The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-03-02
a Singular story.

The Washington correspondent of Mr.
L ppard's paper the Quaker City," conf
muncaes the following serious account OF |
recent remarkable dream of Mr. Calhoun's.
We have not much faith in supernatural ap-I
pearances, but if anything could lead the
ghost of the 4" FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY TO |
revisit the realms beneath the moon, 1t would
be the thought that his beloved country was
in danger of DIsUMoN, which is but another
name for CIVIL WAR. We give the story Tor
what it is worth
The other morning, at the breakfast table.
where L anunobserved spectator. happened
to be present, Calhoun was observed 10 gaze
frequently at his right hand, and brush 1t
with his left. in nervous and hurried man
ner He did this so often that it excited at
tention. At length one Of the persons COM
posing the breakfast party-bis name | think
is Toombs. and he is member of Congress
from Georgia-took upon himself to ask the
occasion of Mr.. Calhoun's disquietude.
" Does your hand pam you2" he asked.
To this Calhoun replied in rather Hurried
manner" Pshaw! 1t is nothing Only a
dream which | had last night, and which
makes me see perpetually large black spot
like an ink blotch-upon the back OF my
right hand An optical deluslon,1 suppose"
Of course these words excited the curios-
beg the details of this singular dream, until
Toombs asked quietly go.
| What was your dream like? I'm not
very superstitious about dreams; but some
times they have good deal OF truth in
them" las.er
I" But this was peculiarly absurd dream"
said Mr.. Calhoun, again brushing the back
of his right hand however, if it does not
too much intrude upon the time of our friends,
| | will relate it."
OF course the company were profuse in
their expressions of anxiety to know all about
the dream. In his sngularly sweet voice,
Mr.. Calhoun related it: aaF '
SAT late hour last night, as was sitting
in my room, engaged in writing, | was as
tonished by the entrance of a visitor, who
! entered ard without word took a seat OPP
posite me. at my table. This surprised me;
as had given particular orders TO the SER
want, that should on no account be disturb
/ ed. The manner in which the intruder en-
tered, so perfectly self-possessed, taking his
seat opposite me, withouta word, as though
my room, ard 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, discover
ed that he was wrapped in thin cloak, which
effectually concealed his face and features
! from my view. Ash raised my Head he
spoke.
OK What are you writing, Senator from
South Carolina Z?
81 did not think Of his impertinence at first
but answered him invoIuntarily-
SO am writing Plan for the Dissolution
of the American Union. (you know, gentle
men, that am expected to produce Plan Of
Dissolution in the event of certain contln-
/ gcncics p
" To this the intruder replied in the coolest
} manner possible
''Senator from South Carolina, will you
4 allow me to look at your hand, your right
hand ?'' @
He rose. the cloak fell, and beheld bis
face. Gentlemen, the sight Of that face
strtlck me like a thunder clap. 1t was the
face Of dead man, whom extraordinary
events have called back to life. The fca-
lures were those of George Washington yes
! gentlemen. the intruder was none other than
i GEORGE WASHINGTON. He was dressed in
the Revolutionary costume. such as you see
preserved in the Patent OlIice'- .rts
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused, apparently
much aoItated. His agitation, | need not tell
you, was shared by the company. Toombs
at length broke the embarrassing pause
well we'll, what was .the issue of this
scene % MIR. Calhoun resumed.
| This intruder, as l have sad. rose ana
! asked to look at my right hand. As had
mot the power to refuse. l extended It. The
truth is, | fet strange chill pervade me at
his touch; he grasped it, and held it near the
| light, thus af9rding me full time to examine
every feature of his face. 1t was the face of
Washington Gentlemen, | shuddered as
behed the horribly dedd-dliue look Of that
visage After holding my hand for a mo-
ment, He looked at me steadily. and said in g
| quiet way:
"' And with this right hand, Senator from
Carolina, you would sign your name to pa
per, declaring the Union dissolved p
| answered in the affirmative. 'Yesr
said |. if certain contingency arises
will sign my name to the Declaration Of Dis
solution But at that moment a black
blotch, appeared on the back of my hand, an
| inky bTotch, which | seem to see even now.
1 What is that? cried |, alarmed ! know not
why at the blotch upon my hand.
50 That said He. dropping my hand, that
is the mark by which Benedict. Arnold is
known In the next world
He said no more, gentlemen, but drew
| from beneath his cloak an object which he
placed upon the table-placed 1t upon the We
ry paper on which | was writing. That OBJ
| iect gentlemen was a skeleton.
'' There" sud He. there are the bones
; of Isaac Hayne who was hung in Charles
! ton by the British. He gave his life, in order
to establish the Union. When you put your
name TO Declaration of Dissolution why
you may as we'll have the bones of Isaac
Hayne before you. He was d South Caro-
linian, and so are VoH. But there was no
/ Ia IL, l, ~