The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-04-30
JOHN c. CALHOUN.

Few anecdotes Of the late Hon. John
y. Calhoun are floating in the public
mind. lie was not y man of the 1eopie.
but his genius and his habits placed him
above the masses, whom he nevertbe es,
acid with u fascination rs hard to explain
AS to resist. The following has never
been published, and though It is not one
81 hnmOr, it is rem ark Lly character site
OF Mr.. Calhoun, and deserves to be rcpea,
ed
In the cary days cf his political career
Mr.. Calhoun had powerful riva, and or.
P"nent IN the AbLeville District. South
Carolina was at this time in n state of
high excitement, and party feeling ragged
i'erce!y in struggle 20 overthrow an ar.
lstocTalic feature Of the constitution. The
issue was upon topics that enlisted the in.
terest and prcjudlces "f parties, and they
waged the contest with the energy of a
civil war. MIR. Calhoun and MIR. Yancv
were On opposite sides, the leader of the
host lie bands, and the ido!s. of their res.
pective hosts. There was, aud is. for he
still lives, a man named Marvin. one Of
the most violent Of Mr.. Yancy's party
warmly attached to HIM as personal and
political friend, aud following hi u Lindly
as an infallible guide. lie was very &C.
centric man, and his pcculiari,ies had ne,
haps led the people to cali him uncle Ja.
cob, by which name he was b tier known
than that Of Marvin. Bite. in his preiu.
dc and strong in his attachments, he
could see no right in an enemy. no wrong
IN friend. On the other hand, Mr.. Yam
cy was one Of the most amiable and con.
did mep. The Strength Of his mind, com.
bined with the to!era ice of his f.eiinps
raised him above the meanncss ofcling,rc
to error when reason opposed it. In the
discussion that ensued. Mr.. CaIhoun's al.
g,msnts overpowered him and, he can.
didly confessed hirnselfa convert to his
great rivals opinions. Great Wa. the
rage OF Uncle Jacob when he heard that
fancy had struck co.ors to Calhoun. us
swose big oath that he would thrash
Calhoun il thu aory vas true. lie soon
found that it was so, asd stayted at once
to pnt his threat into execution.
He found Mr.. Calhoun walking slowly
and calmly back AMI forth, for exescisc.
on the piazza Of tn, hotel where Ic was
boarding. Mr.. Calhoun had been inform
cd of Msrvins intention, and as soon as he
saw him coming, prepared himself for q
triumph, not Of force, Tut OF manner and
address. Mr.. Marvin took his stand where
NJ, CslAoua was to pass, and awaited TIC
trying monet. Mr.. Calhoun approach.
ed spoke kindly, and passed on with his
blandest smile. Again he passed, and
again, each time repeating his soothing
salutation, and expecting the man to com.
mence his attack. Bot strange fascina.
ton had seized upon Uncle Jacob; the
spcil which gepius throws over those who
approach il had unnamed him. Atlas,
Ne could stand it no longer, hut bursting
into tears, grasped the proffered hand Of
Mr.. Calhoun, t.'id him frankly the errand
on which he had come, and begged his
pardon. Mr.. Calhoun then began IN press
his argupeais cautiously but forciLe, and
IN few minutes Marvin was one of his
converts. and q decided friend. From tba,
day onward Mr.. Calhoun had no more ar.
dent follower than Marvin, and of all rsb-
I'd nulli!ers, Uucle Jacob was the rabb;d.
est, and to this day he believes there never
WAS such man in this world as iha: same
John G. Calhoun whom he tried TO wbip
and Hho conquered him without raising !,
hngeroEs saying wopd.-Marreys Moga.
zine.