The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-04-18

ScVeu a lew udys PRIOR 70 TIE 0tdtn Oh the great
Southemer, but, owing to the crowded state of our
columns, its publication has been delayed Believ-
ing that it will be read with great interest," now
publish it without further comment.I
WASHINGTON, March Fl, 1880.
There is an atmosphere Of gloom, which seems to
surround the capitol, and it pervades the minds of
the Southern members. 1t arises from many causes,
not the least of which is the very critical situation
Of the great master spirit of the South
This is one of the loveliest spring mornings
have ever witnessed in Washington. Everything
smiling appearance. The grounds about
the capitol are fairly arrayed in deep green. The
birds ws arb sd and the the on place that is mot
other building, east of the capitol, where all is
quiet and solemn 1t is the old capitol, used after
the burning of Washington, and prior to the cree
the large room where the Senate used to sit, is
lying the emaciated form Of Calhoun, whose spirit
still animates it. The green curtains are down,
and il is almost dark. The sun shines brightly,
pleasure to the sick inmate. There is ring at the
bell, card is sent in" II. Clay" The son, or
the secretary OF the sick Senator goes the door.
There is the venerable Clay, alone, anxiety is
stamped on his countenance, and he slowly takes
his departure, he hears the oft-repeated words
visters, j" no BETTER" or about the same" Mr..
Cass.'' How is Mr. Calhoun, to-dayF' "He
is no better The nervous fever still hangs on,
and he is very low and weak" And Mr. Cass
leaves, without further remark. None are admitted
to the sick room, those who intimately
connected, or whom it is necessary for him to see
for a moment.
We return to the capital-all is calm. The
Southern men seem though struck with a
paralysis. They wait the result of the issue going
on between death and their leader There is MOTH
ing doing in either house, except passing away the
time. There is stand still on the great subject of
agitation. Members reading the papers from
their States and immediate constituencies, and
trying to catch the true state of public opinion there.
Meanwhile, such papers as the National Inteili-
gencer and the Republic forging public opinion,
and copying articles from Southern papers, making
them read with an entirely different meaning from
what they would read, were justice and truth at
tended to by these Washington editors. The
Union, too, is on its party tack, and endeavorng to
whip in, to scod, and TO influence the Treasury
Southern politicians in both houses What a spec
tacle These papers have their all at stake, and
short-sighted as they are, they are doing more to
bring about a dissolution of the Union, than all the
other presses of either section They all opposed
to the Nashville Convention. They dread II, or
any other meeting or arrangement where the South
may be harmonized, party ties broken, and justice
insisted upon. They endeavor to stigmatize the
movement one OF disunion and treason, and to
make it odious. They will fail in this. The con-
yenon will meet and the result of it will scatter
the opponents and misrepresenters of the South
like chafi before the wind Most of the North
em, and am sorry to say, some OF the Southern
presses, which are controlled by corrupt and
connect this thoroughly aroused and fixed de-
termination of the South-to have justice and their
equal rights-with the ambition of Mr.. Calhoun
These lies will be silenced, and then, the
pure heightened, lofty and far-seeing Southern pa
triot will have full and ample justice done TO his
memory, by a strict adherence to the counsels
which he will leave behind him, and which can no
longer be disguised or misunderstood among the
masses of the Southern people, by base and lying
nsinuations of foul presses as to the motives OF
Calhoun. The fire is burning in the South, and
IL "a
out at moment. You, sir, have been abused, and
ndculed for spreading abroad the true state Of
parties and the feelings of men at the South. You
have seen there was danger, and you have warned
avoid il. The course of your widely extended |
journal has partially aroused the North, and by so
doing, has in some degree averted the threatened
danger But that danger, though partially con- |
ceaied, still remains California is yet the test |
question. Ii California is alone admitted the dan |
ger begins There can be and will be no COM |
promise, that will admit her alone, and satisfy the |
South Calhoun, living or dead, will mot affect the
result The hopes entertained by many, that with |
the prospect Of Mr. Cahoun's death at this crisis.
harmony and peace can be restored between the
They do injustice to the great masses OF the |
Southern people, and are deceivlng themselves.
Calhoun living does and ever will speak the true
and honest sentiments of the South. The South
know and feel that they trust him. He has
never deceived them. Let death place his stamp
upon Calhoun, and the people Of the South win
spoken for them and sternly rebuke, by their acts,
his abuse. There will be man who can take |
his place in their affections or confidence, or who
exercises universal an influence through all the
States of the Southern section. There is far more
danger that a separation OF the Union will follow
the death Of Mr. Calhoun, than were he to live.
The 18th inst. was the anniversary OF the birth
day of Mr.. Calhoun. He was born the 18th Of
March, 1852, and has nearly reached three score
and ten, the time usually allotted 10 man. His |
public is ended, for even should he live, he
will not remain here. His last speech has been
made, and if the Southern people act up to It, the
South and the Union will be saved. That last |
speech is a mirror, in which the South can see at
at glance the past, the present, and the future.
The blind at the South need only 90 wrong Mr.. |
Calhouns last effort is always said to be his best.
This is truly far superior in ability, and will rank
in history with Patrick Henry's, in the first Con
gress, and Lamartne's last, in the Chamber of De
puties, for its effect. IL marks turning point in
our destiny, and will form corner stone for new |
temple to political liberty. God grant that the |
whole South may respond TO II with such an |
amen as shall brace up all their brave and confound
ali her wayering sons The purpon Of the amend |
ment IL proposes is 20 equal power, well
as rights, for the South in the Federal government.
II will not get Northern vote, perhaps; but what
then 7 Every Southern man who Is not a traitor |
to the best interests OF the South, will accept IL.
There some Southern men who are here with |
their discordant croaking, but they belong to the
Southern buzzard tnbe, who, with Tom Ritchie and |
10. Gales, are yet banquetting on the carron car
cases Of whg and demonstrations, that some |
times preach war, only to enable themselves to sell
the South TO the enemy-fools, who are only ambi-
tous Of becoming great compromisers. Such men |
belong to a class who will never be found IN the |
ranks when the charge is ordered You may look |
constantly for white feathers, and when you see |
them, il will be among those who crow the loudest
But rest assured the people Of the Southern States
will keep their bayonets at their backs.
The more the North denounce Mr.. Calhouns |
speech and his proposition, and every fresh insult |
il offers the South, gives JOY to those Southern
spirits, who have long since lost faith in any mode
Of redress for Southern wrongs, but dissolution Of |
the Union and all their efforts TO kick the bigotcd |
oyalsts Of the South into IL, hastens dsunion. l |
have a most supreme contempt for all those South
en men in Congress- who shut their eyes, or shrink
or falter OF all the world, such men are, in re-
aliiy, the most dangerous to the Union. They be-
get danger which better men must meet, and such |
Souther traitors should be punished first. Who |
does not perceive, that IL such men as Clay and |
Bell could succeed in their measures, and calm the
South for the present. by cutting up her territories,
and give her equality in one half OF one branch |
of the government. that they would be ensnaring |