The Placer herald., 1855-12-29
A Singular Story.

upon our institutions. We commend it to
those men who have thought of giving their
support to Chase, for the office of Governor
of Ohio 1t is a historical fact that Mr. Cal
houn did relate this dream, and it left, no
doubt, a strong impression on his mind,
which continued to his death. Chase is now
ready to excite civil war and dissolve the
Union, rather than have his ambitious aspi-
rations crushed. The blotch is now upon his
hand, and the instrument will be perfected
as sure as he should succeed in an indorse-
ment from the freemen Of this State:
Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Washington correspondent of Mr.
Lippard's paper, the Quaker City, communi-
Gates the following curious account of re-
cent remarkable dream of Mr.. Calhoun's
We have not much faith in supernatural ap-
pearances, but if anything could lead the
ghost of the "Father of his Country" to re-
visit the realms beneath the moon, it would
be the thought that his beloved country was
in danger of disunon, which would be but
another name for civil war. We give the
story for what it is WORTH
WASHINGTON, January l2.
Mr.. Editor: The other morning at the
breakfast table, our friend, the Hon. John G.
Calhoun, seemed very much troubled and
out of spirits. You know he is altogether a
venerable man, with hard, stern, Scotch
Irish face, softened in its expression around
the mouth by sort of sad smile, which
wins the hearts of all who converse with
him. His hair is snow white. He is TALL
thin and angular. He reminds YOU very
much Of Old Hickory, That he is honest
no one doubts; he has sacrificed to his fatal
ism his br ghtest hopes Of political advance
ment-has offered up on the shrine of that
necessity which he worships all that can ex-
cite ambtion-even the Presidency of the
United States
But to my story: The other morning at
the breakfast table, where |, an unobserved
spectator, happened to be present, Calhoun
was observed to gaze frequently at his right
hand, and brush it with his left in a hurried
and nervous manner. He did this so often
that it excited attention. At length one of
the persons composing the breakfast party
his name, think is Toombs, and he is
Member of Congress from Georgia-took
upon himself to ask the occasion of Mr. Cal
houn's disquietude.
"Does your hand pain you?" he asked.
To this Mr.. Calhoun replied in rather a
aurried manner: "Pshaw! It is nothing! Only
dream which had last night, and which
makes me see perpetually large black
spot--like an ink blotch-upon the back of
my right hand. An optical delusion, l sup
pose."
Ofcourse these words excited the curiosity
Of the company, but no one ventured to beg
the details of this singular dream, until
Toombs asked quietly:
'What was your dream like! I am not
very superstitious about dreams, but some
times they have a good deal of truth in
them"
But this was such a peculiarly absurd
dream" said Mr.. Calhoun, again brushing
the back Of his right hand-"however if it
does not too much intrude upon the time Of
our friends, l will relate it to YOU"
Of course the company were profuse in
their professions of anxiety to know all
about the dream. In his singularly sweet
voice Mr. Calhoun related it.
'At late hour last night, as I was sitting
in nv room engaged in writing, was aston
ished by the entrance Of visitor, who en-
tered and without word took a seat oppo-
site me at the table This surprised me- as
had given particular orders to servant that
should on no occasion be disturbed. The
manner in which the intruder entered, so
perfectly se!fpossessed, taking his seat oppo
site to me- without word, as though my
room and all in it belonged to him. excited
in me as much surprise as Indignation. As
raised my head to look into his features
over the top of my shaded lamp discovered
that he was wrapped in thin cloak. which
effectualy concealed his face and features
from my view. As I raised my head he
spoke:
"What are you writing, Senator from
South CaroIna?"
II did not think of his impertinence at
first, and answered him voluntarily
81 am writing a plan for the dissolution of
the American Union (you know, gentlemen
l am expected to produce plan of dissolu-
ton in the event of certain contingencies.)
'To this the intruder replied, in the cool
est manner possible:
Senator from South Carolina, will you
allow me to look at your hand-yOur rlght
hand?'
He arose, the cloak fell, and | eheld his
face. Gentlemen, the sight of that face
struck me like thunder-clap. 1t was the
face of dead man, whom extraordinary
events had called back to life The features
were those of General George Washington;
yes, gentlemen, the intruder, was no other
than George Washington. He was dressed
in the Revolutionary costume, such AS you
see preserved in the Patent Office"
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused, apparently much
agitated His agitation, need not tell you,
was shared by the company. Toombs at
length broke the embarrassing pause. "Well,
we'll, what was the issue of this scene!"
Mr.. Calhoun resumed:
MIhis intruder. as I have said. rose and