Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-06-11
From the New York Tribune,
Hon. N. 2. Tallmadge on Spiritual
Manifestations.

| last WINTER III w dSNifgtOII, WneTe ue ueVOteu
good deal of time and attention to the alleged
"Spiritual Manifestations" whereof the Mis-
ses Fox, then in Washington, were the "me'
diums." Mr. T. became thoroughly convinced
of the verify and importance of these "manifes
tations," and so declared himself in letter just
published in the National Intelligencer. We
declined printing that letter because, while il
expatiated at length on the manifestations as
RELIABLE it gave no facts to justify such mo-
mentous conclusions. The following letter
from Mr.. T. is ola different class, and we very
cheerfuly make room for it without at all en-
dorsing its conclusions:
BALTIMORE, Tuesday, April 18th, 1853.
Dear Madam: Il seize a few leisure mo
ments, while detained here on business, to give
you more extended account of the "Physical
Manifestations" to which alluded in former
letter. In this account shall confine myself
to those which purport to come from the spirit
of John c. Calhoun.
have received numerous communications
from him from the commencement of my inves-
| tigation of this subject down to the present
| time. Those communications have been receiv.
ed through rapping mediums, writing mediums,
and speaking mediums. They are of the most
extraordinary character. In style and senti-
| ment they do honor to him in his best days on
| earth.
After the arrival of the Misses Fox in Wash.
| ington city, in February last called on them
| by appointment, and at once received COM
| munication from Calhoun.
| then wrote down and propounded mental
ly the following questions
Can you do anything (meaning physical
manifestations to confirm me in the truth of
these revelations, and to remove from my mind
the least shadow of unbelief!'
To which received the following answer:
1 will give you communication on Monday,
at II o'clock. Do not fail to be here. will
then give you an explanation.-John c. Cal-
houn.
1t is proper here to remark, that all The com.
munications referred to in this letter were made
by Calhoun after a call for the alphabet, and
were raped out, letter by letter, and taken
down by me in the usual way. They were made
in the presence of the Misses Fox and their
mother.
called on Monday at the hour appointed,
and received the following communication:
"My friend, the question is often put to you,
what good can result from these manifesto
tions?' Twill answer it:
1T is TO draw mankind together in harmony,
and to convince skeptcs of the Immortality of
the soul-John C. Calhoun"
This reminds me that in 1850, at Bridgeport,
in the presence of other mediums, among ma
ny questions put and answers received, were
the folowing-the answer purporting to come
from w. E. Charming.
@. What do spirits propose to toaccomplish
by these new manifestations!
A. To unite mankind, and to convince skep.
teal minds of the immortality of 'the SOUL"
The coincidence in sentiment of the answer
of J. C. Calhoun, and of W. E. Charming in
regard to the object of these manifestations is
remarkable, and worthy of particular notice.
The concurrence of two such great minds,
whether in or out of the body, on a subject so
engrossing, cannot fail to command the atten-
ton of every admirer of exalted intellect and
moral purity.
During the above communication of Cali
houn, the table moved occasionally, perhaps
foot; first one way and then the other. After
the communication closed, we all moved back
from the table, from two to four feet-so that
no one touched the table. Suddenly the table
moved from the position it occupied some three
or four feet, rested few moments, and then
moved back to its original position. Then it
again moved as far the other way, and returns
ed to the place it started from. One side of
the table was then raised, and stood for few
moments at an angle of about thirty.fve de-
grees, and then again rested on the floor as u.s.
ual
The table was large, heavy, round table, at
which ten or dozen persons might be seated
at dinner. During all these movements no per-
son touched the table, nor was any one near it.
After seeing it raised in the manner above men.
toned. II had the curiosity TO test its weight
by raising it myself accordingly took my
seat by it, placed my hands under the leaf, and
exerted as much force as was capable of in
that sitting posture, and could not raise it
particle from the floor. then stood up in the
best possible position to exert the greatest
force, took hold of the leaf, and still could not
raise it with all the strength l could apply. |
then requested the three ladies' to take hold
around the table, and try altogether to lift it.
We lifted upon it until the leaf and top be-
to crack, and did not raise it particle. We
BILE. then said, will the spirits permit me
to raise the tabIe?' took hold alone, and rails
ed it without difficulty.
@. Can you raise the table entirely from
the floor! A. Yes'
@. Will you raise me with it! A. Yes;
get me the square table,"
The square table was of cherry, with four
legs, a large size tea table. 1t was brought out
and substituted for the round one, the leaves
being raised I took my seat on the centre;
the three ladies sat at the sides and arms rest
ing upon it. This, of course, added to the
weight to be raised, namely, my own weight
of the table. Two legs of the table were then
raised about six inches from the floor, and then
the other two legs were raised to level of the |
rst so that the s0ole table soas suspended in the
air about sir inches aboue the foor While thus |
seated on it, could feel gentle Migratory mo-
ton as if floating in the atmosphere. After be. !;
ing thus suspended in the air for few mo. /
ments the table w I: gently Let down anain fn |