Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-03-10
A SINGULAR STORY.
cALHoUN's DREAM.

being peculiarly fitted for the consideration Of
those who would inhict fatal stab upon our
institutions. II was originally communicated
by the Washington correspondent Of paper
called the Quaker City, Mr.. Calhouns dream
was a singular one. We have no faith in ap-
partitions or inspired dreams, but il 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 below
ed country was in danger of disunion, which
would be but another name for civil war. We
give the story for what it is worth:
WASHINGTON. Jan. u.
Nix: EUIruF-: fhg other morning ut the
breakfast table, our friend, the Hon. John {.
Calhoun, seemed very much troubled and out
of spirits. You know he is altogether ven.
cradle man, with a hard, stern ScotchIrish
face, Sohtencd 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. He is tall, thin and angular
He reminds you very much Of Old Hickory.
That he is honest, no one doubts he has sac.
rifccd to his fataliSm his brightest hopes Of
political advancement-has offered up on the
shrine Of that necessity which he wOrShips,
all that can excite ambition-even the Presi-
dency Of the United States.
OuS W otOiy AHC at VIZ
breakfast table, where |, an unobserved spec.
tator, happened to be present, Calhoun was OBJ
served to gaze frequently at his right hand,
and brush it with his left in hurried and
nervous manner. He did this so often that it
excited attention. At length one Of the per-
sons composing the breakfast party (his name,
| think, is Toombs, and he is q member of
Congress from Georgia), took upon himself to
ask the occasion Of Mr.. Calhoun'S diSqnietude.
Does your hand pain you!" he asked.
: LFu-tthis Mr.. Calhoun replied, in rather a
hurred manner: "PShaw! 1t is nothing -
Only dream which had last night, and that
makes me see perpetually black spot-like
an ink blotch-upon the back of my right
hand. An optical deusion, ! suppose"
OF course these words excited the curiosity
Of the company, but no one ventu-cd to beg
the details Of this singular dream, until ToombS
asked quietly:
- i" VIII was your dream like Al am not
very superstitious about dreams, but some
times they have good 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 too much intrude upon the time OF our
friends, | will relate it to YOU"
> Of course the company were profuse in
their expressions of anxiety to know all about
the dream. In his SIngularly sweet voice Mr..
Calhoun related it:
AT late hour last night, as was sitting
in my room engaged in writing, was aston
ished by the entrance Of a visitor, who enter
ed and without word took seat opposite
me at my table. This surprised me, as had
given particular orders to a servant that
should on no occasion be disturbed. The
manner in which the intruder entered, so per-
fectly selfposSessed, taking his seat opposite
me, without word, as though my room and
all within it belonged to him, excited in me as
much surprise as indignation. AS raised my
head to look into his 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 head he spoke: air
"What are you writing, Senator from South
Cardinal"
did not think of his impcrtinence at first,
but answered him Voluntarily
am writing plan for the dissolution Of
the American Union" (you know, gentlemen,
| am expected to produce a plan of dissolution
in the event Of certain contingencies.)
To this the intruder replied, in the coolest
manner possible:
"Senator from South Carolina, will you al
low me to look at your hand-your right
hand ?"
"He rose, the cloak fell, and beheld his
face. Gentlemen, the sight of that face struck
me like 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, gentle
men, the intruder was none other than George
Washington. lie was dressed in Revolution
airy costume, such as you see preserved in the
Patent Office"
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused apparently much
agtated. 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?" Mr.. Cal
houn resumed:
"This intruder, as have said, rose and
asked to look at my right hand. AS though
/ had not the power to refuse, extended 1t.
The truth is, felt strange chill pervade me
at his touch; he grasped it and held it near
the light, thus affOrding me full time to ex-
anime every feature Of his face 1t was the
face of Washington, gentlemen. shuddered
as beheld the horribly deGd-alire look of
that visage. After holding my hand for
moment, he looked at me steadily, and said in
a quiet way
"And with this right hand, Senator from
Carolina, you would sign your name to pa
per declaring the Union dissolved?"
~ answered in the affirmative. Yes, said
|, If certain contingency arises l 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
I, alarmed, know not why, at the blOtch up
on my hand"
"'rhat,' said he, dropping my hand, that
is the mark by which Benedict Arnold is
known in the next world
He said no more, gentlemen, but drew
from beneath his cloak an object which he
placed upon the table-placed it upon the very
paper on which was writing That object,
gentlemen, was skeleton"
"'There,' said he, there are the bones of
Isaac Hayne, who was hung in Charleston by
the British. He gave his life in order to estnb-
lish the Union. When you put your name to
Declaration of Dissolution, why you may as
well have the bones of Isaac Haync before you
He was South Carolinian. and so are YOU
But there was no blotch upon bis right hand
with these words the intruder left the
room. started back from the contact with
the dead mans bones and-awoke Overworn
with labor had fallen asleep and been dream
ing. Was it not singular dream?'