The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-02
MIR. Calhoun.


MIR. Calhoun.
The proceedings in the two houses of
Congress yesterday were suspended by
the announcement of the decease Of Mr..
CALHOUN. For an account of what took
place in the Senate we refer to the report
in another column. We should have been
grati6ed to be able to present from our
own observation sketch of the interest
ing scene in that august assembly, which
must have attended the sad and solemn
event which has deprived them Of one Of
their Oldest and most distinguished mem
bers. But from an omission which we
can only attribute to accident, we have
been excluded. from privilege ex-
| tended, within and without the rules
of the Senate, to very many persons
whose claim to it is certainly no bet
| ter than our own; and we are there
fore prevented from recording as we
should have desired the remarks, with the
attendant circumstances, of the eminent
colleagues of the great deceased. From the
favor Of our friends, or the courtesy of our
opponents, we might perhaps have looked
for an earlier recognition of privilege
which would sometimes enable us to do
reader justice to political antagonist,
and to seem less tardy in bestowing a
we'll deserved encomium on the efforts OF
political associate.
In the House, on the reading of the
journal, Mr.. VINToN suggested that re-
cess should be taken for the hour which
would elapse in the Senatorial proceedings
on the announcement of Mr.. CALHOUN s
death. After these proceedings had ter
minated, and had been communicated to
the House, Mr.. HOLMES, of South Caro-
lima, presented series of appropriate re-
solutions, which will be found in another
COLUMN, prefacing them with speech
which was listened to with the deepest in
terest by crowded assembly. Among
the auditors we observed Mr.. WEBSTER
and Mr.. CLAY, who paid the orator the
compliment of the most respectful and
earnest attention.
Mr.. HOLMES commenced with the birth
and childhood of Mr.. CALHOUN, and fol-
lowed him from the cradle to the death
bed, through succession of scenes and
events which were depicted with the
skill of master. There we're some state
ments, and some deductions, in the re-
marks of Mr. HOLMES, which we should
have been disposed to modify. We are
very far from agreeing with him as to
many Of the facts or the differences of his
discourse. We can look with a certain
degree of respect and reverence upon Mr..
CALHOUN, without subscribing to all that
the personal devotion of his immediate
clansmen may challenge in his behalf.
And we can say, sincerely, that we SYM
pathize with the feelings and sentiments
of Mr.. HOLMES; and that, however we
may differ from him, we are ready to
bear willing testimony to the ability and the
eloquence with which he presented the
claims of Mr.. CALHOUN TO the gratitude
and admiration of his countrymen.
When Mr.. HOLMES had closed, and his
resolutions had been read from the desk,
they were seconded by Mr.. WINTHROP,
of Massachusetts, His brief remarks
were as kind, and just, and generous as
those which we have heard upon the same
floor, offered to the memory Of distin-
guished citizen of his own State by citi.
zen of the South. And while we listened
to his glowing and genial eulogy upon the
great statesman whose death we all SC
deeply lament together, we could not but
reflect with grief and pain upon the petty,
narrow, and miserable sectionalities which
are sometimes suffered to disturb the rela.
tons of the great North and South of thi:
glorious republic. Why, in Heaven.
name, should this accursed strife be con.
tinued Good men, wise men, and patri
otto men of all quarters sympathize in the
great objects and purposes and destinies o.
their common country. Why should they
not unite and scatter to the four winds
as they can and ought, the reckless and
unprincipled sgitators who seek persona
aggrandizement through the medium o.
local excitements :