Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-08-02
From Correspondent Of the '.Quuker City,
Singular Dream


able 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
ard angular. He reminds you very much
of Old Hickory. That he is honest no one
doubts-he has sacrificed to his Fatalism
the brightest hopes Of political advancement
has offered upon the shrine Of that iron
necessity which he worships, all that can
excite ambition-even the Presidency Of
the United States.
But to my story. The other morning, at
the breakfast table, where |, an unobserved
spectator, happened 10 be present, Calhoun
was observed to gaze freque ntly at his right
hand, and brush il with his left in nervous,
hurried 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 a men,
Der OF Congress from Georgia, took upon
himself to ask the occasion of Mr.. Calhoun's
disquietude.
"Does yoar hand pain you'll" said he.
To this Calhoun replied in rather fur
ried manner-"It is nothing Only dream
which had last night, which makes me
see perpetually large black spot. like an
ink blotch, upon the back part Of my right
hand. An optical delusion. / suppose
OF course these words excited the curios-
ity of the company, but no one ventured
to beg the details Of this singular dream, IN
Ill Toombs asked quietly
What was your dream like I'm not
very supersttious about dreams, but some
times they have good deal of truth in
tem."
"But this was such peculiarly absurd
Dream" said Mr. Calhoun, again brushing
the back of his hand "bowey r, if it does
not much in,Iude upon the time Of our
friends. will relate it."
or course the company were profuse in
their expressions of anxiety to know all
about the dream. In his singular sweet
voice, Mr.. Calhoun related it.
SAT late hour last night was sitting
in my room, engaged in writing, i was as
tonished by the entrance OF a visitor, who,
without saying a word, took a seat opposite
me, ut my table. This surprised me, as
had given particular orders 10 the servant
that | should on no account be disturbed.
The manner in which the intruder entered,
% e ec,ly selr,possessed, taking his seat
opposite me, without word, as though my
room and all within il belonged to hun, ex.
cited in me as much surprise as Indignation.
As raised my head to look into his fer
lures, over the top of my shaded lamp,
discovered that he was wrapped in thin
cloak, which eliectually concealed his face
and features from my view. As | raised my
head he spoke
"What are YOU writing, Senator from
South Carolina -
] did notthink OF his impartnence at first,
but answered him invOluntarly II am
writing n elln FIR the Dissolution OF the
American Union" (You know, gentlemen,
that am expected to produce a AN ofDis-
solution in the event Of certain contln
gency
To this the intruder replied, in the cool
st manner:
senator from South Carolina, will you
allow me to lock at your hand, your right
hand"
He rose, the cloak fell and behold his
face. Gettcmen, the sight OF that face
struck me like thunder clap. II was the
facc Of dead man. whom extraordinary
events have called to life The features
were those of George Washington, yes,
gentlemen, the in,rui Ter was none other than
George Washington. He was dressed in
The Revolutionary Costume, such as you see
preserved in the Patent Office"
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused; paused, ap
ourently IN much agitation. | need notteil
you it was shored by the company. Toombs
Il length broke the embarrassing pause
"Well, w-e-l-l, what was the issue OF
this scene -
Mr.. Calhoun resumed:
This intruder, have said, rose and ask
ed to look at my right hand As though
had not the power to refuse, eZtended IT,
The truth is, felt strange chill pervade
me at il touch; he grasped 1t and held II
near the light, thus aiiording me full time
TO examine every feature OF his lace. u wa-
the face of Washington. Gentlemen J
shuddered as | beheld the holy dead-al
look Of that vsuge. After holding my hand
for moment, he looked al me steadily, and
said in quiet way
"And with that right hand, Senator from
South Carolina, you would sign your name
to paper, declaring the Union dlss olved!"
answered in the affirmative. Yes! said
T. if n certain contingency arises VIII sign
my name 10 the Declaration of Dissolution.
Rut a, that moment, black blotch which
I seom 10 see even now appeared upon my
hand what is that said |, 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
known iE the next world"
He said no more, gentlemen, but drew
from beneath his cloak an object which he
placed upon the table: placed it upon the
very paper on which was writing. mat
object, gentlemen, was skeleton.
There" said he, "are the bones OF Isaac
Hayne, who was hung by the British. lie
gave his lie in order to establish the Union.
Pu, vour name to Declaration OF Dissolu-
ton. why Won may as well have the bones
of Isaac Hayne before you He was
South Carolnian and so are you But there
was no bl tch upon the right hand"
With these words the intruder lett the
room. started back from the contact
with the dead mans bones, and-awoke:
Oyerworn by labor, | had fallen asleep and
been dreaming. Was it not singular
dream !"
All the company answered in the aifir-
NATIVE. Toombs muttered "singnlnr, very
singular - and at the same time looked
rather curiously at the back OF his right