The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-03
SPEECH
MIR. HoLMEs. OF SOUTH CAROLINA.


c. Calhoun.
Mr. HOLMES of South Carolina, rose and adj
dressed the House follows:
IL becomes MIR. Speaker, my solemn duty to an
nounce To this House the decease Of the non jobs
&. CALHouN a Senator of the State OF South Caro-
lima He expired at his lodgings IN this city yes
terday morning, at o'clock He lives no longer
among the living he sleeps the sleep OF long night
which knows no dawnng The sun which rose 50
brightly on this morning brought 10 him no healing
in its beams.
We the representatives of our State, come 10 sor-
row over the Dead but the virtue, and the life, and
the services of the deceased, were not confined by
metes and bounds; but, standing on the broad
panse Of this Confederacy, he gave his genius 10
the States, and his heart To his entire country.
Carolina will not, therefore, be suffered 10 mourn
her honored in secret cells and solitary shades,
but her sister States will gather around her in this
palace OF the nation and, bending over that bier,
weep as she weeps, and mourn with the deep, al
fiictive mourning OF her heart Yes, sir; her hon
ored sonhonored in the associations of his birth,
which occurred when the echoes and the shouts OF
freedom had not yet died along his native hills;
born OF parents who had partaken OF the tolls, been
affected by the struggles, and fought in the bat
ties for liberty--seeIned if he were baptized in
the very fount of freedom Reared amid the hardy
scenery Of nature, and amid the stern, pous, and
reserved population, unseduced yet by the temp
tations, and unnerved by the luxuries of life,
he gathered from surrounding objects, and from
the people of his association, that peculiar hue and
cooring which SO transcendently marked his life.
Unfettcred by the restraints of the schoolhouse he
wandered in those regions which surrounded his
dwelling, unmolested, and INDUCED those solitary
thoughts, in rambling through her mighty forests,
which gave that peculiar cast of thinking and re-
Election 10 his mighty soul. He among peo-
pie who knew but few books, and over hose minds
learning had not yet thrown its effulgence. But
they had the Bible, and with his pious parents he
gathered rich lore which surpasses that Of Greek
or Roman story. At an age when youths gen
orally prepared TO scan the classics he was yet I'M
initiated in their rudiments Under the tuition Of
la hnsstnr Nal.l de olot,,,
friend, he quickly acquired what that gentleman
was able to impart, and even then began 10 develop
those mighty powers OF clear perception, rapid an
aiysls, quick comprehension, vast generalization,
Tor which he was subsequently so eminently distin
guished. He remained but very short time at his
school, and returned again to his rustic employ
ments But the spirit had been awakened-thc in
spiration had come like to spirit from on high and
he felt that within him were found treasures that
learning was essential to unfold. He gathered up
his patrimony, he fastened to the college of Yale
and there, under the tuition Of that accomplished
scholar and profound theologian, Rev. DIR. Dwight,
he became, In short period, the first among
the foremost, INDUCING not in the enjoyments,
IN the luxuries, and the designations of col
lege life, but with toll severe, with energy un-
bending, with devotion to his studies, he became
Ito use the language of a contemporary ssa man
among boys" In a conflict intellectual with his
great master, the keen eye Of DR.. Dwight discerned
the great qualifications which marked the man
and prophesied the honors that have fallen in his
pathway. He was solitary, and associated not
much with his class He INDUCED his propensity
10 solitude; he walked among the elms that sur
round that ancient college; and in the cells in the
secret shades OF that institution, he felt that dawn
ing on his mind which was TO preccde the brighter
and the greater day; and raising himself from the
materialty around him, he scared on the wings Of
contemplation to heights sublime, and welding his
flight along the zodiac, raised his head among the
stars. The honors of the college became his need
and departing thence with the blessings and the
benedetons of his venerable instructor he repaired
Tor short period to the school of Litchfcld, and
there inbibed those principles Of the common law
based upon the rights Of man, and throwing n cor
don around the, British and the American citizen
He left, and, upon his return home was greeted by
the glowing presence of his friends who had heard
from distance the glad tidngs of his studies and
ms success He took at once his position anon
ms nelghoors He was sent by them TO the coun-
ellis OF the State; and there. amid the glittering
array OF lofty intellects and ennobed characters
he became first among the first.
But that sphere too limited for the ex pansbil
ity Of mind which seemed 10 know no limit but the
good OF all mankind. At the age of twenty light
he was transferred 10 this hall. He came not sir
TO bower OF case; be came not in the moment Of a
sunshine of tranquility he came when the country
wasdisurbed by dissension from within and pressed
from without by the great powers of Europe then
1 n ior The mastery Of the world and unit,
ins anu nafnonlzlng In this, and this alone--the
OBSTRUCTION OF American institutions, the annihila-
ton Of American trade. The whole country (boy
as then WAS well remember) seemed as II COW
cred with funereal gloom. The spirits of the
best men seemed crushed amid that pressure and
The eye OF hope scarce found consolation in any
prospect OF the future. But be had not been long
IN these halls before ne took the gauge and inca,
surement Of the depth Of these calamities and the
compass OF its breadth. He applied himself most
vigorously 10 the application Of the remedies for 30
Vitala disease he found thata mistaken policy had
aaaed 70 he ealamties on the ocean, that still fur
ther calamity Of lettering, with a restrictive sys-
tefn' the very motions and energies Of the people
Tie looked down and saw that there was mighty
pressure, great weight upon the Of this
"a A. 81 Farsa L~N
he resolved at once, with that resolution which
characterized him-with that energy which inn
peied him direct 10 his purpose-to advise what
"a conquered remedy TOO great almost for the
anNlee u any other-"at once, weak were in
numbers, unprepared we were in arms dimin-
ished az were our resources, ~ bid defiance 10
Britain, aud assume the attitude Of a conflicting
nation for il rights"
Fortunately ior the country that advice was
and Then the great spirit Of America released from
her sh@ckles, famed and her 10 arouse from
her PROSTATE condition, and, standing erect shake
ler spear Ina bold defiance Ia that war his
contributed a. much am informed, az those OF any
man ~ is hBal success. Alta period when our troops
ga the frontier, under the comma nd ofthe Governor
OF Ne~ York we're about 10 retire from the line and
mai Governor had written 10 Mr.. Madison that he
had exhausted his own credit and the credit Of All
Those whose resources he could command and his
means we're exhausted; and unless in a short period
money Vas cent on 20 inyigorate the troops the war
nu~t end, and our country bow down 10 a victori-
Gus iOc-sir, upon that occasion Mr. Madison be-
taDe ~ disbearteDcd, that he assembled bis coun.
selors, and asked or advice and aid but advice and
sid they had not 20 give. At length Mr. Dallas, the
secretary VI The Treasury, said 90 Mr. Madison
fou are sick retire 20 your chamber; leave the
rosi 70 Os ] viii send 20 the Capitol for the youth
iol Hercules. Who hitherto has borne the war upon
his Shoulder, and be viii counsel us a remedy Mr..
CALhOyS came. lie advised and appealed 20 the
states boz the loan Of their credit u seemed as II
neS light bad burst upon the cabinet. His advice
va taken. The States generously responded n
The appeal These we're times Of fearful import
We Scre engaged ia war with a nation whose re.
sgurces were ample, while were crippled. Our
ships var, lev ia number, we're compelled 10 q
iorth on The brad bosom Of the Deep 20 encounter
ihose hcets which had sigbaliScd themselves at the
tattlcs II Ahouker and Trafalgar, and annihilatec
The combined nAvies Of France and Spain. But
u'ere va an inward strengtb-tbere was an indy
ING oonhdsncs-in the hearts Of a free people anc
u'sy vent iorth 10 battle and 10 conquest.
sif, ihs clsng q arms and the shouts Of victory
bad scarcely DIED along the dark waters Of Oh,
Nhgsra-the war upon the plains Of Orleans hae
Just gOne oui with a bake of gory-wben all eye
~ere instincitvely turned 70 this youthful patriot
Who had rescvcd has country in The dark hour O
her peril Mr.. Monroe Transferred him 20 his cabi