Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-04-06
Mtsttllanp.
..COn science Doth Make COwardS
of Us ALL"

....-...r.. Oh u > ALI
The following strange story appeared,
before the death of Mr.. Calhoun, and was
always understood to be correct and true in
every particular: .....,
The other morning at the breakfast ta-
be, our friend Hon. John G. Chloun
seemed very much troubled, and out of
spirits. You know he is altogether
a venerable man, with a hard, stern
Scotch Irish face, softened in its express
sion 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 and angular. He
reminds YOU very much Of Old Hickory.
That he is honest, no one doubts; he has
sacrificed to his fatalism his brightest
hopes of political advancement---has off
cred up on the shrine of that necessity
which he worships all that can excite to
ambition, even the Presidency of the Uni
ted Statos.
But to my story. The other morning
at the breakfast-tablc, where /, an unob
ser we'd spectator, happened to be present,
Calhoun was observed to gaze frequently
at his right hand, and brushed it with his
left in hurried and nervous manner
lie did this so often that it excited atten
ton. At length one Of the persons COM
posing the breakfast party name 1
think is Toombs, and he is member of
Congress from Georga-took upon him
self to inquire as to the occasion of Mr..
Calhoun's disquietude.
"Does your hand pain you?" he asked
of Mr.. G.
To this Mr.. Calhoun replied, in rather
furried manner.
"Pshaw! 1t is nothing! Only dream
had last night, which makes me see per-
petually large black spot, like an ink
blotch, on the back of my right hand. An
optical illusion, suppose" ......
OF course these words excited the curl
osity Of the company, but no one VEN
tured to beg the detail of this singular
dream. until Mr.. Toombs asked quietly:
"What was your dream like? I'm not
very superstitious about dreams; but some
times they have great 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 intrude too much on the time of
our friends will relate it to you"
Ofcourse the company were profuse
in their profession of anxiety to know all
about the dream. In his singular, sweet
voice, Mr.. G. related it: .t
"At late hour last night, was sit
ting in my room engaged in writing; l was
astonished at the enterance of a visitor,
who entered and without word took seat
opposite me at my table. This surprised
me as / had given particular orders TO
the servant should on no account be dis
turbed. The manner in which the intru-
der entered, SO perfectly self possessed, ia
king his seat opposite me. withouta word
as though my room and all within it be-
longed TO him, excited in me as much sur
prise as indignation. AsI raised my head
to look into bis features, over the top of my
shaded lamp, l discovered that he was
wrapped in thin cloak. which effectually
concealed his face and features from my
view. AS | raised my hand he spoke:
"What are you writing, Senator from
South Carolina?"
81 did not think of his impertinenc0 Al
first, but answered him voluntarily:
81 am writing plan of the dissolution
Of the Union;" you know, gentlemen
that | au expected to produce plan o
dissolution, in the event of certain con
tingencies.
ITO this the intruder replied, in the cool
est manner possible:
.'Senator from South Carolina, will yol
allow me to look at your hand-yOur righ
hand?''', s,-e'~-