Litchfield enquirer., 1856-03-20
John C. Calhoun.

Few anecdotes of the late Hon. John C. Cal houn are floating in the public mind He was not a man of Me people, but his genius and his ha- bits placed him above the masses, whom he ne. vertheless held with fascination as hard to explain as to resist. The following has never been published. and though it is not one of hu- mor, it is remarkably characteristic of MT. Cal houn, and deserves to be repeated:
 In the early days of his political career, Mir. Calhoon had powerful rival and opponent in the Abbeve District. South Carolina was at this time in state of high excitement, and par ty feeling ragged iiercely in struggle to over throw an aristocratc feature of the constitution. The issue was upon topics that enlisted the in- terest and prcjudices Of parties, and they waged the contest with the energy of civil war; Mr. Calhoun and Mir Yancy were on opposite sides, the leaders of the hostile bands, and tn idols of their respective hosts. There was, and is, for he still lives, man named Marvin, one of the most violent of Mir. Yancy's party, warn,- ly attached to him as personal and political friend and following him blindly as an infallible guide. He was a very eccentric man, and his peculiarites had perhaps led the people to call him Uncle Jacob, by which name he was bet. ter known than that of Marvin. Bitter in his preindcies and strong in his attachments, he could see no right in an enemy, no wrong in q friend On the other hand, MT. Yancy was one of the most amiable and candid men. The strength of his mind, combined with the toler- ancc ofhis feelings raised him above the meanness of clinging to error when reason opposed it. In the discussion that ensaed, Mir. Calhoun's argu- ments overpowcred him, and he candidly con fcsscd himself convert to his great rivals opinions. Great was the rage of Uncle Jacob when the heard that Yancy had struck co!ors to Calhoun He swore big oath that he would Mrah Calhoun if the story was true. He soon found that it was so, and started at once to put his threat into execution.
 He found Mir Calhoon walking slowly and calmly back and forth, for exercise, on the piaz- za of the hotel where he was boarding Mir Calhoun had been informed of Marvin's inter,- ton, and as soon as he saw him coming pre- pared himself for triumph, not of force, but of manner and address. Mr. Marvin took his stand where Mr. Calhoun was to pass, and awaited the trying moment Mir. Calhdon ap- proaeh.d, spoke kindly, and passed on with his hlandest smle. Again he passed, and again, each time repeating his soothing salutation, and expecting the man to commence his attack But strange fascination had seized upon Cn- clc Jacob the spell which genios throws over those who approach it, had uamanucd him. At last he could stand it TO longer, but busting in- to tears, he graspcd the preferred hand of Mr. Calhoun, told him frankly the errand on which he had come, and begged lis rardoa.- Mr. Calhoun then began to press his arguments cautiously but forc.bly, and in few minutes Marvin was one of his converts, and decided friend From that day onward Mir. Calhoun had no more ardent follower than Marvin, and of all rabid nulliiiers, Uncle Jacob was the rabbidest, and to this day he believes there never was such man in this world as that same Johu C. Calhoun whom he tried to whip, and who conquered him without raising a finger or say
 ing word.