The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-11-02

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while struggling for the maintenance of the
honor and purity of the profession at large, to
any temporary eclat which the wealth and
Establishments of an opposite course might
secure.
a Singular Story.
The following was published several years ago,
and we believe proceeded originally from the pen of
Washington letter writer. We revive it on account
of its eccentric significance, and commend it to the
attention of the Charleston Mercury
The other morning, at the breakfast table, our
friend, the Hon. John c. 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
I 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 lie re-
minds you very much of Old Hickory. That ne Is
honest, no one doubts; he has sacrificed TO his
/ fatalism his brightest hopes OF political advance
ment-has offered upon the shrine OF that necessity
! which he worships all that can excite ambition
even the Presidency of the United States.
! Bot to my story The other morning at break
fast table. where | an unobserved spectator, hap
/ pened to be present, Calhoun observed to gaze
frequently at his right hand aud brush It with his
left in a hurried and nervous de did this
go often that it excited attention. At length one
of the persons composing the breakfast party-his
name, | think, is Toombs, and he is a member Of
Congress from Georgia--took upon himself to ask
the occasion of Mr. Calhuuns disquietude.
"Does your hand pain your" he asked.
To this Mr. Calhoun replied, in rather furried
manner-"Pshaw IL is nothingi Only dream
which bad last night, and which makes me see
perpetually large, black spot-lke an ink Olotch
upon the beck of my right hand An optical
illusion, suppose"
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'm not very super.
stitious about dreams; but sometimes they have q
good deal Of truth in them"
"But this was such peculiarly absurd dream"
said Mr.. Calhoun, again brushing the back of his
right hand; ''however, if it does not too much in
trude upon the the time of our friends, will relate
it to you"
OF course the company were profuse in their
expressions of anxiety to know all about the dream.
In his singularly sweet voice, Mr. Calhoun related
{:
AT late hour last night, as l was sitting in my
room engaged in writing, / was astonished by the
entrance of a visitor, who entered and without a
word took seat opposite me at my tabled. This
surprised me, as | had given particular orders to
the servant that should on account be disturbed.
fecty seif.posscssed, taking his seat opposite me-
without word. as though my room and all within
it belonged to him, excited in me much surprise
as Indignation. As | raised my head to look into
his features, over the top Of my shaded lamp, l
discovered that he wrapped in thin cloak,
which effectually concealed his face and features
from my view. And es | raised my head he spoke:
"What are you writing, Senator from South
Carolinay"
ar "A 81; ,f 49,
answered him voluntarily
81 am writing plan for the dissolution of the
American Union, (yOu know, gentlemen, that am
expected to produce plan Of dissolution in the
event of certain contingencies)
"To this the intruder replied, in the coolest man
ner possible:
Senator from South Carolina will you allow me
to look at your hand-your right handy"
ale rose the cloak fell, and | bched his face
Gentlemen, the sight of that face struck me like a
thunder-cap. 1t was the face of a dead man, whom
extraordinary events had called back to life. The
features were those of General George Washington;
yes, getlemen, the intruder none other than
George Washington. He was dressed in the Revo-
lutionary costume such as you preserved in the
Patent Office"
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused, apparently much agi
tated His agitation, l need not tell you, was
shaed by the company. Toombs at length broke
the embarrassing pause. swell, ell, what was
the issue of this scene?" Mr.. Chalhoun resumed:
''This intruder as / have said, rose aud asked te
look at nv right hand. As though | had not the
power to refuse, extended.-The truth is, felt a
strange thrill perVade me his touch; be grasped
it and held it near the light, thus afordng full
time to examine every feature of his face. 1t was
the face of Washington. Gentlemen, / shuddered
as l beheld the horrible deddGiUe look of that
vsage After holding my hand for a moment, he
looked at me steadily and said in quiet way
"And with this right hand, Senator from Caro-
lima, you would sign your name to paper declaring
the Union dissolvedY
81 answered inthe affirmative. Yes said I, if
a CERTAIN contingency arises, / will sign my name
to the Declaration of Dissolution But at that
moment black blotch appeared on the back of my
hand, an inky blotch which seem to see even now |
What is thag cried |, alarmed, know not why, /
at the blotch upon my hand.
"'That' said he dropping my hand, that is the /
mark by which Benedict Arnold is know in the
next world
Ale said no more, gentlemen. but drew from .
beneath his cloak an object which he placed upon .
the tabe-paced it upon the very paper on which .
] was writing That object, gentlemen, was a
skeleton.
There said he, there are the bones of Isaac
Hayne, who hung in Charleston by the British.
lie gave his life in order TO establish the Union -
When you put your nameIo declaration of dissolu.
ton, why you may as well have the bones OF Isaac
Hayne before you. He was a South Caroliuian,
aud so you. But there no botch upon
bis right hand
"With these words the intruder left the ROOM
started back from the contact with tue dead mans
bones and-awoke. 0verwOrn by labor, | had
fallen asleep and been dreaming. Was it not
singular dIeam?'
All the company answered in the Affirmative
roOmbs muttered, 'Siugular-very singular !" at
.he same time looking very curodsly at the back
Of his right hand, and Mr. Calhoun placed his head
between his hands, and seemed buried 10 thought