The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-01-12
I III E DISpATC III.
WEDNESDAY MORNING ..... JANUARY -, Isss
Mr. Caiheun's Religious Views.

0s
correspondent OF the Eramiaey communicate
for publication in that paper, the following letter
from MIR. CaAIIr, who was tho intimate friend O,
Mr.. CALHOUN for many Of the latter years Of his
life, and who by his request became the Editor o,
bis life aud writings, after his death. Mr. CsAiLIs
letter was private commu nication to friend, In
answer to some inquiries relative to Mr. CsiHous's
religious opinions. Mr.. CRsLLr, ia imparting the
desired information, a runs muck with nearly
the whole catalogue Of Christian Churches. Though
some Of them as they progrsss In the psrusai Of
his satire, may take an inward pleasure ia his sar-
cAsms before they ge. through they will likely all
nnd matter ef quarrel with tho learned Editor and
bographer, who himself esraUses the doctrines OF
that communion which he styles the Lords Nsg
Church." viz: the A" swedenbor sian" But to the
letter:
MEApowdRovE, Dec. 10, 1853.
MI DEAR SIa l cheerfaliy reply to the inquiry
contained in your favor of the 9th inst, received
a day or two since--not only In respect to you
but In justice to the memory of Mr.. Calhoun, who
as On many other subjects, has been often aud
| grossly misrepressnted, lie was never connected
with, or, TO use the vulgar phraseology,) "be.
longed" TO any of the deBom nations Of the so.
called Christian Church. His understanding was
| too exalted, too clear and trashfnily trained to
yield blind obedience TO the miserable dogmas OF
MAkER, and net TO weak and perhaps wicked men
| tor his Faith; nor did he trust the mighty inte.
rests OF the future to the preposterou yet pleasant
Inventions of councils, conventions, and other rel
sious c1ueuses. lie though, for himself, de.
iermined for himself, acted for himself aud
doubtless never dreamed, ia life or in death
OF shonnipg responsibility by Seeking shelter
behind any mental intercessor. He certainly
never conhded in the sslvatory virtues of Priests
prayers purchased at tIco cents apece-nor on the
imputed Righteousness of his Lord aud Msster-iu
itself. fsrtifenor on original eectsen aud predes
tindsioa TO heaven-n0i on classification Jy fuiM
oHiy"-ths most awful delusion that Ter took DOS
session of the human mind-nor on irreststfbi,
grace" and the fiusi perseverance Of the S1ints
VIZ: oURsELyes-that sweet yet deadly morseI in
the mouth of sieners-nor yet in the moral inyul.
nerability resulting from being soused heels over
head in IA hosse.po'ad somewhat after the manner
adopted by the mother Of Paris, the res, of Troy
To ell these th at ave SO y ed
| iniQuty broadcast throughout The Christian orb
he bow ed in silence; but bis head and his ksay1
were far from them. He looked TO the COMMAND.
NENTs of his Creator, as prescribing the rule both
Of Fdith and OF life and never have seen a Blan
| who, ip mortal iuhrmity. SO seldom violated them
| l might, indeed, well use the language employed
by the biographer of Charles James Fox, (and there
| were many points of strong resemblance between
| these two distinguished men) in respect to this
! whole subject Though Ur. F6x 10ds no forma
yeiigonis yet the essence Of religion, tchich centres
ia charity toas the predominant sensation Of has heart
~ Tetytot CofStSt " OtgFS Us tCOtuu Gtu
they sho,.ld do unto US: If i hare any connection
tuih hOly eHdeGrOr TO preSerpe peace on earth ana
good Uii among men-(aui what Christian will deny
this? then tcN venture TO say that Mr. For ,ott
never Ddde any shos0 Of religion aocs in fact on.
Of the most religious men Of the age"
| This language is eniuenty descriptive of the
| religious character of Mr.. Calhoun. He made ns
outward show Of conventional sanctity; but re.
| gerded religion as al irresistible aud essentia
property of the inner man, aud not the mere cut
ward faculty of the face, knees, hands aud tongue
| But Notwithstanding the deatity of his views il
| this respect, you were misinformed when told tha
| he " "S,oedenbOr9idH,"-a term of reproaci
very self-complaisantly applied by our Bishops dut
other clergy 10 designate the Lords Ne,o Garcl.
of whose peculiar tenets they are, ntesSey YER,
profoundly ignorant, but, at the same time aeoac
toiy, very profoundly informed. That Mr.. Calhoun
ever adopted these peculiar tenets, is unknown L
me. 1t is true that he very fond of discussin,
| such utjacts IN his leisure hours and often mad
the philosophical and theological views Of the Church
| the subjects OF our evening conversations. Yet
| am 10y no means au authorised to say that he eve
! seriously considered them az articles of religion
| faith. The truth is, his time was too much en-
crossed by the never1ceasing Iabors of his publ
ife to NIT Of this. have, indeed heard throug gl
one of his distinguished friends-a mem ber of Con
gress from South CaroIina-that in his last illness
he expressed strong convictions of the truth of th
Doctrines, but this may be rather inference tha
| a tdct His last conversation with me, howeve,
(Which shall shortly publish, perhaps in the Rich
mond Erdainer,) would seem to lend some color t
| the impression.
! With kindiiest feelings and respect, am you
obedient servant.
RICHARD X. CRALLE.