The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-05-25
Hlsrrllalltuug.
John c. Calhoun,


We were walking from Clark's hotel in
Columbia to the Legislative Hall, in De
cembcr, 1884, when we were suddenly
grasped by the arm, and as suddenly
wheeled to the fright about" Kerr
Boyce Of Chareston, still holding us firm
ly, said, "Let me introduce YOU to Mr..
Calhoun! :" We feel even now the thrill
that tingled through our young blood
Calhoun! We were utterly confounded
and remained, as il rooted to the spot in
speechless amazement, when Mr.. Calhoun
advanced, and offered his hand in the
most cordial manner He had evidently
been conversing with Mr.. Boyce in his
usual dashing style, and his face was
clothed in smiles. We looked at him
and then it was we saw that eye! the
brightest, the blackest, the most brilliant
and the most intelectuahhat we ever saw
in mortal head. We have seen all the dis
tinguished men Of the United States
except General Jackson-but their ewes
were nothing when at rest. But Colhoun's
eyes never were at rest-they glanced
like lightning, not dazzling you, but liter
ally flashing with the fire Of genius-in
word, he is the only man that we have
ever encountered who bore the mdelible
mark of genius. The moment you look
ed into his eye and caught their express
sion You saw the God-the spirit that
rules the woodland you never dreamed
Of doubling his superiority toyoursclf and
to all the men of the age. If all the splcn-
did eyes Of all the beautiful women of
America we're gathered together in one
bright, blazing, beaming focus, they would
pale before the Greek fire of this tramscen-
dent genius. Its glance was magical
that of Alexander the Great could not
have been more so-and black as the
raevn's wing-there was glory in its
beams that played like lightning on the
edge ofthe storm.
His manners were irresistible; cordial
kind, warm with the spirit of enthusiasm
that animated his soul, you felt his power
as if a spark of electricity had touched
your heart. 81 am very glad to meet
with you," said Calhoun, observing our
excessive embarrassment, and evidently
with feeling Of pride as he noticed the
reverential respect of his youthful admir-
err" 81 have to thank you," we replied,
"for your kind notic,,, and for your cores
pondence." Let us keep it up" said
Calhoun, his bright eye gancing-"let us
keep it up; it is never too late to do some
thing in II good cause" lie then dashed
off in his rapid style, his hand and eve as.
sisting bv their motion the current of his
extraordinary conversation. We call it
conversation for want of better term; but
it was brilliant speech, in which political
axioms were thrown off in sentences, and
with such rapidity and such irrepressible
vivacity thai it required all our attention
to follow him in his lightning flight
What a talkcr! We shall give frequent
instances Of his conversational ability in
the course OF these pictures, and therefore
merely state at present that he touched
as he flashed along-on the motives, char
actcr, and conduct of parties and parti-
sans; the nature and form of governments:
heir domestic concerns and foreign rca-
tons; their tendency to destroy liberty,
and the method of redressing grievances.
There were the themes which interested
him most. He seemed to seize the truth
by intuition; there was apparently no
mental struggle, but idea followed idea as
il the machinery Of his mind delighted in
perpetual motion. We sec him now in
our minds eye as he stood on that memo.
rable occasion! His features earnest and
intent; his voice full and sororous; his
enunciation rapid; his tongue, taking the
thought as it came from his brain, and Civ
ing it shape; and his h nds, which seem.
cd to hold the argument that he was COM
batting, assisting by their energetic action
to impress those ideas and thoughts on
your memory forever. His personal APP
pearance, too, was entirely different from
any Of the thousand descriptions which
have been given of him by the insidious
scribblers and invidious vartlets who have
scattered their falsehoods from Maine to
Mexico. In person, he was six feet high,
his figure spare; his face rather pale, with.
ont beard, and as he wore, at that time, a
white neckcloth without a collar, YOU
were induced to believe him older han he
really was. But his spirited style Of con.
versation exhibited anything else but pre-
mature age, and his hands, which were
very white, added not little to his fine
personal pearance-indeed his hands
were beautiful associates for his glorious
eyes.
Mobile Tribune.
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