The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-24
Calhoun and Benton.

Calhoun and Benton.
EXTRACTS From AN uNPUBLIsHED WORK ENTTTLKD
INCIDENTS IN TEE LIFE or JOHN o. CALHOUN"
FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH RICHARD 4. okALLH,
ESQ.
Having pored for three hours over Its pages, (the
original manuscript of the South Carolina Expesi-
fioa) written, BY the bye, in hand that more re-
sembled Arabic than English, he pushed II aside on
his table, as II 10 rest awhile; when inquired Of
him whether he had seen Mr.. Benton's book2
''0nly casualy-some five or sixImonths since, .
friend handed il to me in Lynchburg; but was too
much engaged Of the time to 40 more than over,
huniedly, two pages, to which he directed my at
fention. l have not come across it since though
the publishers Informed me that q copy had been
forwarded to me. l shall however, have occasion
to exsmine ii hereafter more particularly not, in
deed, for the purpose Of defending Mr. Calhoun
against his approximation hs character rests 0n too
old foundation TO be shaken By such puny as
Baulte-bus simply to prevent him from expunging
facts, and substituting fabr atoms in their place."
"What," said !, "wers the subjects Of the passa-
ges to which you refer?'
"The new edition which he has given, or rather
promised to give Of the real causes of the rupture
between Gen. Jackson and Mr.. Calhoun and the
cock and bull story about the rejection of Mr. Van
Blren. or the former, only read SO much IS to
convince ne that, having failed in . very notable
scheme TO circumvent M. Calhoun few years be-
fore his death, and to procure from him something
whsrewith they might patch up the foul old gar
msnt, whose thIeadbafe and battered condition left
themselves, as veil as Gen. jackson, exposed at
more points than one, she miserable trio who con-
cectsd tho book, Ger Mr.. Bsnton, am confident,
IL not tho sole autnor,) have been compelled to
and rnk ta
inventions, and is seems TO me they have made
very sad piece of work OF it. They may have mend
cd the seat, butt rs they compelled to cut the
patch from another part of the garment. they have
inconsiaenty nsrred the 'front.', Sterpe would say,
most cisastrousiy. But Of this hereafter.
The rejection story, is, il possible, still worse
managed. 1t ia gotten up badly, with go little
regard TO facts and circumstances. that it cannot
aspire even t, the PROBABILITIES Of fable, much less
to tbs authenticity of history. The truth is, Mr..
Benton ia the last man In the world VINO ought, Or
If be hsd any hing to lose, would undertake to p,r
tray the character or conduct of Mr.. Calhoun. The
rancerous and imp!acabe hatred and maiignity
which he evinoed to1afdi him for 80 many years,
would, Of themselves, prlVent him from doing jus.
tice even If they Esd lets DIN uficent perspicuity
to perceive in wat jusscs consists. His passions
iMpel him resistlefsiY onward, reckless alike of
Justice reason, probability sid fact. No man in his
right ser ses and WHO knows anything eithsr OF the
character or supposed policy OF Mr. Calhoua at the
time, Can be.ieve that re Gould have de.
sired the casting vo1e en- tie nomination Of
Mr.. Vsn Bmep: much less thai any understanding
could have existed between dim and Mr.. Clay, by
or through which sucn rs suit was to Oe brought
shout that II could have besn effected without
the Concurrence, or against the wishes, OF tue adj
miDisi7asion members. The true history OF the
matter may be written il few words.
.Iys - hall AZ Np
h0un designed TO oppose mis- reelection. have
reasoEs to believe that AR. Benton, il he did not
originate ST iesat took active pars In producing
this i'm preston On Geb Jackson's mind. Ii hs can
recollect series of lsssere under the signsture Of
Jefferson which appssrsd q. the time-ju3t BE-
fore the rupture between tns President aud Vice
President occurred stamped with the identical
"FdctsJ non Vt16'S, wnich the puhiij he's since
HAD very seltc0mplaissrt nistory) ne uosy know
why SO bsiieve. AND If hls memory be az ali Re.
rscious, rs viii not have forgotten how be was
etGippeo Of bis meek, ago his corduct denounced.
he may YET reaa his;o-y Of this, ami see the orr
gtDal manuscripts, one OF which Eensins unpub
iished.
Gen. Jackson, iGfaned By this act of auda ,ty on
the Part of Calhoun, as be was made ID belisve it
was, by the CerbeIiao authors OF this book, 5nss
time the scknow lsc geo lesders OF what Was called
BY the vulgar soubiiquet Of The Kitchen Cabinst;"
and further excited by tts refusal OF Mrs. Calhoun
o regulate her private intercourse according to his
special Wihhes--which fact .ss ably, 'sl0usly and
adroitly elaborated as cesr demonstration or ME-.
indeed, or coniemp plated teason--Ietsrmned, a.
once, not only TO rush him - the EARTH but to ee
vate the parsicusr favtrs OF this culinary depart
meIt. To effect this donbls purpose, tAs old Semi
mole affair, which tsd besa. TO The public st least,
dead, buried, ard forgotten many years bafore, |
was dug up froa If. chsrnel house. | say 1t hal |
passed cut Of the public recollection, but not that |
OF shsss conapirstors. As ea,ly as 1924, when
Mr.. Calhoun WAS before the country, for |
. short time, as Candidate for the Presi |
dency, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Van Buren,, NJ. |
IT, xAn had aA %A hn
used both against Gen Jackson aud Mr.. Calhoun. |
The Withdrawal of Mr., Calh5uns name from tbs |
a. -vass esved him for tbs time; but the bones OF the
eise on were carefully preserved tor future use: Ia
10 49, President, it became matter Of greas
pc s. Y. Crawfords long cherished vengearcs
and Mr.. Van Burep.s nopeini amGuon, 70 ascertain
what sec. the elecson On Ssve On On ~, tss tsa,
ticket, IS Vice President, wculu IN was No. |
future pYosl scts Of the LATER. The pos,t... -
withouL danger TO the piaas and purposes OF Dp~..
1t might pe fJllowei by che succession Of Mr.. Cal
noun " the Chief asgssIacy: Mr. Crawford,
sacnsn doubtless in favor OF Mr: Van Buren as VICE
fresno eL. not perhaps, SO inseat on thst as on
defeating Mr. Calhoun. His course was dicsatsd and
stimulated by vengesuce one OF the most powerful
passions OF cur bad nature. Mr.. Van Buren,, more
cod, calculating, supple and adroit, looked beyond
his defeat TO his own elevation Tas objects
of both. however, required that MIR. Calhoun should
be put cut Of the way they DOTH therefore approach
ed Gen. Jacks.n, through tneir respective friends
|
would promise that Mr.. Calhoun should not come
into power after him. Mr.. Van Buren, offered thu
vote OF New York, ii some one else were paced on
the ticket as Vice President, and both backed tnair
respective propositions by exhibiting the skeleton
of this old controversy, which, with mora than
fakirs magical power, they mad Iesinewed aud re-
1ehhed; and which, thes supposed, only needed to |
come in contac. With this their lssey acknowledged
prophet, to receive new life and ell tle liyicg &C
sivties Of mischief.
Cen. jackson, 1t is saii, received these PROPOSE
tioSe colnly. Whistler this be true or not, or
whether-a as his own fortunes were then suspended
in the bslance-poley required that ne should
avoid, Tor the time, an open ruptnre with Mr, Cal
houu, the future will probably disclose. WHAT re
ply was communicated to Mr.. Crawford has not, as |
yet, beer published. He was, however sstisdss; |
and bra psrt Of tBa Agreement was complied |