Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-03
MR. CALHOUN'S EARLY LIFE.

We take the following particulars concerning
Mr. Calhoun's parentage and early history, from
a sketch of his life, published in lS43:
"Mr. Calhoun is a native of South Carolina, and
born in Abbevlle District on the 18th Of March, 1882
HE was, therefore, 6S years old at his DEATH 3lst
March, 1851 His family is Irish on both sides His
father Patrick Calhoun, was born in Donegal, Ireland
but the family emigrated when Patrick was child first
TO Pennsylvania where they remained some years, and
then the Western part OF Virginia from whence they
were driven by the Indians after Braddocks defeat
They removed finally South Carolina in 1855, when
Patrick settled on the place where the subject OF TINS
sketch born, and which still continues In the family
of his youngest brother. His mother, whose maiden
name was Caldwell, born in Charlotte county, Viz
GINA. They had five children, daughter and four
sons, of whom John was the youngest but one. He
was called after his maternal uncle, Major John Cald
well whom the Tories had murdered in cold blood, and
in his own yard after destroying his house by fire..
Mr.. Calhoun's early education was defective,
but he was a student for two years at Yale Col
lege, and graduated there with great distinction,
President Dwight predicting that he would one
day be President of the United States. He then
studied law, and commenced practice at Abbeville,
but having exhibited his extraordinary talents in
public speeches concerning the then inciplent
troubles with England, he was elected to the State
Legislature, in which he served for two sessions.
LII Tile ldll OF lOlO, le was ufSt eleCleu W COL-
gress, being then in his 29th year, and soon rose
to eminence in the public councils.
In glancing over the sketch to which we
have referred we have been forcibly impressed
with the following illusions to the opinions of Pa
trick Calhoun, the father, who is represented to
have been a man of remarkably strong sense, and
sturdy independence of will.
"He the father opposed the Federal Constitution,
because said tpertted other people than those
of Sooh Carolina to tao the people of South Carolina,
and thus allo,Ded taxation solthout representation
qvhich fundamental principle of the REGULATION
arg struggle. Wehave heard his son say that among
his earliest recoectons of conversation when
he nine years of age in which his father maintain
ed that be best which allowed the largest
of individual liberty compatible with social
der and tranquility, and insisted that the improvements
in political science would he found to consist in throw
ing off many of the restraints then imposed by law and
deemed necessary to organized society. 1t may well
be supposed that his John attentive and ca
ger auditor and such lessons these doubtless
have served to encourage that spirit of inquiry and that
intrepid zeal for truth for which he has since been
much distinguished"
We cannot but think with the biographer that
the political career of Mr.. Calhoun has been in
remarkable conformity with the impressions made
upon his mind, in early life, by these precepts of
his father.