Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-03-24
NUMBER 10.
q singular story.
CALuOUN'S DREAM.

The following singular story was published
several years ago, and we now repuhlish it as
being peculiarly fitted for the consideration of
those who would inHict fatal stab upon our
institution, 1t was originally communicated by
the Washington correspondent of paper called
the Qaaker Ctiy, Mr. Calhoun's dream was
singular one. We have no faith in appartions
or inspired dreams, but If anything could lead
the ghost of the Father of his Country" to
revisit the realms beneath the moon, it would be
the thought that his beloved country was in
danger of disunion, which would be but another
name for civil war We give the story for what
it is worth:
WAsuINGToN. Jan. u.
Mr.. EDtroR The other morning at the
breakfast table, our friead, the Hon. J Ohm c.
Calhoun, seemed very much troubled and out of
spirits You know he is altogether venerable
man, with hard, stern Scotch-lrish face, sot-
4 tened in its expression around the mouth by
sort Of sad smile which wins the heart of all
who converse with him. His hair is snow white.
lie is tall, thin and angular lie 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 offered up the shrine of that necessity
which he worShips, all that can excite ambition
--evcn the Presidency of the United States.
But to my story The other morning at the
breakfast table, whore !, an undiscovered spec
tatar, happened to be present, Calhoun was
observed to gaze frequently at his right hand,
and brush it with his left in a hurried and uerv-
ous manner He did this so often that 1t excited
attention. AT length one of the persons com
posing the breakfast party (his name, think.
is Toombs, and he is member of Congress from
Georgia,O took upon himself to ask the occasion
of Mr.. Calhoun : diSquletude.
Does your hand pain your he asked
To this MIR. Calhoun replied, IN rather fur
ried manner "Pshaw II IS nothing only
dream which | had last night, and that makes
me see perpetually Il black spot--like an ink
hloteh-upon the back OF my right hand. An
optical lusiou suppose
or course these Words excited the curiosity
of the company, but no one ventured to beg the
details of this singular dream, until Toombs
asked quietly
"What was your dream like l am not very
superstitious about dreams, but sometimes they
have a good deal OF truth in them.
But this was such peculiarly absurd
DREAM said Mr.. Calhoun, again brushing the
back Of his right hand r." however, il it does not
too much intrude upon the time of our friends,
/ wilt relate IL to you"
OF course the company were profuse in thcr
expressions Of anxiety 20 know all about the
dream. In his slngulariy sweet voice Mr. Cal
i hOun related il
At late hour last night, as was sitting in
my room engaged in writing, | WAS astoAished
by the entrance Of visitor, who entered aud
without word took a seat opposite me at my
| table This surprised me- as | had given par
! n 1
occasion be disturbed. The manner in which
The intruder entered, perfectly self possessed.
taken his seat opposite me, without word, as
though my room and all within 1t belonged to
him. excited in me as much surprise as iDdigna-
tion AS | raised my head to look into his
features, over the top OF my shaded lamp, dis
covered that he was wrapped in a thin cloak,
which efirctualy concealed his face and features
from my view. As raised my head he spoke:
What you writing, Senator from South
Caroliua?'
did not think of his impcrtinence at first, but
answered him voluntarily
81 am writing plan for the dissolution of
the American Uuion," (you know, gentlemen, |
am expected to produce plan of dissolution in
the event Of certain contugenees)
To this the intruder replied, in the coolest
manner possible:
''Senator from South Carolina will you allow
me to look at Your hand right hand ~
d" He rose, the cloak fell, and behed his face.
Gentlemen, the sight of that face struck me like
a thunder clap. 1t was the face of dead man,
whom extraordinary events had called back To
life. The features were those of General George
Washington; yes gentlemen, the intruder was
none other than George Washington He was
dressed in Revolutionary costume, such as you
see preserved in the Patent Office"
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused apparently much
a9itatcd. His agitation, | need not tell you,
was shared by the company Toombs at length
broke the embarrassing pause WELL well.
what was the issue of this scene 20 Mr.. Calhoun
resumed
This intruder, as have said, rose and asked
to look at my right hand. As though had not
the power to refuse, extended it. The truth
Is felt strange chill pervade me at his touch
he grasped it and held it near the light, thus
afording me full time to examine avery feature
Of his face. 1t was the face Of Washington. gen
temen. | shnddered as | bcheld the horribly
dcad-altUe look Of that visage After holding
my hand for moment, he looked at me steadily,
and said in quiet way
"And with this right hand, Senator from
Carolina, you would sign your name to a paper
declaring the Union dissolved?'
| answered in the affirmative. Yes, said I,
If a certain contingency arises will sign my
name to the Declaration of Dissolution But at
that moment black blotch appeared on the
back of my hand-an inky blotch that | seem to
see even now. What is that?' cried |, alarmed,
| know not why, at the blotch upon my hand"
"'That,' said he, dropping my hand, that is
the mark by which Benedict Arnold is known in
the next world
lie said no more, gentlemen, but drew from
beneath his cloak an object which he placed
upon the tabe-placed it upon the very paper
on which | was writing, That object, gentle
men, was a skeleton
"'There' said he, there the bones of
Isaac Hayne, who was hung in Charleston by the
British. He gave his life ln order to establish
the Union. When you put your name to
DeClaFatlOu oi DlaaViu''un' why you may 40 Mci
have the bones Of Isaac Ilaync before you. He
was a South Carolinian, aud are you. But
there was no blotch upon his right hand
With these words the intruder left the room
started back from the contact with the dead
mans bones and--awoke. 0verworn with Labor
had fallen asleep and been dreaming. Was it
not a singular dream 2"
DRAMArIc-The San Francisco CaA learns that
Mrs. Estelle Potter Mcdonald is about to COM
mence an engagement in one of The theaters in
that city