Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-05-03
From the Charleston Mercury, April u.
OI,searies ,,f Mr.. Calhoun.

er be forgotten by those who witnessed it. Grander
displays have been often made, but the feature OF
this ceremonial was that ii absorbed the whole
thought, soul, and presence Of the city All shared
in it, and Charleston was as one house Of mourning
The outward aspect of the city on Thursday was
very striking. Through the whole line designated
for the procession distance Of more than two miles
the public and private buildings were draped with
mourning, and at many points presented singular
ly impressive spectacle On this line of streets also
was gathered, early on Thursday, nearly the entire
population of Charleston, many places in immense
throngs, but everywhere grave orderly, and almost
! noiseless Other parts of the city were deserted
and one could walk the whole length of street,
meeting scarcely individual the houses and gates
all closed and stiffness reigning absolute The in
cnsity and universally of the feeling which drown
ed all other interests which removed all traces of
the avocations of life which permitted only
itself to have place and expression, that which
gave to the ceremonial so strange solemnity at the
time and will impress it so indelibly the memory
of those who participated in it.
There was another feature of this memorable oc-
casion, the importance of which to the grace and
dignity, and consequently to the impressiveness of
! the ceremonial, cannot be over-estimated Very
much was attempted. The programme of the move
ments and ceremonies complicated and made up
of many parts. Yet there confusion no O.
mission, mistake to mar the decency and complete
ness of any part. All was done as had been arran-
ged and plan that was complicated and difficult
the reading unfolded itself SO tremendously as to
appear perfectly simple in the performance. This
the highest praise of those public functionaries
and good citizens who gave their thoughts and la
Dor to the ordering and directing of the ceremonies
The arrival of the steamer Nina, bearing the pre-
cous remains of our beloved Statesman, was beau
tiful and touching commencement of the solemnies
The Nina had been specially and most appropriately
6 fitted up for this mission, and brought from Will
mington 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, and the Revenue
Cutter also joined her and the whole with slow and
measured movement, their colors at half-nast, and
and the Cutter firing minute guns, passed up nearly
the entire length of the city to the landing place at
: smiths wharf The Committee of the Senate, hay
ing in charge the remains of Mr.. Calhoun, were
Messrs. Mason of Va, Berren of Ca Davis of Miss,
Dickinson of N. Y, Clarke OF R. l.. and Dodge of
; Iowa With them, by invitation were Messrs. Ven
S able of N. c., and Holmes of S. c.
q 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 funeral car pro-
vided for the ceremonial. A detachment of the
l. military consisting of the Marion Artillary, and
e German Fusiliers and the Washington Light Infan-
try, all under command of Capt. Manigault formed
the escort of the funeral train to the Citadel Square
The Evening News furnishes the 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 elevated
twelve feoC VIDE ana falSGu TWO I66C ABOVE
the base eight pillars sprnging from this platform
~ and surmounted by cornice twelve inches deep
The ridge of the roof elevated two feet finishing
of off with plumes four feet nigh-making the whole
. height from the ground to the top Of the pume
rs twenty-three feet.
:, 80 "The base was covered within six inches of thu
r. ground with heavy folds of black CLOTH with deel
~ fringe at the bottom and black and white twisted
~ cord rolls of black Grape at the top with festoon
- of black and white Grape hanging from rosettes O
20 Grape. The elevated platform was spangled in
curve the base with deep festoons of black Grape
secured by cords with heavy black 3 tassels' Tn
loose, and tied up at intervals with rolls of whit
Grape. The above platform inside the pillars wa
elevated by three steps, the whole covered in black
rs with twisted black and white cord at the ntersec
ton of the steps, and the top of these steps wa
placed the coffin, which was partially covered wit
+ pail of black velvet with borders of deep blac
u silk fringe, and Palmetto worked in silver in eac
y corner and centre
tie "The ground work of the cornice was black, wit
a. silver bands mouldngs around the top and orna
S mented at the bottom of the eze with silver stars
A. placed at intervals The of the State, emilia
u zoned in silver, on shields with black ground ant
Ut silver borders ornamented the centre of the tw
IS sides these shields draped with black Grape.
as 'The corners were surmounted by eight blacl
y plumes, over each pillar, supported by silve
v balls the bases of the plumes heavy with fold
e. of black Grape The angles of the roof were
W by silver rods terminating at the top with sve
VI ball. which secured the central plume whicl
L. was composed of black ostrich plumes, and heav,
&c pendants of black Grape"
oy Between u and l o'clock the cortege reached tn
Citadel Square. Here the various parts of the pro
III cession had assembled and appropriately ar
ranged, occupying, with intervals the entire square
g. while immense throng of spectators filled all tn
surrounding streets and every point from which
view of the ceremonies could be obtained.
m On the arrival of the bier at the Citadel Yard tn
u body formerly delivered over to the Governor
IL Il. the State by the Hon. John Y. Mason Chairman
u the Senate Committee, and by the Governor to tn
~ Mayor of Charleston. In the course of his reply
= Mr.. Mason receiving the surrender of the honor
IL ed charge, His Excelledcy alluded to the atentio
and devotion paid by the Hon. Mr.. Venable to MI
NJ Calhoun during his last illness, and thanked him fo
Id them in the name of the State In reply Mr.. Vens
IT. BILE gave brief account of the last moments of til
Mt honored dead.
mt The procession began to move from the Green
nd O'Clock, the military in advance, then the hears
n followed by long train of carriages conveying tn
nd family of the deceased the Senate Committee, th
1st Governor and suite, the Committee of twenty-five
nd and the several Committees from Wilmington an
in the interior of this State. Next followed the proce
sion on foot-the Fire Companies, the Free Mason
Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance, and other Soci
1T ties, arranged in the programme, long cavalcad
eo of citizens forming the The procession fir
TO moved in King Street, and down that Street to
zee sell thence to Meeting Street. and down Meeting
OF South Bay, thence to East Bay and up East Bay
ur Broad Street. and thence to the City Hail. the end
ay the movement. Its entire length nearly mi
no and half. The military formed the South Sit
OF of Broad Street, the earse rested before the entran
ous of the City Hail. and between them passed succe
led svely the several divisions of the procession. TIL
the scene of the movement was nerhaps the most bea
for tful and impressive of the whole The vast
he the nerect order and harmony that reigned throus