The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-02-22
John C. CaIhoun's Dream.

The following curious production was ori.
gnSliy written by George Lippard, and was
attributed to Mr.. Calhoun as dream, about
the time of the stormy sectional agitation
which preceded the adoption of the Com,
promise measures of 1850:
Mr.. Calhoun, it seems, was drawing u2
plan for the dissolution of the Union, when,
late at night, being very much exhausted, he
fell asleep and had the following dream, as
related by himself:
eat late hour last night, as was sitting
in my room writing, was surprised at the
very unceremonious entrance of visitor,
who came in and took seat opposite me.
was more annoyed, as had given strict
orders to the servants that should on no
account be disturbed.
"The manner in which he entered-per.
fectly selfposse a seat opposite
me-without a word, no salutation-no apol.
ogy-as though my room and all within it
belonged to him, excited in me as much sur
prise as indignation. AS raised my head
to look at him over the top of the shaded
lamp, l discovered that he was wrapped in a
thin cloak, which completely hid his features
from my view /; and as | raised my head, he
spoke:
What are you writing, Senator from South
Carolina 2 did not think of his imperti.
nence at first, but answered him nvoluntar
ily-'I am drawing up plan for the dissou.
tion of the American Union = To this the
intruder replied in the coolest manner pos
sible:
Senator from South Carolina, will you
allow me to look at your right hand =
He arose, and as he did so the cloak fell
and beheld-GREAT GoD GENTLEMEN
l BEHELD THE FORM OF GEORGE WASHING
TON
AS though had no power to resist, ex
tended my right hand. l felt a strange chill
pervade me at his touch he grasped it anc
held it near the light, thus affording me full
time to examine every feature of his face
and particularly of his person. 1t was tht
face Of Washington, and he was dressed il
the uniform Of the Revolution. After hold
ing my hand for q moment, looking steadil,
at me, he SAID, in q quiet way:
'And with this right hand, Senator from
South Carolina, you would sign your nor
to paper declaring the Union dissolved :!
'Yes,' said l, 'if certain contingency ari
ses will Just at this moment a blac
spot appeared on the back of my hand
S seem to see it even now whats that
. cried |, in alarm, why is that black spot o
my hand =
, THAT said he, dropping my hand, 'is tn
mark by which Benedict Arnold is know
in the next world =
He said no more, but drew from beneat
, his cloak an object which he placed upo
the table on the very paper on which l ha
been writing. The object, gentlemen, wa
a skeleton
There said he, with emphasis, 'there az
= the bones OF 1sauc Hayne, who was hung b
s the British in Charleston. He gaze his Ii
B TO establish The Union. And when you sig
l.. your name to a declaration of dissolution
. you may as we'll have the bones of Isau
9 Hayne before you. He was South Care
e linian, and 50 are you but no bIotch ,Oas q
his hand =
D With these words he lef! the room.
S started from the contact with the dead man
IS bones and awoke ! Overworn by labor,
n had fallen asleep and been dreaming"
o Many other instances might be rected
y show that some Of the most important even
n to man that have occurred since order. WI
Il brought forth from chaos, and the Almigh'
rolled the planets from His palm and set Il
# spheres in motion, have been more or le
r, connected with dreams. May not this drea
rs of Calhoun'o have happy Influence on Il
Is perpetuty of our glorious and happy UnioI