The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-02-22

N.
Mr.. Calhoun's written request TO oo n
him in the South, an authorized person
asked me while away to write some let
ters about the South for the Times. in
London. thought nothing more of the
matter until had been at Fort Hill n
month or more. Mr.. Calhoun and NV
self were in wagon, coming from the
village Of Pendleton, when | mentioned
the circumstance. "Why don't you do it 2"
was his sudden comment.
"Well, why should /! | don't know
who would pay me for my trouble"
"Pay you~ WAS his rather sarcastic
hint. Pay, why it would give you an
opportunity Of laying before the world the
real position of the South-the real nd.
vantage that Europe would possess in a
direct trade with us, and the London
Times would publis what you write" he
continued.
"Unquestionably they would. The party
IN New York was authorized to get me to
write them"
"Then do ,ou do it at once. Why,
even your friend Mr.. Bennett dare not
publish, in New York, the probable future
OF the Sout! unconncctc8 with the North,
as see 1t now, and as all will see it within
twenty years" Every day | wrote on a
series Of letters, | wrote on half sheet of
foolscap turned down-and half wrote,
and every night he read them and made
corrections opposite. When | sometimes
would hesitate ut what to me appeared
such novel IDEAS as direct intercourse be-
tween Europe and the South, have seen
him shake his head gloomily and as if
speaking to olir,sclf-"1t will come so even.
tually. see it. Corruption, unjust and
impartial legislation Of n northern major.
ity; the slow, sure and steady Increase
OF the liberty feeling in the North, will
eventually open the eyes of the South, aud
then they will see WAS right. The ex.
istence 4t tae Snull, will depend upon n
separation, and thcn the South will rrarl,
her true lH,>itimi.' The rough draft of
these letters was finished, and hold them
yet. l had no time to copy them before
we went To Washington aud once only
were they alluded to in the sick room.
Keep them carefully" said Mr.. c., "you
will mud use for them at some future day."
He knew that frequently made notes
OF conversations with hun. He used to
make me read them to him, and OH one
occasion, as if seeing into the future. he
said to me :-"Be sure that you perfectly
comprehend my idea, when you take n
note Of it, and it you have any doubtabo
it, ask me, and never publish anything
about me that you are nos perfectly clear
in
me-" Since his death these words have
come back vividly to my mind, and have
religiously adhered to them. | now come
to the time when we both reached Wash
ington, and from personal intercourse
which you yourself have witnessed, YOU
can safely vouch that the impression
shall give Of his own mind, had the OPP
Portunity Of ascertaining rs no one else
had, or could possibly have had. But
day before he died he told me that he
would give a world could he have but one
hour OF strength in the United States Sen.
ate, so clear was his vision into the future.
What he did say or think, wrote, and
much that he would have written was
known TO me only, owing to circumstan-
ces controlled by the sick and dying scene
Of his life.
1t was about the 10th Of February,
1850, that it became evident to bis own
mind that it was doubtful whether he
should deliver u speech in the Senate, and
it WAS then he determined to write it.
You remember that when went to Rich
mond with Gen. Taylor to see him lay
the cornerstone ofthe Monument To Wash.
ington, on my return, early on Sunday
morning, l met messenger who was
hunting for me, who stated that Mr.. Cal
houn was very anxious to have me come
aP ho:as rs soon rs 90, ashore from the
boat. When l reached the room of Mr..
Calhoun, he told inc that he did not feel
well, and wanted 90 commence that very
day with the speech. lie did commence
debating II that evening; ] sat on one side
OF the table and he on the other.
lie c5mmenced, and wr te, ~ have
believed, from the first, that the agitation
here he stopped, and, rising from his
chair, said, This won't do, must imap-
! inc that the Senators are around me.n He
walked across the room once or twice, and
then came back TO the table; (I noticed
that his eyes were closed; and then h,
commenced-"I have, Senators, believed
from the first that the agitation Of the sub
ject Of slavery would, il not prevented by
some timely and effective measures, end
in disunion;" aud continued debating Cor
nearly an hour, until he WAS tired, for he
was very weak; and during ,he several
days that he was debating tlat speech to
me, he would cough SO severely for pc.
Rod Of a quarter Of an hour, that feared
sometimes he would sirsnglc. Yet when
visitors called be seemed to control these
spasms IL surprised me so that I once
called bis attention to il. lie smilcd and
said, ~ man that cannot control his body
as well as his mind IS not ft TO Iiye.r /
used to send TO him all the papers every
day, and so engrossed was his mind upon
Ishs great topics before the county. that