress, from which period his public life
became intimately identified with the history of
me country. Ills career since that time is too
well known to need recapitulation.
He is now about sixty years old. tall and s,.ct
very slender, but rather unganly in his motions
and appearance. His eountenance ia deeplv fur.
rowed, yet alive with intelligence and animation.
and capable OF expressing his various emotions in
an eminent degree; it is perfec, index 10 what
is passing in his mind. You NAV obssrvs bis
features occasionally writhed into an image Of
living scorn-as for instance, in the late case of
MT. Al'eh oi'ler attack upon him. No one who
saw Mr.. Calhoun on that occasion will SOM fo,-
get the deep ye. unconscious contemnt thu, no,v
and then distorted his face. Few men have such
an eJe-buried deep beneath their oyerhanping
brows, his dark grey eyes dart workable flashes
around, and are almost gifted with the power of
speech. His hair is ola dark grey, brushed erect
from his forehead. His entire appearance n,o.
claims him what no is, and he would be block-
head who should mistake Mr. Calhoun for man
of common mind.
His manner OF speech is terse and sententiopa
no never Stops 70 peat about the bush. but leaps
ln'o 'ne heart OF the question at once, and laws
the whole subject open in trice. He nsv., -
comes excited although his eye sometimes oos,
mad, he uses almost no action, makes no narson,I
attacks, and rather hints at sarcasm than uses II
tie condenses while he illustrates, and in this lea
his forte. A two hours speech from Calhoun
would spin out three days if diluted by some o.hsr
Senator.
Mr.. Calhoun is rather careless than otherwise
in his personal appearance; his cloak and hat
would not bring much at auction for their intrinsic
value, and the fact Of his adhering such superan-
nuated garments, proves that he has warm hear,
that cannot brook to forsake old friends In con-
vorsation mr. calhoun has few equals he is in
this respect like the late Judge Story,-b. mo
nopolzes all the talk, and says all Ina, can bs
said upon any subject, without waiting or giving
chance for contradiction, and (if you were proud
Of your conversational powsrs) leaving yon lost
in despair and admiration. A young statesman
hss no more right to cultivate tho acquaintance of
Mr.. Calhoun, than young poet to coquot with