Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-03-07
A Singular Story.

Lippard's paper, the "Quaker City" com
municates the following curious account o
recent remarkable dream of MIR. Calhoun s
We have not much faith in supernatural
appearances, or in Washington correspon
dents, but ifanything could lead the ghost
of the Gather of his Country" to revisi
the realms beneath the moon, it would b.
the thought that his beloved country was il
danger of Disunion, which is but another
name for Civil War. We give the story fol
what it is worth
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. IL, 1885,
Mr.. Editor The other morning, at the
breakfast table, our friend, the Hon. John
c. Calhoun, seemed very much troubled anc
out of spirits. You know that he is alto
gether venerable man, with hard. stern
Scotch-Irish face, softene,l = its expression
around the mouth by sort of sad smile
which wins the hearts of all those who con-
verse with him. His hair is snow-white. He
is tall, thin, and angular. lie reminds you
very much Of Old Hickory. That he is
honest, no one doubts; he has sacrificed to
his Fatalism the brightest hopes of political
advancement-has offered upon the shrine
of that iron Necessity which he worships
all that can excite ambition-even to the
Presidency Of the United States.
But tony story. The other morning al
the breakfast table, where |, an unobserved
spectator, happened to be present, Calhoun
was observed to gaze frequently at his right
hand, and brush it with his left, in ner-
vous and hurried manner He did this SO
often that it excited attention. At length
one of the persons comprising the breakfast
party-his name | think is 'roombs, and he
is member of Congress from Georgia-took
upon himself TO ask the occasion OF MI. Cal
houn's disquietude
docs your hand pain Won 2" he asked
To this Calhoun replied in rather a fur
ried manner" Pshaw 1t is nothing -
Only dream which had last night, and
which makes me see perpetually large
black spot-like all ink blotch-upon the
back of my hand. An optical delusion
suppose"
Ofcourse, these words excited the curlos-
ity of the company, but no one yentured To
beg the details Of this singular dream, until
Toombs asked quietly
What was your dream like I'm not
very superstItious about dreams but some
times they have a good deal of truth in
them
g But this was such peculiar absurd
dream" said MIR. Calhoun, again brushing
the back of his light hand" however, if 1t
does not too much IDtrude upon the time OF
our friends, will relate it."
Ofcourse, the company were profuse in
their expressions of anxiety to know all a
bout the dream. In his sngularly sweet
voice, Mr. Calhoun related il =
At a late hour last night, as | was sit
ting in my room engaged IN writing, was
astonlshed by the entrance ola visitor, who,
without word, took seat opposite me, al
my table. This surprised me, as had Civ
en- particular orders to the servant, that
should on no account be disturbed. The
manner in which the intruder entered, 50
perfectly seli-posessed, taking his seat oppo-
site me, without word, as though my room,
and all within 1t, belonged to him, excited
IN me as much surprise as Indignation. As
! raised my head 10 look into his features,
over the top of my shaded lamp, discover
ed that he was wrapped in a thin cloak,
which efiectually concealed bis face and
features from my view. And as raised my
head he spoke
"' What are you writing, Senator from
South Carolina p he said.
81 did not think of his impertinence at
first, but answered him in,oluntsrily-
" l am writing plan for the Dissolution
of the American Union, you know, gentle
men, that am expected to produce plan
of Dissolution In the event of certain con-
tingenciesO
ITO this the intruder replied, in the cool
est manner possible
"'Senator from South Carolina, will
you allow me to look at your right hand (?
" He rose, the cloak fell, and | beheld
his face. Gentlemen, the sight of that face
struck me like thunder-clap. 1t was the
face of a dead man, whom extraordinary
events have called back to life. The fea-
lures we're those of George Washington,
yes, gentlemen the intruder was none other
than GEORGE WASHINGTON. Hewas dress
ed in the Revolutionary costume, such as
you see preserved in the Patent Office"
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused, apparently
much agitated. His agitation, need not
eSii Iou, was Gu tHC
Toombs at length broke the embarrassing
pause.
"Well, we'll, what was the issue of this
scene 2" Mr.. Calhoun resumed -
"This intruder, have said, rose and ask
ed TO look at my right hand. As though l
had not the power TO refuse, extended it,
The truth is, l felt strange chill peryade
me at his touch; he grasped it, and held
it near the light, thus affording me full time
to examine every feature oil his face. 1t was
the face of Washington Gentlemen, l
shuddered as beheld the horribly dead-aHue
look of that visage. After holding my hand
for a moment, He looked at Inc steadily, and
SAID in a quiet way
"' And with this right hand Senator from
South Carolina, you wonld sign your name
to paper, declaring the Union Dissolvedr
answered in the affirmative. Yes
said |, if a certain contingency arises,
will sign my name to the declaration of Dis /
But at that moment, black /
blotch appeared on the back of my hand, an
inky blotch, which seem to see even now.
What is thatr cried ], alarmed, know
not why, at the blotch upon my hand.
That said He, dropping my hand,
that is the mark by which Benedict Ar