The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-02-08
SINGULAR DREAM OF MR..
CALHOUN.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. IL, so

4 o''' - ~ 0o"' ~ wv
Mr.. Editor: The other morning
at the breakfast table, our friend, the
Hon. John G.. Calhoun, seemed very
much troubled and out of Spirits
You know he is altogether venera.
bic man. with a hard stern, Scotch.
Irish face, softencd in its expression
around the mouth by sort of sad
smile, which wins the hearts of all
who converse with him. His hair is
snow.whilc. He is tall, thin, and an.
guIar. He reminds you very much
of Old Hickory. That he is honest.
no one doubts, he has sacrificed to his
Fatalism the brightest hopes of polti
cal advancement-has offered up on
the shrine Of that iron Necessity which
he worships, all that can excite ambi.
lion-even the Presidency Of the
United States.
Blu! to my story. The other morn.
ing. at 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 nervous and
hurried manner. He did this so often
that it excited attention. At length
one OF the persons composing the
breakfast partv-his name think is
Toombs, and he is Member Of Con-
grcss from Georgia--took upon him.
self to ask the occasion of Mr.. Cal.
houn's disquetude.
"Does your hand pain you?" he
asked.
TO this Calhoun replied in rather a
furried manner-"Pahaw tits noth'
ing! Only dream which | had last
night, and which makes me see per.
pe:ually large black soot-likc an
ink blotch-upon the back of my right
hand. An optical delusion. suppose"
OF course. these words excited the
curiosity of the company. but no one
ventured to beg the details o. this sin.
eular dream. until Toombs asked
quletly--"What was your dream Iike'
I'm not very superstitious about
dreams; but sometimes they have a
good deal of truth in them"
But this was such peculiarly alb.
surd dream" said Mr.. Calhoun, again
brushing the back of his right hand
"howevcr. if it does not too much
in,rude upon the time of our friends,
will relate it."
OF course, the company were pro.
fuse in their expressions OF anxiety to
know all about the dream. Ia his
singularly sweet voice, Mr.. Calhoun
related it:
"At late hour last night. as was
sitting in my room. engaged in writ.
ing, was as:onishcd by the entrance
Of a vsitcr who entered, and withou,
a word. took seat opposite me, al
my table. This surprised me, as
had given particular orders to the
servant, that | should on no accountbe
disturbed. The manner in which the
intruder entered, so perfectly self pos
sessed, taking his scat opposite me
without a word, as though my room
and all within it, belonged to him.
excited in me. as much surprise as
Indignation. As raised my head to
look into his features, over the top OF
my shaded lamp, discovered that he
was wrapped in thick cloak, which
eflectuaIly concealed his face and
features from my view. And as
raised my head he spoke
what arc you writing. Senator
| from South Carolina ? he said.
| did not think of his impcrlinence
at first, but answered him involun
tariIy--
Il am writing a plan for the Disso.
luton of the American Union, (you
know gentlemen, that | am expected
to produce plan of Dissolution in the
event of certain contingencies y
To this the intruder replied. in the
coolest manner possible:
Senator from South Carolina will
you allow me to look at your hand,
your right hand.'
He rose, the cloak fell. and ! beheld
his face. Gentlemen. the sight of that
face struck me like n thunder clap. 1t
was the face of dead man. whom ex.
traordinary events have called back
to life. The features were those of
George Washington. yes. gentlemen,
the intruder was none other than
George Washington. He was dress.
ed in the Revolutionary costume, such
as you see preserved in the Patent
Office"
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused, ap>
parently much agitated. His ag,a-
ton, | need not tell you, was shared
by the company. Toombs at length
broke the embarrassing pause-."WeIl.
well, what was the issue of this
scenew Mr.. Calhoun resumed:
This in ruder have said. rose
and asked to look at my right hand.
As though had not the power to