The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-02
Death or mr.. calhoun.


tBURKE
Before these lines can be committed to the press the
Telegraph will have dispersed far and wide throughout
republic the news Of the death OF the honorable John
Caldwell Calhoun, of South Carolina, which took place.
this city early the morning Of Sunday the 31st of
March The pecarous state Of his health had been for
some time previous the subject Of daily notice and con-
slant solctude in every part Of the Union and fell
citizens are everywhere receiving with less surprise
regret the dngs Of his decease He died in his sixty
ninth year. calmly and composedy without pain Of body
or of mind His strength had been exhausted by AMI
|infammatory disease OF the lungs, accompanied BY
symptoms which indicated organic affection Of the
heart and paroxysm Of that affection. too powerful to-
be resisted by the remaining forces of life, probably
the immediate cause of his DEATH
To attempt portray the most interesting events
in the public life Of Mr.. Calhoun, within the limits to
which this notice be restricted. would be vain. as
it would require review Of nearly the whole history of
our republic for the last forty years. with almost every
portion OF which his is intimately connected; and
if we look back beyond that period find him in the
humber walks Of private life scarcely less worthy Of
admiration We see him as youth, in remote noun
tain district OF his native South Carolina, without pecu
nary resources or access TO the Of education I'M
in body readily contributing his labors in the field TO the
support Of his widowed mother, until he had been
assured that he might venture to devote few years
to study, without depriving her OF the comforts re-
ouired for her advanced age. We thus see him in
his eighteenth year quitting the plough Tor the
school, and at twenty-five, as STUDENT entering the
venerable college Of Yale. and at both places prac.
Using the utmost determination and sef-denal, in order
10 lessen the weight of dependence his family and to
enable him to justify their expectations OF the many
men since distinguished respectable, who pursued their
studies with him New Haven, not has hestated to
admit his -eminence that time in all that could give
the promise OF the man. We him. after graduating
at YALE commencing the study Of the law, and spending
eighteen months at Lch6eld, Connecticut where he
CURED great distinction at the celebrated law school
that time by Judge Reeves and Mr. Gould He nishedhs
study OF the law at the Offices Of Chancellor De Saussue,
OF Charleston, and of Mr. Bowie, Of Abbeville He
tinued at the bar but a short time.
His first appearance upon public theatre was al public
meeting in his district in 1907 which called to express
the public Indignation concerning the attack of the British
frigste Leopard the Chesapeake. Young he was.
he 20 distinguished himself by the resolutions which he
prepared and the speech that he delivered that his
was presented candidate for the State legislature
the next election He served two sessions in that egs-
latue and. in the fall OF 1910, he was elected to Con-
gress amid the excitement which produced by our
foreign relations, and especially by the aggessons Of
Great Britain South Carolina contributed her full quota
Of talents to the public councils during the twelfth Con-
gress known as the session. for he associated
with Cheves and Lowndes.
or the members OF the Congress in which he first took
his seat in lsil not failed 10 perceive, many
weeks had elapsed that high and noble spirit had APP
peared among them The senior editor OF this paper
ventures reproduce with feelings Of satisfaction, which
every honest mind will appreciate the expressions OF adj
mration excited by Mr. Cahoun's earliest effort in that
body in reply 10 Mr. John Randolph, on the question
of the aggressons OF Great Britain on our rights We
find the extract in the biographies Of Mr. Calhoun, and
copied from the columns OF the Richmond Enquirer
and well does the editor Of the Enquirer who had taken
such interest in bringing the war against Great
Britain. recollect with what delight he hailed this first
effort Of the youthful member and with what grateful
feelings he poured out the following tribute to his char.
acter;
Mr. Calhoun clear In his ssonine, marching up di.
ecy the object Of his attack, and telling down the
OF his opponent with the club Of Hercules eloquent
his ropes and figures but like Fox In the moral elevation
of his sentiments free from personality, yet full of those
tnuches OF Indignation, wncn sevecst cut 70
the man Of feeling. His speech, like fine drawing
sbounds those lights and shades which off each other
the of his country IL robed In light while her oppo
nents wrapped In darkness Il contracted wish
that Mr. Calhoun virgnian hough after the quots
she has furnished Of opposition talents, such wish
might be forgiven We beg leave participate, NJ
Americans and friends Of country. In the honors
ouh Carolina He reminds Of the old sages Of the old
ongress. but with all the graces Of youth We hall THU
young Caroinian Of the mastersprn who stamp
their names upon the age In which they live
How clearly we foresaw the brilliant destiny Of Mr.
calhoun let the subsequent history Of his lfe let the
leep sympathy which is marked in this city, and h
now filling the country. fully attest From that peot
to the day Of his decease Mr. Calhoun has always occu
pied position before the public. becoming daily NOR
con spicuous, and subjecting him, Of course. dali,
to rigid scrutiny As member Of the Hous
OF Representatives. Secretary Of War, as Vie
President, senator Of his State, as Secretary o
State, and again a second time as senator Of Souil
Carons--in all those eminent and trying situations
he has ever held his place among the foremost
though opposed in succession by each and sometimes b,
all the other leaders Of his day. commanding the respec
alike Of friends and adversaries, and forcing from al
spontaneously or unwillingly the acknowledgment O
his sincerity and patriotism. no less than OF the vas
resources Of his mind and the power Of his reasoning
and expression.
We have differed with Mr. Calhoun at several periods