American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-21
For the American Telegraph
JOHN C. CALHOUN.
WILKINS MAcAwBER.

The recent announcement of General Ham
ilton of an important opinion of Mr.. Calhoun,
must be as gratifying to his real friends as ii is
mortfying to those who profess to be his disci-
pies, but who are the real enemies of the coun-
try, and the (unintentional it may be) maligners
Of his memory. General Hamilton who was
the intimate friend of Mr.. Calhoun, vouches for
its truth, and doubt not, at the proper time,
the evidence will be presented to the country.
Mr.. Calhoun then was not the advocate Of the
separate secession of n State from this Union.
But his means of resistance extended only to
united moral action and peaceful resistance to
the unconstitutional and oppressive legislation
of the General Government.
This accords with the opinion ! have long en-
tertained of that great man. | have ever be-
lieyed him true patriot; a man of powerful,
but on some subjects unbalanced mind; hon
est in his opinions but frequently blinded by
his enthusiastic regard for the rights of the
South, and his detestation Of northern aggres-
| sion The present aspect Of the agitating ques-
| ton, which employed the last energies of his
life is certainly more favorable than he antici-
pated; and will 20 further, and say, more so
than the violence of certain leading men in the
North permitted the most sanguine to expect
love Of the Union with the masses, strong
motives Of self-interest, and large amount Of
real patriotism, have turned aside the danger.
The agitating causes, but short time ago in
active existence, gave full warrant for the belief
that this Union would be discovered. Less
causes in other countries have ended in blood.
The appeals of Rantoul, Horace Mann, Pal
frey, and others, to open resistance to law,
prove that their intentions were the very es-
sence Of treason. On the other hand, the pro-
fessed followers of John G. Calhoun are equally
cupable. They do not act like men who desire
peace; but seem determined not to be satisfied
with any thing but the carrying out their vo-
lent determinations. They are trading on Mr.
Calhoun's capital for bad purposes, and the end
Of the law having been accomplished, they still
insist without necessity upon the penalty. These
men, doubt not are influenced by the most cor
rupt and ambitious motives There is no con-
sistency in their course They repudiate the
opinion they but n short time ago entertained,
contradict themselves, and seem disposed to rush
headlong to one end-the sublime end of tearing
off South Carolina from the body polite, and Of
casting her off from the glorious hopes Of this
blessed Union
Like limb from her country cast bleeding and torn"
But there are clear indications that the peo-
pie of South Carolina win not permit this.
They will come to the rescue, and the disunion-
lists South, as they have been North, will be left
in harmless minorities.
] confidently believe that the forthcoming
life of John G.. Calhoun will rescue his memory
from much undeserved obloquy. That he had
great faults, none will deny but these were at
tended with noble virtues, as public and pri-
vate man. The dazzling brilliance of his genius
none will deny. He had more Of Coriolanus in
his character than of Catiline, and was as unlike
his would-be followers, who profess to shelter
his mantle, as Hyperion to the Satyr. His loss
will tell the world that he did some service"
to his country; and if evil has resulted, or will
result from his opinions, it will not be in ac-
cordance with what he desired. CURTIUs.