The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-26

yHE RESIDENCE OF THE HON. JOHN c.. CALHOUN,


struck with both him and his home that he Is at loss
which to admire most far seeing sage, or the mag
nifcent scenery by which he is surrounded
Few Northerners have had the pleasure OF seeing
Mr. Calhoun at home. On his plantation, in the
bosom Of his family and surrounded by familiar
to him for many he is the same and yet he Ia
in respects different person from the Senator at
the capital lie is at his ease, sociable and
familiar and far happier
His residence is about four miles from Pendleton
old town in Pickens district, about $50 miles from
Charleston.
reached Pendleton about midday. and no sooner
had landed from the mail stage, than made nq uiry
of the landlord Of the hotel in regard the distance to
Fort HILL He replied, "Yonder Is Mr.. Calhoun him
self" My eyes followed the direction to which his
finger pointed and enough saw seated under the
shade Of large tree that stately head whose features
If once seen are scarcely if forgotten and had
MIR. Calhoun before in the Senate, and
him at He | approached to where he
seated surrounded by group of gentlemen, his
neghbors, and when delivered him my letter of in
PRODUCTION, he asked me to seat. When he had read
the letter. he introduced to his neghbors and then
kindly invited to return with him to his residence
and spend two three days 1t is needless to say,
that at accepted his invitation, SO cordially
given and in the course Of an hour seated by his
side in his carriage, and the way to Fort Hill.
Soon after leaving Pendeton the carriage entered q
forest, in which continued until reached the
gate, which opened into the grounds in til
vicinity Of the mansion Tins Is concealed that you
hardly notice it, until you within very short dis
lance Of the white pillars OF the north and fronts
Of his house.
The door yard is filed with trees and shrubbery-
oaks that have stood there at least hundred
locusts elms willows, wild orange and fig trees inn
merable, the latter loaded with fruit; attached is
very large garden filled with fruits, flowers plants
and vegetables OF every ption aud distant
are large apple aud peach orchards fhe mansion it.
self is plain uDpretv ndiDg looking building relieved
by wide piazzas, and each side of columns As
said before the oak trees standing cse house
are very old large and lofty and their immense tops
are OF great service not only in presenting impene
trable shade but in protecting it in thunder storm
bad occasion to witness tor during my short stay
Fort Hill visited by VI the most severe thunder
storms had Witnessed aud should do the thun-
der injustice not stare that it of the re
guar Calhoun order, and exactly what should have
expected in this region 1t tremendous, and the
lightning was very brilliant Flash and crash followed
each other II being difficult to distingu whch
hrst, for some fifteen minutes when the performance
to my extreme satisfaction came to a ell )se with re-
mark from MIR. Calhoun who was seated in the 70 m
that thunder was unusually loud in neighb
hood. made some remark in reply, though
used to it i'll the North bat it such tn ing
We have no such soaring thunder in the North and
have been nervous and down on such thunder and
Lightning since.
We reached Fort Hill about two O'Clock, P NJ. 1t
was nearly the dinner hour was introduced to his
family which at that time. consisted of MIS- Calhoun
his youngest daughter and the three youngest sons
MIR. Calhoun has seven childr.n-the eldest, Andrew
Is planter in Alabama; the next Patrick Is captain
IN the army and stationed near New Orleans; the ed
est daughter Is in Europe the wife of Charge ut
Belgium. Mis- Calhoun Is just such wife a a
like Nr Calhoun should have-sensibie domestic, and
industrious. She governs her household ia a style
that no Roman matron in the old times, ever sur
passed. Cornea, the daughter At home most afec-
tionate companion for tbs mother. OF the three
who were at home, must make some mention John
physician and Wa married shortly after left, to
the daughter Of near nrighbor. lie will lead
ing physica wherever his destiny leads him Co settle
James the next is calm quiet, thinking young man,
q ~ t.. a IA
ther Willie Is the youngest Of all Nlr Csln,u chill
dren about Is years Of age aud the pct of all The
two last are students in the South Carolina College
and at home during the vacation.
dressed for dinner, aud when sat down to the
table was soon at home aud felt much II |
had known every member OF the family for the last
twelve years.
Every tLi,g that 1, to be had in the South Is raised
or found on Mr. CalhouD's estate and his table.
lie very spare eater and hi Is well
known that need not aliuae TO It, During the dinner
Mr. Calhoun asked me- II there Was any thing very
at the North In the political world To which re-
Piled that Bontons speech was very much talked
was curious to hear what he would say to this, aud
asked him II he had read it
Some one has sent copy which have read.
lie has said many things Of mo which he well knew
were false do not yet kno~ whether shall notice It
or not Should dVso should avoid any like per-
sonahties MIR. Benton L. man with whom | care to
have hte intercourse la shape; aud though his
reer and character such they leave him very
much exposed to be completely torn TO pieces, should
only reply To such statements of his speech are IN
furious TO the South, connne self simply to re-
futing them without touching his own deformitiss"
Alter dinner went cut the north piazza; there
IL not another such view In the bo seen at
Fort Hill from the front There are n ra nQe OF
tains-both the Alley md Blu. ridxe-wbich
extend from west to where they are lost In the
distance which can be distinctly with their tops
and peaks coming up into the SKY forty sixty miles
braces mountains In the four states Of North Carolina
Georgia Tennessee aud South Carolina. The view from
bis residence as striking his views lie look
far ahead into tho distant iuture and events and re-
suits clear to has vison long before they can be
teen by others Who base not his advantages In point
OF view Thee lofty mountains and changing appear
snce with changing seasons and changing sphere
storm aud sunsnine-sre glorious eight. can only
give you faint idea and imperfect sketch of the
scenery-is wildnets aud softness-mountan and val
ley-iorest ana cultivated Geld which surround him
Mature Is here most Doubtful; aud cannot but be-
heve that the associations by which Mir. Calhoun IL
surrounded have had great bearing In making MIN
the illustrOus man me Is.
Directly south Of the mansion, distant, perhaps,
tNeuty steps. h his study. IL stands alone, plain
white building. with but one room piazza, aud four
pillars, and one door or entrance In IL s his library
not large, but choice, aud most of the books in
eoe way connected with the great study Of his life
the Union aud her Interests. Ie Is not reader His
book Is nature aud practical experience His theories
or doctrines a. the world calls them all based
these, and they fail hin always and he
always will be NJ long lives. Che key Of this build
ing he always keeps under his immediate control when
he h at home No one enters II but him, unless he Is
there.
The view 60 the southwark of Ls house 4. very beau
tifu extending hill aud dale the Seneca river
passes through his plantation. aud forms the
the produce Of his plantation - sent 20 Hamburg OPP
posite Augusts His house itself stands 600 feet
above the level Of the aud about 200 feet the
Seneca river. In sight OF the aud ofhce Is the
negro quarter. hill 100 feet above the valley aud
onceighth u n mile from the mansion The houses
are built II stone and joined together like barracks
with garden attached aud large open space In FIR,
There are, perhaps. seventy eighty negroes aud
about the place. The largest pant Of mis- negroes
Alausna. Whtre Mr. Calhoun Own- a large plantation
snd which b. under the 1T he andrew
tauded 20 a. his edest son. who hss the reputation
ct being enc IL the bs cotton planters In Alabama
Towards sunset Mr. Calhoun gave me- invitation
TO walk over his farm. Klady accepted After lcav
tng the mansion. We proceeded towards the valley at
abe touth ~ IL. We descended to the valley passing
by the negro quarter Here Nr alhoun stopped n
few mc ments making inquiries in regard TO who
were sick; among them seated under cherry tree,
was an aged negro inau ~hO he informed una.
the Oldest on the place and enjoyed particular
privieges lie was allowed 80 cultivate some four
i've acres Of land for cotton and vtbr things the pro.
cecds OF which became hts property. aud sometimes
produced 80 10 300 season ibs isa privilege how
ever that MI calhoun allows H.. slaves aud all have
patch containing more or less actes Of cotton Tnese
patches arc near the negro quarter for their
nituCe. The grUvs cultivate the cotton at their lei
cure Mr. Calhoun la. u ploughed for them by his