New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-09
REMARKABLE CONVERSATION WITH JOIN
G., CALHOUN.
BETTER FROM COMMODORE STEWART.

BoRDEEToWN, Mey a, lSbl.
ny DEAR SIR: Acreeably TO Your request ] now
furri IA You with TIE "reminiscences Of a conversation
which passed between Mr.. John &, Calhoun and ny
sef in the latter part of December 1917, after TIE
declaration Of by the Congress OF the United
States against Great Britain, the 18th OF the June
preyiops.
On the assembling of Congress in the early part Of
December, 1 found that an important portion OF The
heading Democratic Members Of Congress lad taken
M their quarters at Mrs. Bushby boardlng'hOrse,
osrnoi whom wac Mr.. C'lhoWn, new member from
South Caroins-and believe this was his fret APP
poaroHce in the House Of REPRESENTATIVES In conee,
queue of tins, took Lieut.. Ridgey, my conhdeniil
officer and the First Lieutenant of the figate Const-
stS IN, Of which vessel then held the command, and
was pIepsl'ng for zen al the Washington Eavy-f ard,
left lodgings at strothers and obtained board a,
Mrs Bushby's with them. Ridgl y was a witty AID
allie iaser who could aid me in demonstrating the ne
cesy for, and the high policy Of "a formidable naval
force wheIewith 10 carry on the war with hugianc
which Z cor sidered could only be done with effect
Through her being victonously struck at ement
over which she deemed herself sole mistress This al-
peared to ire to constitute her most tender point.
By his movement found myself jucidiously located
70 cradle me TO urge upon Congress any patriotic meas
ures-7,ich seemed best calculated 70 meet and dis
CONS tie seliBueency and arrogance OF our oppress-
i've enemy.
which was 81 and, being man Of the highest order
oft lent and representing State III our Union which
esrce ever permitted themselves 10 be Represented by
ipfs Tor ability in the national councils could not
haye commenced my object with one more ht'ed for
the purpose L Rad in view. lie also O high
mi 1ed and honorable man. kind and friendly as well
a. open aud oOnfdog to those he deemed worthy. We
SOFA formed an intimacy, aud frequently had Iof
conversations with him on the war, the subjects rell
ting thereto and matters growing out OF It's existence
-4the Navy being the most promnent-the gunboats
the merchants bonds then on the tapis In Congress-
and other matters Of political or Moor interest. One
evening, struck on the divided views Of sectional
mtcreeis Of the war-sated 10 HIM that the opposite
feelings on this subject had puzzled me exceednglv
nd ked him how ~ that the Planting
were 30 ely and decidedly in favor OF the war
while the Commercial States much opposed 20
il. With this latter section Of our country u seemed
90 me that the pun hmert OF England through the
medium of war; ought TO meet their highest appFOa n
ton, and callor their greatest efforts they the
greatest sufferers through her fundamentally aud
power over our commercial affairs SINCE 1I!r2, which
were so aog0ntly urged by plumber and impressinen
on the highway OF nations, while the Southern portion
Of The Union lad fell bat little in comparison. OBJ
served With great simplicity, P" fou In the South and
South. West are decidedly tie aIistocratic portion of
sbis Union; you 80 in holding persons in
perpetuily in Slavery; you arc so in every
domestic quality; 60 in every habit OF your lives
living and actions; IN HABITS cu;tOme, intercourse
and manners you neit CT work with yonr hands head
nor any machinery, but live and have your living, not
IN accordance wi'h the will Of your Creator bdc by
the sweat OF Slavery, and yet you assume all the ai-
kntes prOfes siOns and advantages Of Democracy"
Mr. Calhoun replied: ~ zee you speak through the
head Of young statesman, and from the heart q q
patriot, but yon lose sight Of the politician aud the
sectional policy OF tlbe people. ADMIT your cOTciu-
ons in respect to rs Souhrons That We are essenti
ally arstocratic ca mot deny, hut we can and DO
yield much 20 Democracy. This is our sectional
policy; we are from necessity thrown upon and
soleinny welded 70 thi party, however il may
sionally ella with ours ceilings for the conserva Of
our interests. II is tht Ougb aiation with THAI
party in the Middle and Western States that we bold
power; bat when we czc4 thus 10 control this nation
through a disjQeted DE nOcracy, or any material
Obstacle in that party whia shall tend 10 throw out
Of that rule aud control we shall then resort TO the
dissolution Of the Union The compromises IN the
Constitution, under the circumstances were sufficient
for father bat under tL. altered condition of our
country from that PERIOD keave TO the South no
eource but dissolution; for amendments to the
Constitution could BIO reached through convention of
the people under their threefoNrths rule" laughed
and said, "Nell, Mr.. Calhoun, ere
such take place, you and lsIn have been long
son est, that we now laugh at its possibility, ana
leave il with competency TO cldsens childfau,
who viii then have the watch on deck."
Alas, nv dear Sir how entirely were the views OF
that "youDg hesded ststesmaD ciscumseribed by the
patriot feelings Of his heart. What be then thought
IN isnposeibiy for human hands 20 effect for agee
sges6o come, be yebed to the letter as pre-
ilcted by that farseeing statesman John T. Calhoun
Even tis noble Republic is disrupted, its Constitution
ent in1o shreaS and tatters by party foies and ne
nj EednAss Of lie peoples selsbness. Had they but
Inherited moety Of the virtues Of their fathers, who
lied aud ilnpoveiished themselves through long aud
oody War 81 establish the Independence and Liberty,
Welfare and happiness Of their postety for ell time 70
ONE; had they worsaped the true and living God
instead of the alni yhty dollar" they would not now
ave beheld the Millions Of patriots irning for the
tre against traitors 10 their country, 10 the Constitu
Ion and the lave, once .ofe 20 bapze in blood, for
bertys sake, the blessing Thch rational liberty ac-
oFds under our Union. HE'D prophet arisen in iSl2
I'd predicted az JOIN O. Calhoun old nothing short
dyape inspiration could have given credence 20 his
9reshadowings. ,Aias, have Lived to zee s accom-
iishmenti lie has gone TO the tomb Of his fAthers
DO pride OF his seop hoaord for his talents aud for
ih efforts ~ council while your humble servant stil
nge7s on the bnk, under The national snatbona of
eyifes,- which eegrada was accorded him sinil- q
sneoosl With his feacnS Che head Of the ,seTvse 10
'b'co his whole life had been devoted y9a win {