Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-05-16
MR.. CALHOUN AND sBCBssIoN.
Remarkable Letter of Commodore Stewart,

cember, 1912, after the declaration Of war by
the Congress of the United States against Grea'
Britain on the 18th of the June previous.
On the assembling of Congress, in the earl,
part of December, | found that an important
portion of the leading Democratic members o.
Congress had taken up their quarters at Mr.:
Bushby's clearinghouse, among whom was Nj
Calhoun, a new member from South Carolina,
and, | believe, this was his first appearance in
the House of Representatives. In consequence
of thi, | took Lieut.. Ridgly, my confidential Of
fcer and the first lieutenant of the frigate Con-
stellation, of which vessel | then held the com
mand, and was preparing for sea at the Wash
ington Navy ard-left our lodgings at Stroth.
ers', and obtained board at Mrs Bushby's with
them. Ridgly was a witty and able talker, who
could aid me in demonstrating the necessity for.
and the high policy Of a formidable naval force,
wherewilh 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 consti-
tute her most tender point
by this movement found myself iudiciously
located to enable me to urge upon Congress any
patriotic measure which seemed best calculated
TO meet and discomit the self-suHciency and ar
rogance of our oppressive enemy.
Mr. Calhoun's age, ! thought, approximated
my own. which was then "a, and he being a man
OF the highest order of talent, and representing
a State in our Union which scarce ever permit
ted themselves to be represented by inferior
ability in the national councils, | could not have
commenced my object with one more fitted for
the purpose | had in view. lie was also a high
minded and honorable man, kind and friendly,
as wei as open and coniiding, to those he deem
ed worthy. We soon formed an intimacy, and
frequently had long conversations with him on
the war, the subjects relating thereto and mat.
tiers growing out Of its cxistence-the Navy be-
ing the most prominent--the Gunboats. the
Merchants Bonds. then on the tapis in Con-
gress, and others of political or minor interest.
One evening | struck on the divided views OF
our sectional interests Of the war--stated to Mr.
Calhoun that the opposition feelings on this
subject had puzzled me exceedingly, and asked
how it was that The Planting States were 50
strongly and So decidedly in favor Of the war.
while the Comm crcidl States were so much op-
posed to it, With this latter section of our
country, it seemed to INC that the punishment
Of England, through the medium of the war.
ought TO meet their highest appreciation and
call for their greatest efforts, as they were the
greatest sufferers through her instrnmentality
and power over our commercial affairs since
1892, which were so arrogantly urged by plum
der and lmpresSment on the highway Of nations,
while the southern portion of the Union had
felt but little in comparison. | observed, with
great simplicity, "You in the South and South
west are decidedly the aristocratic portion of
the Union. You are so in holding persons in
perpetuity in slavery; you are so in every do
nestle quality; so in every>habit of your lives,
living and actions so in habits, customs, inter-
course and manners; you neither work with
your hands, head nor any machinery, but live
and have your living, not in accordance with
the will of your Creator, but by the sweat of
slavery, and yet YOU assume all the attributes,
professions and advantages of democracy"
MIR Calhoun replied: 81 see you speak through
the head of a young statesman, and from the
heart of a patriot; but YOU lose sight of the
politician and the sectional policy of the people.
| admit your conclusions in respect to us South
rons-that we are essentially aristocratic. |
cannot deny but we can and do Weld much to
democracy this is our sectional policy. We
are from necessity thrown upon and ~solemnly
welded to that party, however it may OCCASION
ally clash with our feelings, for the conservation
of our interests. 1t is through our utilization
with that party in the Middle and Western
States we control, under the Constitution, the
governing OF the United States but when we
cease thus to control this nation through a dis.
Jointed democracy, or any material obstacle in
that party which shall tend to throw us out of
that rule and control, we shall then resort to
the dissolution of the Union. The compromi.
SEES in the Constitution, under the then circum-
stances, were sufficient for our fathers, but, un
der the altered condition of the country from
that period, leave to the South no resource but
dissolution; for no amendments to the Consti-
tuition could be reached through a Convention
OF the people and their three-fourths rule"
l laughed incredulously, and said "Well.
Mr. calhoun, ere such can take place, you and
l Will have been so long non est that we can
now laugh at its possibility, and leave it with
complacency to our children's children, who will
then have the watch on deck"
Alas my dear sir, how entirely were the
views of that ''young headed state man. cir
cumScribed by the patriot feeling of his heart.
What he thsn thought an impossibility for hui
man hands to effect, for ages on ages to come,
he now sees verified to the letter as predicted
by that far seeing statesman, John {. Calhoun.
Even this noble Republic is disrupted-its Con-
%stitution rent into shreds and ~tatters bv party
follies and the wickedness of the peoples sell
fShness. Had they but inherited a nroiety of
the virtues of their fathers, who bled and i'm
poyershed themselves through a long and
bloody war to establish the independence and
liberty, welfare and happiness of their p%osterity,
luI All tme 10 come: hau they worShlpped the
true and living God instead OF the almighty
dollar" they would not now have beheld the
millions of patriots arming for the strife against
traitors to their cOuntry-to the Constitution
and 10 the laws-once more to baptize in blood,
for I~ibcrty's sake, the blessings which national
liberty accords under our Union. Had a proph-
ct arisen in 1912 and predicted, as John {. Cal
houn did, nothing short of Divine inspiration
could have given credence to his foreshadow-
ings. Alas! ! have lived to see its accomplish
ment. lie has gone to the omb of his fathers,
the pride of his section, honored for his talents
and for his efforts in council, while your humble
servant still fingers on the brink, under the ma
tional anathema Of degradation-as n reward
for many years Of faithful seryice-which deg
radiation was accorded him simultaneously with
his reaching he head of the service to which
his whole life has been devoted.
You will see, my dear sir, | have no DISPOSE
ton to bury my light under a bushsl," but will
ever be ready to accord justice where justice is
due. Thus in death we show the ruling passion
stronger than in life, and as it is with individ-
uals, so it is with nations, the blacklist spot
found in the heart is ingratitude.
Accept my assurances of regard and respect,
CHAs. STEWART.
GEO. w. CnrLDs, Esq, Philadelphia.