The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-09-17
From the wythcvillc Republican.
HON. JOHN C. CALHOUN.

4
This distinguished son of South Carolina has
! been in our midst
| Pursuant to expectation announced in our last |
accompanied by his wife and daughter, he arrived
In our town in Saturdays stage at about 9 p. NJ |
Shortly after his arrival. he was waited upon
by COMMITTEES of gentlemen, who handed him
the following letter of welcome and invitation.
WYTHEvILLE. Va. Aug. 90, 1916.
| To the Hon. John c. Calhoun:
4 DEAR SIR The undersigned citizens of
| Wvthe, (wlhout distinction of party,) under.
| standing that you are expected in Wythevile
this evening. passenger in the stage on yonr
1 route hOmeward. for themselves and their fellow
citizens. tender to you welcome among us.
| Well aware that you have been absenied from
your home many months, they can fully appre.
ciate any desire that may be with You. to hasten
on Your journey. Nevertheless, they hope that
you will draw yet further on your time, and tarry
amongst us few days.
They assure you it would he gratifying TO the
citizens OF Wytheville and Wyihe county, tn
extend to one, so long known in the Councils of
! the Nation. his lady, and such other members of
his family as may be with him. the hand of hos
ptaty. They, therefore, again solicit, that you
with them do remain in Wytheville and its vi
cinity for one stage at the least
With great respect, your friends.
This letter of welcome and invitation was
signed by Harold Smyth. Esq, and sixty eight
other gentlemen, to which Mr. Calhoun sent the
following reply:]
WYTHEvILLE. 29th August. 1876
GENTLEMEN 81 am under great obligation Ia
you for the cordial welcome with which YOU
have received me and my family, without dis
JUNCTION OF party, and the pressing invitation |
with which i, is accompanied to tarry with You |
few days.
As strong as my desire is to return home with |
the least possible delay, after long an absence
, 1t has been overcome by yonr Kindness and the !
wish long entertained to visit the place. where
my father and his relatives once resided in this
county. i shall, accordingly, in acceptance of
/ your invitation remain with you until Tuesday
morning next.
| With great respect, | am. &C.. &C.,
j. C. CALHOUN.
L. j. Morrison, 5. McGavock, Harold Smyth,
4. }. Boyd, Esqs, and others.
Great anxiety was manifested by all to see and
welcome this distinguished Senator and citizen
many coveted to shake the hand of one SO cele-
brated for talent and vrtuous life
On Sunday, Mr.. Calhoun attended divine SER
vice at The Presbyterian Church-Rev Mr. Hck-
man presched. and the Rev. Casper Yost closed
with exhoriation and prayer.
On Monday, accompanied by few friends he
visited The Cove and Reed Creek country, once
! the home OF his father and other relatives"
The first point visited was the residence of Mr..
Charles l.. Crockett on Cove creek. where he
was most Hospitality entertained by Mr. Crotchett
and lady with whom he breakfasted. Here, 90
years past by. was the residence Of Patrick Cal
houn the father Of the Hon. John c. Calhoun
; rom this point he was driven hv the Indians Gas
were most of the settlers in Southwestern Viz
glnia,) shortly after Braddock's defeat
Mr.. Calhoun's ride in the country, was con-
: tinued to the mouth of Cove creek. The residence
OF Mr.. John Stuart Crockett, here he was on land
once owned and occupied by uncle, afterwards
slain in battle by the Indians. From this, Reed
creek was crossed and the beautiful farm of Mr.
Gordon G. Kent visited, this too was Calhoun
location. Time waits for none, Mr. Calhoun's
time was limited, and from this point he returned
to our village.
1t being well known that Mr.. Calhoun is
aVerse to the Parade of public dinners, our citi-
zens gave notice to Col. Thomas j. Boyd. our
most capital landlord of the WythevIe Hotel,
that many of them would dine with Mr. Cal.
houn at his Hotel on Monday at o'clock The
great desire was TO honor our guest in the least
pretending manner. In addition all hoped that
something might occur, whereby the Statesman
and Senator, might be brought to speak upon the
Oregon Question and the Mexican War
The paIlor of Col. Boyd's was crowded with
yisiters. from | o'clock until the dining hour.
Ladies and gentlemen greeted Mr.. Calhoun, his
lady and his daughter. All were delighted with
the easy manners the unprelending department,
and the enlightening conversation of the great
Suutherner.
Three O'Clock arrived, and dinner was announ-
ced our guests and the ladies were introduced
TO the dining room and seated, the doors were
then thrown open, and as many gentlemen as
could he, were seated at the table. Much praise
might here be bestowed upon the viands and pre-
parations Of our indefatigable landlord but the
best praise was the attention Of the company to
these nGtiue products.
Many gentlemen could not be accommodated
with places at the first table, it was so arranged
that after dining gentlemen should rise and give
place TO others until all had parlaken Thus
large crowd were, as it might be said dned into
the room
Dinner over Col. Floyd rose, and after lew
pertinent remarks offered the following sentiment.
JOHN G. CALHoUN-The distinguished Sena
tor from South Carolina; the patriot Statesman,
The able advocate Of free and Unrestricted com
rnerce among the nations Of the earth, whose pure
and unsullIed name will ever be prominent in the
history Of his country, as the friend Of peace and
civilization throughout the world
Mr.. Calhoun said, he did not rise to make a
sPeech-a hoarseness nnder which he was labor
log from cold, as we'll as other considerations
forbid 1t, and he must therefore be excused.
lie merely rose, to express his high and IN !
! legged qualification at the hearty welcome with
| which he had been received. and the kind term.
expressed by the sentiment just offered-and. to
propose one in return. He then offered
| Virginia: Next to my native State, the high
est in my esteem and admiration.
The company then dispersed.
On Tuesday morning MIR Calhopn and Csmilv
left in private conveyance as far as the Seven
Mile Ford, in Smyfh, from thence he will pass
in the stage to Abingdon, thence by the way Of
Boontyille in Tennessee, and the Warm Springs
in North Carolina, on his way home.
The following toast was intended to be offered |