The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-04-30
From the Charleston Mercury.
ORSEOUIES OF MIR. CALHOUN.

Grander displays have been often made. but the
featu,e of t.is ceremonial was, that It absorbed
the whole thought, and soul and presence OF
tbe city. All shared in it, and Charleston was
rs one house of mourning. The outward us.
pact of the city OIL Thursday was very striking
Through the whole line designated for the pro-
cession, distance gilmore than two miles, the
public and private buildings were draped with
mourning, and at many points presented SIN,
gularly Impressive s,.e.ticle On this line OF
Streets also was gathered, early on Thursday,
nearly the entire population of Charleston,--at
many places in immense throngs, but everywhere
grave. orde.lv, and almost noiseless. Other
parts of the city were deserted, and one could
walk the whole length of the street, meeting
scarcely an individual the houses and gates all
closed, and Stiffness regning absolute. The
intensity and universally Of the feeling which
drowned all other interests. which removed all
traces ofthe com non avocations OF lille, which
permitted only itself to have place and express
sion, was that which gave to the ceremonial so
strange solemn;ty at the tiac, and will in'-
press itsp indel by on the memory of those who
participated in it.
There was another feature of this memorable
occasion, the Importance of which to the grace
and dignity, and consequently to the impress
iveness, of the ceremonial, cannot be over-esti'
mated. Very much was attempted. The pro-
grammc of the movements and ceremonies was
complicated, and made up of many parts. Yet
there was no confusion, no omission, no mis-
take, to mar the decency and completeness OF
any part All was done as had been arranged,
and a plan that seemed complicated and dill
cult in the reading, unfolhcd itself so harmoni-
ously as to appear perfectly simple III the per-
formance. This is the highest praise of those
public flnctionaries and good citizens who gave
their thoughts and labor to the ordering and
directing of the ceremonies.
The arrival of the steamer Nina, bearing the
precious remains Of our beloved Statesman,
was beautiful and touching commencement OF
the solemnitics. The Nina had been specially
and most appropriately fitted mp for the mission
and brought from Wilmington the remains, with
the several Committees that accompanied them
On her arrival at the bar, the Metamora and
the Pilot went out to meet her. The mail
steamer Gov. Dudley, the Revenue Cutter also
,oined her; and the whole, with slow and
measured movement, their colors at half-mast,
and the Cutter firing minute guns, passed up
nearly the entire length Of the city, to the land.
inr place at Smiths wharf The Committee OF
the Senate, having in charge the remains of Mr..
Calhoun, were Mcssrs. Mason of Va. Berrcn
of GA. Davis of Miss. Dickinson of \. Y. Clarke
of r. |. and Dodge OF Iowa. With them, by iii.
vitation, were Mcssrs. Fenable of n. &. and
Holmes of S. G.
At the landing place the Special Guard Of
Honor took charge of the remains and bearing
them up from the boat placed them in the fu.
neral car provided for the ceremonial de-
tachmcnt of the military, consisting of the Ma
rion Artillery, the German Fusers and the
Washington Light Infantry, all under command
of Can't. Manigault, formed the escort OF the
funeral train to the Citadel Square The Eve.
ming News furnishes the following description
of the hearse, or magnificent funeral car, which
was drawn by eight horses clothed in mourning
and each held by guide:
"The hearse at the base was sixteen feet long
ten feet wide, and six feet high, with an eleva-
ted platform, twelve feet long, seven feet wide.
and raised two feet above the base; eight pillars
springing from this platform, and surmounted by
cornice twelve inches deep The ridge OF
roof was elevated two feet, finishing of with
plumes four feet matchmaking the whole height
from the ground to tho top of the plumcs twen-
ty-three feet.
"The base was covered within six inches of
the ground with heavy folds of black cloth,
with deep fringe at the bottom, and black and
white twisted cord on rolls Of black Grape at
the top, with festoons of black and white Grape
hanging from roscttcs Of Grape. The elevated
platform was spangled in il curve on the base
with deep tes;oous of black Grape, secured by
cords with heavy black tassels. The eight pill
lars were covered with black Grape, made loose,
and tied up at intervals with rolls Of white
Grape. The above Platform inside the pillars
was elevated by three steps, the whole covered
in black, with twisted black and white cord at
the intersection Of the steps, and Oh the top of
these steps was placed the coffin, which was
partially covered with pail of black velvet,
with borders of deep black silk fringe, and Il
Palmetto worked In silver in each corner and
centre
"The ground work of the cornicc was black,
with silver bands or mouldings around the top,
and ornamcnted at the bottom of the triezc with
silver stars, placed at intervals. The arms of
the State, cmblazoncd in silver borders, orna-
mented the centre of the two sides; these shields
were draped with black Grape.
"Ihc corners were SlrnOuntcd by eight