The republic., 1851-04-11
Fsen ~ Oksv'ssSes Is. co. M~cwH
Letaoe fbon Gen. Hamilten.

m WARRINGTON, April 3 lool. :
Mr. DsAR Sus In passing through Philadelphia
on the last evening friend handed me Charles
ton Msvc,sry Of The = instant announcing, BY tn
authority Of the chairman Of the COMMITTEES OF AZ
ranxements, that ON the slst ultmo was 70 deliver
an euloeium on our disting guishsd and lamentct
statesman, the late John c. Calhoun, under the aP
pointmsnt Of the citizens Of Button.
cannot express 70 you the deep modification and
regret feel at The disappointment may have oc
casioned to the few friends have yet left In South
Carolina whose psrtiaiity might have induced them
to believe that would have offered, on the occa-
sion in question, 1t tribute TO the memory Of our
Il = due, not alone to the profound respect and
cordial esteem which cherish for the citizens Of
Bluffton, but In justice to myself, that shsll
frankly avow tho reasons and causes which have
and grateful Office to which was invited by the
distinguished favor of my fellow citizens.
shall now nArrate these causes ~ suAanctly a.
rho were The chairman Of as the committee. and Who
presided at the meeting during the last summer.
by which was requested TO perform the sacred
duty 70 the memory Of my great and ismented
informed gentleman Of the committee that,
previous 70 ny necessary departure for Texas, my
stay would be too short for even notice TO be ex
deliver ths sulogium, but that should be at home
tho last Of March. and would fix ON the 3ist 1.-THE
anniversary of MIR. Calhoun's dcath) TO address
the good people Of Button.
During my absence in Texas, the deeply exciting
events occurred in the Legislature of South Carol
ma looking to a dissolution Of the Union, and my
letter to her people, In reference to that subject
conciliatory, and aGectonate, tho separate action
of our State in seeding from tho Union, and re-
conmending, IN preferences, that We should " bids
ern States by pacific course of policy, learned
from friends whose opinions could not disregard,
that had become exceedingly unpopular in South
Carolinas that not only the policy Of my counsels
but even tho purity OF my motives, were i'm
The autumn and winter have passed, and have
received NO intimation from single citizen Of
Blut0ns or from any public source, except the pa
per handed to me in Philadelphia, that II was ex-
pected that / should deliver the eulogium on Mr..
Calhoun. inferred that this silence the part of
the a We. m a1S Saa. ass
performance Of such duty on my part would not
now be acceptable.
Nwas subject Of extreme delicacy. and re-
solved, ON my return, to soc you and my other
friends. and inform you and them privately Of the
reasons which would induce me TO decline deliver
Ing tas eulogium during the present crisis Such
and cherished friendship. But to shelter myself
from the imputstion of having treated my fellow
citizens Of Button with the slightest intentional
disrespect, am now induced publicly to assign
those reasons without equivocation or reserve.
shall not begin with the stale apology that had
NOT time to prepare the eulogium for the eulogium,
in the emotions Of my own bosom, was already
prepared in tho memory which Cherished, almost
amounting to devotional reverence of the virtues
of Mr.. Calhoun, and his image ever wore in my
own heart. bad no tropes or figures Of rhetoric
TO elaborate. could have risen then. a. l could
rise now, and, without . moment's pause or check,
pay TO his ilustrous shade the tributes Of my at
lection, gratitude, and lovc. But feared that
there were many in South Carolina, and per-
haps in our own parish, who regarded me a. q very
unfit minister to worship at tho foot of such
shrine. thought that retirement, therefore, from
even such distinction and difidence in myself,
suited my condition and fortunes best. there
fore resolved to be SILENT and should have 20 con-
tinued but for tho enunciation BY the public adver
tisement 10 which have referred. But must con-
fess 70 you that was constrained by another
If had addressed you, a. it was anticipated, in
discussing the principles and opinions of Mr.. Cal
houn, illustrative of his public ife should have
felt myself bound TO communicate an important
fact, that up to the period of his death he never
contemplated the separate and insulated action OF
South Carolina, even on an exigency so vehement
and pressing In his opinion a. the admission OF
operative action of Virginia, and majority of the
cotton States. He never for one instant cherished
the idea of devoting South Carolina TO desolation
or people to slaughter that other States Of the
South might be drsgooncd iLto our support. His
whole policy was founded on friendly and pacific
union Of the South for the protection OF the South
With that mnguine temperament which belonged
~ his noble nature, which belongs to the very con-
sttution Of genius, he cherished this hope to the
last This extinct, be did not look beyond the
great moral lesson which the motto impressed on
our own palmetto holds forth for the instruction of
her sons: "Animis opibusque P0rati." That these
were the opinions of this great man, have in my
possession the most irrefutable testimony, which,
at fitting time, shall be made public If need be-
Could have delivered the culogium without
communicating this truth, 20 unacceptable, per-
haps, to o majority of my hearers? Or could have
suppressed il without moral treason to the memo
s.Nt a.
displease. but to crafty their hearers; and these
illusions are cold and passionless indeed; unless
there il cordial sympathy between him who
speaks and him who listens.
Those are my reasons, my dear sir, for not ap-
pearing at my post at the period designated. Ihad
hoped TO have reached home in time 10 have made
my excuses in person. have been disappointed
by causes beyond my control. must now throw
myself on the forgiveness and generous indulgence
ofmy friends
II may be asked by you, my kind and esteemed
ftsend. with whom was associated more than
twsnty-6ve years since in the councils of South
Caroknos whether ever intend 70 perform the duty
! owes under the appointment Of the good people Of
Blukl6h, 70 the memory Of our great and lamont
Il, and when they are reconccd TO my opinions,
or Fam reconciled TO theirs. The latter will be
whcu, Il South Carolina acts she, with no differ
encs q opinion to separate US, will hnd myself
her = least II am at war with all the rest Of the
world.
AAbresent the crisis is one Of too much painful
excitement, of too much evaporation, to mako il
6t season, in our affections, to approach the
grave Of our veneratcd Calhoun. When ap-
proach the sacred sod which has hid forever his
diant countenance from gaze, no Carolina heart
should be separated from its brother bosom, even
BY one feeling of distrust, much less by alienation.
The lamp which might bc kindled at the bright
flame Of his genius, 70 fling back its rays on his past
glories, should burn with bright light, in pure
and tranquil atmosphere, undisturbed by single
passion, or by one uncharitable feeling towards
human bsing on earth. We should feel that we
were in the presence of God, and forget the ami
mooities Of man!
lam not my good sir, 90 vain az to suppose that
him who was justly and cmphatically called
'sThe Great Carolnan"-the noblest of all appel
lAtions. To have achieved This would have re
quiTed st once = soul capable o. compromising
and the omniPotence Of his own virtues. No! But