The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-08

We scfsFred some tune ago to very elegant
and profound discourse on the life and character
Of Mr. CALuoUH, delivered by Governor HAM
NoaD, Of South Carolina by request of the au-
thorities OF Charleston. We intended making
copious extracts from it, but were prevented by
some visiter, who carried it away from our Of
fice, and has not returned it.
We have now before us the address of Hon.
R. BAnswELL RHErr, to the Legislature Of the
State, at the funeral solemnites of that body, in
honor Of Mr.. CALHoUns memory.
Governor HAMMOND has given us very deep
and acute metaphysical analysis Of Mr. CAL
HoUx's mind. executed in fine taste, and with
splendid diction. Mr. RHErr's is most eab-
orate and animating, historical and political, as
well ~ philosophical disquisition. Governor
HAMmosD's discourse fixes the mind in deep and
earnest, but calm attention on his subject Mr..
RHErr arouses it to sympathy and to action
There is one of the elements Of Mr.. CAL
Houn's character, and a very important one too,
which, We think, both Mr.. RHErr and Governor
HAMMOND underrate-and that is his faculty Of
conversation. Neither of them estimate it very
highly. But we think they take too restricted
aview Of that sort Of talent The merit of con-
vsrsation consists, essentially, in two things
amusement and instruction-and the latter is,
we think, the most important. And in that, we
never met Mr. CALHouN's superior, or his equal
His information was immense-his reflections
were co-extensive with it. He had not read so
much as MANY man, but he had talked, per-
haps, more than any other man, and with more
than any other man. We have known him to
talk twelve hours day to the thirty or forty
visters that called on him, and this was not very
unusual. And the range of topics was limita-
BILE, sometimes touching the prophecies of
Daniel, sometimes theory of winds, sometimes
systems of agriculture. But he delighted in
political, social, and metaphysical subjects. He
was net witty nor humorous. He was too in
tense earnest and logical, to be so. And wit
and humor, after all, are nothing but reason
distorted, quaint and grotesque.
Mr.. RHErr has given US incidentally some
fine sketches of several distinguished natives Of
South Carolina.-Among them the late General
HAYnE, and Mr.. LEcARE-men who have left a
high admiration of their genius all over the
country.
Hugh s. Legare was man Of too much heart
for politics. His French temperament, quick to
resent, vet easy to forgive warm, guileles, and
con6ding, rendered him too unhappy and too
disappointed, when tossed on the boisterous and
adverse waves OF public life. He had none of
that cold patience, or buoyant hope, which Of
ten makes disaster the occasion of after rejoic-
ing; or defeat the means of awakening new and
higher energies. Yet he had genius capable
of mastering every scienca-ar industry which
travelled with untiring steps over the whole do
main of literature and spirit of blazing Inten-
sity, which drew to itself and consumed all that
was great or truthful or beautiful In the thoughts
of other men. How often did his oratory re-
sound in this hall; filling. US with admiration
at its pure and deep cadences! Vigorous thought,
clothed, in the drapery Of the warmest and most
nervous language, and borne on the wings of a
lofty and impetuous spirit, characterized his
striking powers in debate. Alhs the eagle fell
a. he reached the mountain top! He died on
the very summit, where his glorious scholarship,
mighty attainments and brilliant genius, would
have made him name amongst the great states
men of the world Although he deemed him
self sighted and wrcnged by his native State,
he turned to her, to the last, with full and
yearning heart
"Hsu quanto minus est cum reliqus versare,
Quam tut memmnsse."
Gen. Hayne was the idol of the people, and
repaid their devotion by fidelity as true as
theirs. He loved South Carolina AZ the knight
of old his bride. He loved popularity, not for
"a Lz~.1 ,,,l hut ho
cause the heart of his humanity delighted to
beat in unison with the warm pulsations ofothers.
He reioiced in the public service, as the boy who
laughs and bounds and drives the ball before
him. His manners were the perfection of frank
and winning courtesy. But the spirit of the
soldier radiated from every look and tone. In
obeying the voice of the State, he brought to
her service determination to protect her from
aggression or pyasion, which no terrors could
daunt He stoeA, the proud delight and conf
dence Of all. His inaugural address, on assum-
ing the Office of governor, penetrated the souls
of all who heard him, and drew tears of kindred
sympathy from some of the sternest of u.s. lie
was mn orator in the full meaning of oratory,
the art of persuasion. Free and fast, the words
aoated on his silvery voice, whilst ingenious
and manly candour gave potency to the argu-
ments of his fine intellect. In the meridian OF
his powers be left public life; and borne along
by the prosperity aud the ambitious Imagination
OF the country, entered, with his uaua' intrspidi-
ty into the great scheme of uniting, by iron
bonds, the South and West in commercial inter-
course. His name would be written on the Al
leganics, and future generations would bless the
wisdom and energy by which this great work
was accomplished. But convnlsion and ruin
swept over tho commercial world. The project
failed. His heart sunk beneath the calamity -
Eager gain carped At his doings; jealous mis-.
fortune turned upon him her cold reproachful
eye lie died, the nobiest victim of those dis
Astrous times.
Mr.. RzErr has also interpreted in his ad
dress. numerous extracts Of the most character
istic passages in the speeches Of Mr. CALHOUN
Among them we find tho following:
81 see my way in the Constitution. canno
in any compromise A compromise is but Al
act Of Congress. It may be overruled at any
time. II gives ms no security. But the Consti
tuition il sable II is rock. On it we car