The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-10-16
'mong the people, and you will know this when

HIS OMH sMtuuAus Wts,13 %Gu6 si1bOluuldEy ati1D-
utes of friendship and admiration, he cour-
teously declined, wheneyerrhe could with
propriety, public testimonial Of homage which
were offered to him. His wife shared with
him this unostentatious spirit, preferring the
voice Of friendship to the acclamations Of the |
multitude. ] have heard some of his fami-I
ly say that they coveted nothing, not even
the Presidency, for him. They, with many
Iof us who knew him, felt that even the first
gift of a great nation could not add one gem
to his croWn-that crown OF genius and vir-
tue, whose glorious beauty no mortal power
could illumine with new efulgence.
His sincerity was perfect. What he
thought he said. He was no diplomatist.
Some of his theories might seem paradox
cal, but a paradox is not necessarily a con-
tradiction. He has been accused Of incon-
sistency. Those who thus accuse him do
him grievous wrong.
Nothing is more inconsistent than to per-
sist in uniform belief when changing cir
cumstances demand It's modification How
absurd to preserve law which in the pro-
gress of society has become null and obso-
lete! for instance, granting to q criminal
"the benefit of clergy" Nothing" says a
distinguished English writer, ''is so. rcvolu-
tionary as to attempt to keep all things fixed,
when, by the very laws of nature, all things
are perpetually changing. Nothing is more
arrogant than for fallible being to refuse
to open his mind to conviction" When Mr..
Calhoun altered his opinion, consistency it
self required the change
q However some of his political sentiments
might have differed from those of many Of
! the great and good of the age, he was sin
r cere in them, and believed what he asserted
: with all the earnestness of an enthusiastic
: nature, with the faith of close and indie
pendent thinker, and with all the confidence
of one who draws his conclusions from gen.
eral principles and not from individual facts
: Time will test the truth of his convictions
0 1t has been said that he was sectional in hi.
: feelings, but surely his heart was large
i enough to embrace the whole country. 1
It has often been said that he wished to seve
It the Union, but he loved the Union, nor coulC
y he brook the thought of disunion if by an,
Il means unity could be preserved Becaus
d he foresaw and frankly said that certain et
fects must result from certain causes, doe
n this prove that he desired these effects Il
sc his very last speech he speaks of disunion a
N a ''great disaster" But he was not ma
e to cry "peace, peace, when there was n
s peace" Although like Cassandra he Nigh
Of not be believed, he would raise his warnin
C voice he was not man to hide himse
r when a hydra had sprung up which threaten
A ed to devastate our fair and fertile land frol
Il its northern borders to Its southern shore
as And while he called on the South for III
nd ion, did he not warn the conservative part
nc at the North that this monster was not to
err tempered with? And did he not call {
IL them to unite, and arise in their strength al
er destroy it?
o And how: could he, with his wise philos
an ply, his knowledge of human nature, al
a universal benevolence, view with indiffe
re- encc that unrehecting and wild Cor should
i'm not say sarage) philanthropy, which, in q
ry der to sustain abstract principles, loses sig
i'm of the happiness and welfare of every ella
If. of human beings? How often did he e
on treat that discussion on those subjects, b
or yond the right of legislation, should be pr
nd vented, that angry words and ungenerous l
la elimination should cease! Did he not fo1
lat see that such discussions would serve to d
ny yelop every clement of evil in all sections
the country country with such capaciti
rer for good? Did he unwiscly fear that t
nix ancient fable of Cadmus would be realized
the that dragon-teetb, rccklessly scattered, won
in spring up armed? And did he not knc
ole that the Southern heart could not remain
Vie sensible to reproach and aggression?
IAN 'Non obtusa adeo gestainus pectora Poeni:
ca Nee tam aversus equos Tyria sol jungit, alb urb
ro- And, ali, how earnestly did he plead
ind peace, and truth, and justice! As far al
ca understood him, he wished to benefit by
ay. policy in affairs both the South and I
North. remember, in speaking to me
of free trade, he expressed the opinion that I
one course he recommended would benefit |
md North as well as the South This he
+ors not merely assert, but sustained with
nod qucnt argument. In his conversation tn
Mn was a remarkable blending Of fact and tn
of- ry, Of a knowledge of the past and an
no sight into the future
l,od Mr.. Calhoun was philanthropist in
II. most liberal sense of the word. He desi
hat for man the utmost happiness, the great
1vos good, and the highest elevation. If he
ferea from lovers of the race in other p;
arly of the world, with regard to the mean.
!. of obtaining these results, it was not beca
! = .he failed to study the subject; not beca
,bev he lacked opportunities of observation
e. of obtaining facts nor because he indul
- lin selfish prejudice From every eluartel
I. I'll CLEANED accessible information, and !
'try conscientious earnestness he brought
,,;31 wonderful powers of generalization to
ono on the subject Of human happiness and
~ = vancement his pure unselfsh heart aiC
his powerful mind.
irist, The good Of the least Of Gods creaF
his was not beneath his regard but he did
ing believe that the least was equal to the q
sreatl est he did not think the happiness or
oubt walton Of any class could be secured B
who sentiment 50 unphilosophical Tie ate
i Of to reduce all to a level, to put al mind
uniform, to give oil the same employni
rded he viewed rs chimerieal lie said tina
mis- every civilized society there must be .
Tould ion Of labor and BE believed the slave
rect the South more happy more free from
gsion lfering and crime, than any correspon
e or class III any country BE had no aristoc
lie fnl pride, but he desired for himself and Of
Sem the highest possible elevation He res
repelEe the artisan, the mechanic, and agrieu
Tie isl, and considered eaeIof these oecupa
celer- as adording cope for native talent. 81
Ioegh lieved the African to Be mos happy
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