The southern press., 1851-07-08
Mr. Calheun,
We find the following in the Louisville Jour
nal of the ID inst.

A short time before MIR. CalhOuns death
some Of his friends, wishing him to take triI
to Europe to reinstate his health, and knowinl
that he was somewhat involved in debt, re
solved to raise money enough TO disembarras
him and to enable him to make the desires
journey. Nearly thirty thousand dollars wer
raised, but Mr.. Calhoun unexpectedly died be
fore the sum contemplated was secured
These facts are from De Bows Review
They are highly creditabie to Mr. Calhoun
friends. When man of eminent usefulness Il
his State or country sacrifices his individual in
terests to the general welfare, it is very righ
and proper that his friends should raise none,
enough that provision may be made for all h
somforts. By his devotion to the requirement.
of his State, Mr. Calhoun's own concerns be-
came involved, and his friends performed 4
noble duty to one whom they considered great
bensiactor, when they sought by subscriptions
to release him from the perplexities of a state
Of Indebtedness, and to enable him to travel to
recruit health ard strength wasted in the public
service.
Mi. Clay's friends several years ago set a
good example, when they paid off debts that
were troubling that eminent patriot. All con-
CURED in applauding the act As honorable to all
concerned. Mr. Webster's friends last year re-
solved to relieve him and enable him to accept the
post of Secretary Of State by making him
present in money That act however has been
handled by some of the mcauest men in the
world to Mr. Webster's dscredit. Some, like
the oalumnious Allen, have tried to make an act
of liberaty appear to be bribe, but have only
succeeded in making themselves contemplate.
We cannot believe that any man whose heart is |
not blacker than his boots would assal distin-
puished public servant because his admirers see
"a sh1 10 opxoll Aopot;np fnr1
his use and benefit Neither Mr. Clay, nor Mr.. |
Webster, nor Mr.. Calhoun, expected any such do
nations. They labored for what they regarded
the public good, without stopping to count the
personal sacrifices it cost them.
For our parts, we consider benevolence in all
its manifestations 30 great virtue that We de-
sire to see It much more frequently exhibited
than is usual Whenever we see an act full of
nobleness, we cannot repress the feeling of ad-
miration for 1t. Such acts should be far more
common than they are. But, if they are to be
assaied and the recipients of the benefactions of
warm hearted friends are to be condemned, then
what is eminently virtuous and praiseworthy will
be construed to be criminal. A man who will
attack q donation, whether he considers it we'll
directed or otherwise, must be among the mean
est of his species. We regard Mr.. Allen of Mas
who let himself down 10 the vile
business of assaulting Mr.. Webster's private and
public character, because Mr.. Wehster's friends
had, without his knowledge, raised sum of
money to be presented to him, rs having been
guilty of an act almost as dishonorable as was
the treason Of Benedict Arnold. We look upon
him as more debased than he would be had he
been veteran sheep -stealer. The vice of
stealing sheep may be atoned for, but We really
think that the wretch who would deliberately
undertake to befoul a generous deed is altogether
outside of the pale of salvation. We cannot
conceive how such heart can be reformed. 1t
is 30 black with low malice and unchartable-
ness that no change can porsbly be effected in
its hue
We have not seen the statement in DE Bono's
Rerie,c to which the Journal REFERS, The facts
are, that number of the friends of Mr.. CAL
eighty thousand dollars for present to him, for
the purpose of enabling him to visit Europe,
and particularly the countries of the Mediter-
ranean, for his health. And Mr.. CALHOUN re-
fused to accept the gift After his death, it ap-
peared that some thirty thousand dollars of the
money had already been subscribed and paid
and it was offered successfully to the four sons
of Mr.. CALHOUN for the benefit of his estate, and
was by each of them refused. 1t is mistake
that either Mr.. CALHOUN or his estate was en-
barrassed His property, on his death, was worth
about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
and his debt due TO some bank in South Caro-
lima, was only about twenty five thousand. So
that there wrs no embarrassment. But ms the
money, to the amount Of thirty thousand dollars
had been paid up by his friends, they, on the re
fusal of his sons to acceptit, for warded a checl
for the amount to his widow--stating that il
could not, without great Inconvenience, be re-
stored to the contributors, some of whom per-
haps were unknown. So she accepted it. Bu,
her sons had before taken care that she should
be entirely independent: for they released to
her, in fee simple, the mansion pre- periy, the
Fort Hill estate, which was amply sufficient to
support her in the luxures of life.
1t is due to Mr.. CALHOUN, on this occasion, to
say, that We know his private opinions were re-
pugnant to the acceptance Of any favors what
ever, that might impose obligations, express or
implied affecting his public duties. We have
never had any bitterness Of sentiment towards
AR. WEBSTER or Mr.. CLAY, but We must be per-
mitted to express our emphatic disapprobation
of the acceptance by them of large pecuniary
gifts from associations of their friends. We do
not believe that either of them was actuated by
corrupt motives in accepting these donations; !;
but we contend that the example is extremely
dangerous.
We know that public man of great talents,
can receive no pay from government for the per-
formance Of his official duties, that will CON-
pensate him, financially, for the sncri6ces he
must make Bat the motives of public service
ought to be those Of duty and Of fame and moi
Of money. And he who has good title to q
character devoted to duty and to fame, can af
ford To look down on the rich and the luxurious
Ii e. i