Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-13

tion with John O. CalhOun-Letter from
Commodore Stewart.
BoRDERrowN, May 4, 1861.
My dear Sir /: Agreeably TO your request,
now furnish you with the "reminiscences Of a
conversation which passed between Mr.. John
9. Calhoun and myself in the latter part of
December, 1912, alter the declaration Of war
by the Congress of the United States against
Great Britain, ON the 18th Of the June pre-
vious. M 49,. 4e4
On the assembling of Congress in the early
part of December, found that an important
portion Of the leading Democratic members
OF Congress had taken up their quarters at
Mrs. Bushby's boarding house, among whom
was Mr.. Calhoun, new member from South
Carolina; and believe this was his first ap-
pearance in the House of Representatives.
In consequence of this, took Lieutenant
Ridgley, my confidential officer, aud the
First Lieutenant of the frigate Constitution,
of which vessel l then held the command,
and was preparing for sea at the Washington
Navy yard, left our lodgings at Strother's,
! and obtained board at Mrs. Bushby's with
| them. Ridgey was a witty and able talker,
| who could aid me in demonstrating the ne
cessity for, aud the high policy of a iOrmida-
bic naval force wherewith to carry on the
| war with England, which considered could
| only be done with effect through her being
! VIGOROUSLY struck at on an element over
which she deemed herself sole mistress. This
APPEARED TO me TO constitute her most tender
/ point. -..
By this movement / found myself Judi.
ciously located to enable me to urge upon
! Congress any patriotic measures which
seemed best calculated to meet and discomft
the self-suficiency and arrogance of our OPP
| pTessive enemy.
Mr.. Calhoun age thought approximated
my own, which was thirty. four; and, being
q man of the highest order of talent and
representing a State in our Union which
scarce ever permitted themselves to be rep
resented by inferior ability in the national
councils could not have commenced my
object with one more fitted for the purpose
| / had in view. He was also q high-minded
and honorable man, kind and friendly as
well as open and confdipg to those he
deemed worthy. We soon formed an inti-
macy, and frequently had long conversa-
tions with him on the war, the subjects rela-
ting thereto, and matters growing out of its
existence-the Navy being the most promi-
nent-the gun boats, the merchants bonds
then on the tapis in Congress, and other
matters of political or minor interest One
evening, l struck on, the divided views of
our sectional interests, of the war-stated to
him that the opposite feelings on this sub
ject had puzzled me exceedingly, aud asked
him how it was that the planting States
were so strongly and so decidedly in favor
of war, while the commercial States were so
much opposed to it With this latter sec
ton of our country it seems to me that the
punishment of England, through the me-
dunn of war, ought 10 meet their highest ap-
probation, and call for their greatest efforts,
aS they were the greatest sufferers through
her instIumentality and power over our
commercial affairs, since 1892, which were
so arrogantly urged by plunder and impress
ment on the highway of nations, while the
| Cc,tharp off fba TTnfOn had raIk b,,t
I little in comparison. l observed, with great
simplicity: "You in the South and South west
are decidedly the aristocratic portion of this
Union; you are so in holding persons in per
! petuity in slavery; you are so in every domes.
! tic quality; so in every habit of your lives
, living and actions; so in habits, customs
intercourse and manners; you neither work
with your hands, head, or any machinery,
but live and have your living, not in accord.
ance with the will of your Creator, but by
the sweat of slavery, and yet you assume al
the attributes, professions and advantages o.
Democracy. r,. .
Mr.. Calhoun replied II see you speal
through the head Of young statesman, ant
from the heart of patriot but you lose sigh
OF the politician and the sectional policy o
the people. | admit your conclusions In
! respect to us Soutberns. That we are essen
TALLY aristocratic, can not deny, bat We
can and do yield much to the Democracy
This is our sectional policy we are from
necessity thrown upon and solemnly welded
TO that party, however it may occasionally
clash with our feelings for the conservation
of our interests. 1t is through our affilatioI
with that party in the Middle and Western
! States that we hold power; but when W,
cease thus to control this nation through
! disjointed Democracy, or any material OBJ
stacle in that party which shall tend to throw
us out of that rule and control, we shall theI
resort to the dissolution of the Union. The
: compromises in the Constitution, under tht
=. circumstances, were sufficient for our fathers
but under the altered condition of our coun
try from that period, leave to the South NJ
resource but dissolution; fer no amendment
to the Constitution could be reached through
a convention of the people under their three
L fourtbs rule" / laughed incredulously, ant
said, "Well, Mr.. Calhoun, ere such can tax
place, you and will have been 30 long no
l. est that we can now laugh at its possibility
i and leave it with complacency to our chill
/ watch on deck"
!. Alas my dear sir, how. entirely were tn
: views of that ''young. headed statesman
: circumscribed by the patriot feelings of hi
: heart. What he then thought an impossi
bility for human hands to effect, for ages o.
d ages to come he now sees verified to tn
e letter as predicted by that far seeing states
|
a public is disrupted, its Constitution rent int
# shreds and tatters by party follies and tn
l. wickedness Of its peoples selfshness. Ha
,s they but inherited moiety of the virtues {
"a their fathers, who bled and impoveE
/. ished themselves through a long an
bloody war to establish the independents
It and liberty, welfare and happiness of thei
d posterity for all time to come; had the
d worshiped the true and living God instead {
/. the almighty dollar" they would not MOI
N have beheld the millions of patriots armin
for the strife against traitors to their coun
q try, TO the Constitution and the laws, ono
q more TO baptize in blood, for liberty's sakt
n the blessings which rational liberty accord
IT under our Union. Had prophet arisen
d 1872, and predicted as John Q. Calhoun dit
y nothing short of divine inspiration coul
ys have given credence to his foreshadowing
Alas, have lived TO see its accomplishment
IL He has gone to the tomb of his fathers, th
le pride of his section, honored for his talent
.. and for his efforts in council, while yor
p humble servant still fingers on the brinl
Of under the national anathema of degradation
es as q reward for many years of faithful SER
:. ices; which degradation was accorded hi
"a simultaneously with his reaching the hes
M of the service, to which his whole life ha
Is been devoted. You will see, my dear sir,
al have no disposition TO "bury my light undl
a bushel," but will ever be ready to accol
justice to whom justice is due. Thus
AT death we show the ruling passion strong
than in life, and as il is with individuals,
u It is with nations---the blackest spot four
le in the heart is ingratitude.
10 Accept the assurances of my regard al
In esteem. OHAS. STEWART.
" GEO. W. CHILDs, Esq, Philadelphia.
eE COMMODORE STEWART. ...
Commodore Charles Stewart was born
Or l77s, entered the navy in l1sS and becan
three years. In 1900, during the FrenC
war, he fought three engagements again
superior forces, and in each Instance captur,