The Nevada Democrat., 1860-03-14
JOHN G. cALHoUN,s DREAM


A correspondent Of the Mississippi Whig has
cut from an anonymous pamphlet an sseosni
Of . dream Of Mr.. Calhoun, about tho time Of
the stormy sectional agitation which preceded
the adoption Of the Compromise measures Of
1860.
Mr.. Calhoun, it seems, was drawing up plar
for the dissolution Of the Union, when late si
night, being very much exhausted, he fell
asleep and had the following dream, as related
by himself:
At a late hour last night, as was sitting in
my room writing, was surprised ut the very
unceremonious entrance Of . visitor, who came
In and took seat opposite me.
was more annoyed, as had given strict Or
ders to the servants that should on no account
be disturbed
The manner in which he entered-perfectly
sslf-possessed- taking seat opposite me-with-
out q word, no salutation-no apology--as
though my room and all within 1t belonged to
him, excited in me as much surprise as indigna.
ton. As raised my head to look at him over
the top OF my shaded lamp l discovered that
he was wrapped in thin cloak, which COM
pletely hid his features from my view; and,
raised my head, he spoke.
unt arc yOu WIlblnB, Deuator from OOubn
Carolina W did not think of his impertinence
ct first, but answered him involuntarily-I am
drawing upa plan for the dissolution of the
American Union To this the intrdsr replied
as in the coldest possible manner:
Senator from South Carolina, will you al
low me TO look at your right hand I"
He arose, and as he did 60 the cloak fell, and
beheld-Great God Gentlemen! beheld
the form OF George Washington
As though had no power to resist, extend
cd my righ hand. felta strange chill per-
wade me at his touch-he grasped il and held Il
near the light, thus affordng me full time to
examine every feature of his face, aud particu
larly of bis person. 1t was the face of Wash
ington. and be was dressed in the uniform OF
the Revolution. After holding my hand for o
moment, looking steadily at me, ho said In .
quiet way:
"And with this right hand, Senator from
South Carolina, you would sign ysur name to
paper declaring the Unien dissolyedf,
Yes, said /, II a certain contingency arises,
will. just at that moment black blotch ap.
peared on the back Of my hand seem to see
II even nowf What 10 that? cried in alarm
why Is that black spot on my hand?
"That, said he, dropping my hand, is the
mark by which Benedict Arnold is known In
the next world"
ne saIu no more, sut dreW from beneath bis
cloak an object which he placed upon the table
on the very paper on which had been writing
The object, gentlemen, was a skeleton!
"There said he, with emphasis, "there are the
bones Of Isaac Hayne, who was hung by the
British In Charleston. He gave his life TO es
tablish the Union. And when you sign your
name to declaration of dissolution you may
as we'll have the bones of Isaac Hayns before
you. lie was South Carolinian, aud SO are
you but no blotch was on his hand"
With these words he left the room. started
from the contact with the dead mans bones
and awoke Overworn by labor, had fallen
asleep and been dreaming.
Many other instances might be reoised tc
show that some Of the most important. events
to man that have occurred since order wa,
brought forth from chaos, and the Almighty
rolled the planets frow His palm and set th,
spheres in motion, have been more or less con
nscted with dreams. May not this dream O
Calhoun's have happy influence on the perpe
tuity of eur glorious aud happy Unioni