Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-04-12

world; and his last hours were an exrm.
pli6cation of his life and character-truth
ana simplicity. For some years past Mr.
Calhoun has been suffering under pull
monary complaint, and under its effects
could not have rcckoned on any but a
short existence; such was his own con-
vlction. The immediate cause of his
death was an affection of the heart. A
few hours before he expired, he became
sensible of his situation, and when he
was unable to speak, his eye and look
evinced recognition and intelligence of
what was passing. One of the last di-
rections Re gave, was to dutiful son,
who had been attending him, to put
away some manuscripts which had been
written short time before under his di-
rection Mr.. Calhoun was the least des-
pondent man [ ever knew. He had in
an eminent degree the self-sustainine
power of intellect The last place, and
his last remarks, are exemplifcations of
what have just said. Mental detctmi-
nations sustained him, while all others
were in despair. We saw him a few DAYS
ago in seat near me, and which he had
so long occupied; we saw the struggle
OF great mind, exerting itself to sustain
and overcome the weakness and infrmi-
ties of feeble body 1t was the exhi-
bltion of wounded eagle, with his eyes
turned towards the heavens in which he
had scared, but into which his wings
could never carry him again. .Ar. Pres
idcnt, Mr.. Calhoun has lived in an event
full period of our Republic, and has act
ed distinguished part. / surely do not
venture too much when I say that his
reputation forms striking part of glo-
rious history. Since 1911 until this time,
he has been responsibly connected with
the Federal Government as Representa-.
tive, Senator, Cabinet Minister and Vice
President. He has been identified with
the greatest events in the political history
of our country, and / hope l may be
permitted to say that he has been equal
to all the duties which were devulved
upon him. In the many critical juno
lures in which ne was placed, having to
act responsible part, he always acted
decided part. 1t would not become me,
as his friend, to venture on the Judgment
which awaits his memory; that will be
performed by posterity. Before the i'm
partial tribunal of History, it may be that
he will have had the fate, and will have
given to him the the Judgment, that has
been awarded TO Chatham. l would do
the memory of my friend injustice, were
were not to speak of his life in the spr-
it of history. The dignity OF his whole
character would rcbuke any tone of re-
mark which truth and Judgment would
not sanction.
Mr. Calhoun was a native of South
Carolina, and was born in Abbeville Dis.
trict, on the 18th March, 1882. He was
of Irish family. His father, Patrick
Calhoun, was born in Ireland, and at an
early age came to Pennsylvania, and
thence to the Western part of Virginia,
and after Braddock's defeat moved to
South Carolina. In 1856 he and his
family gave name to what is known as
the Calhoun Settlement, in Abbevile
District. The mother of my colleage was
a Miss Caldwell, born in Charlotte county,
Virginia. The character of his parents
had no doubt a sensible influence on the
destiny of their distinguished son. His
father had energy and enterprise, COM
bined with perseverance and great men
tai determination. His mother belonged
to family cf Revolutionary heroes; two
of her brothers were distinguished in the
war; their names and achievements are
not left to tradition, but constitute part
Of the history of the times. Mr.. Cal
houn was born in the Revolution, and hi
his childhood felt the influence of its ex
citing traditions. He derived from the
paterrai stock, intellect and self-reiance;
and fros 4 the Caldwells, enthusiasm and
impulse. The traditions of tie Revolu-
ton had a sensible influence on his tenn
per and character. Mr.. Calhoun IN his
childhood, had but limited advantages of
what's termed literary tuition. His pa
rents lived in a newly settled country,
and among sparse population. This
population had little intercourse with the
lower country of Carolina, and was sus-
tanned by emigrants from Virginia and
Pennsylvania. There was of course but
limited means of instruction for children,
and they imbibed most of their lessons