Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-01-03
John c. CaIhoun's vision.
4 CHAPTER ron DIsuSIoSIsTs- MOST SIN
GULAR DREAM.

so, by its Washington corr espon lent, and
was, at that time, quite generally copied
into the papers of the day. Read it, all
you who would sever with unhalloweJ
hands the sacred bonds that ante in peace
and prosperity all the God given bless
iings iinp that have I5esceudel to us from for
msr gcnerations:lo a,e. esie. 81
Nh. cALmouS's DREAM. iae1
Mn EpIToE: The other morning, at the
breakfast table, bar friend. the Hon. j. @.
Calhoun, seemed very much troubled and
out Of spirits You know he is altogether
a venerable man, with hard stern, Scotch
Irish face. softcned in its expression around
the mouth by a sort Of sad smile, which
wins the eye ofaall who converse with him
His hair is snowy white. He is thin. tall
and angular. He reminds Won very much
of Old Hickory That he is honest. no
one doubts; he has sacrificed to his fatal
ism his brightest hopes of political ad-
vancement-has offered up on the shrine
Of that necessity which lie worships. all
that can excite ambition-even the Presi-
dency OF the United States. ls .faesi1
. But tony story: The other morning at
the brsakfast table. where ], an unobser-
vel spectator. happened to be present.
Calhoun was observed to gaze at his right
hand, and brush it with his left in hur-
rieil, and nervous manner He did this so
often that it excited attention. 3 AT length
one Of the persons, composing the, break
fast party. (ToombS.,ia member of Con-
gress from Georgia, took il upon himself
to ask the occasion Of Mr. Calhoun's dis
quietude. ssaa sasT asai.. OF
does your hand pain you?" he asked
To. this Mr.. Calhoun replied in rather a
Aurried manner, '.Pshawl 1t is nothingl
Only dream which | had last night. aud
that makes me see perpetually black spot
= upon the back of my right hand; opti-
cal delnsion, suppose -aT ~
OF course these words exciteI the Curl
osity of the company. but no ono begged
the details of this singular dream. until
Toombs asked, quietly: - ro;,rofa ...
What was your dream like9 Lam not
very supcrstitious about dreams, but some
times they have a good deal of truth in
them" ~ .-. y-,.s
"But this was such peculiarly absurd
dream" said Mr.. Calhoun, again brush
ing the hack OF his hand; rhowever, if it
does not too much obtrude upon the time
of onr friends. will relate il 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: se'g.l
cat late hour last night. as was sit
ting in my room engaged in writing. l was
astonished by the entrance of visitor.
who, without word. took a seat opposite
me at my table. This surprised me, as i
had given particular orders to servant
that L should on no occasion be disturbed.
The manner in which the intruder entered,
SO pc fectly seli-posscssej, taking his seat
opposite me, without a wesI, as though
my room and all within belonged to him.
excited within me as much surprise as in
dignation. AS raised my head to look
into his features, over the top of my sha-
ded lamp, | discovered that be was wrap
ped in a thin cloak. which efTectually con-
cealed his features from my view. AS j
raised my head he spoke:
What are you doing. Senator from
Carolina"
Il 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 cool
est manner possible:
Senator from South Carolina, will you
allow me to look at your hand-your right
hand?''
"Hc rose; the cloak fell. AMI beheld
his face. Gentlemen, the sight of that
face struck me like thunder clap. 1t was
the face Of a dead man. whom cxtraordi-
nary events had called back to life The
features were those of General George
Washington; yes. gentlemen. the intruder
was none other than George Washington.
He was dressed in Revolutionary costume,
such as you see preserved in the Patent Of
fcc." - m
Here Mr.. Calhoun pauscl. apparently
much agitated His agitation. l need not
tell you, was shared by the company bIr.
Toombs at length broke the embarrassing
pause "Well. we'll, what was the issue
of this scene?'' Mr.. Calhoun resumed:
1.-The intruder. as have said. rose and
asked to look at my right hand As tho
had not the power to rsfuse. extended
il. The truth is, felt strange thrill per-
wade me at h;stouch; he graspcd it and
held it near the light. thus affor.ling me
full time to examine every feature of his
face. 1t was tho face of George Wash
ington. gentlemen. / shuidered as | be-
held the horrible deal-aliue look of that
visage. After holding my hand for mo-
mcnt. he looked at me steadily, and said in.
a quiet way: f
'.And with this hand, Senator from
South Carolina, you would sign your na.ae
to a paper declaring the Union dissolved?"
u answered in the affirmative. YES"
said !. ''if a certain contingency arises, |
will sign my name to the Declaration of
But at that momen. black
blotch appeared ON the back Of my hand |
Ian inky blotch that i seem to see now.
''What is that?' cried /, alarmed, l know
not why. at the blotch upon my hand
THAT, said he. dropping my hand. |
that is the mark by which Benedict Ar
mold is known in the next world."
z "He said no more. gentlemen, but drew
from beneath his cloak an object which he {
u L. l. 4 n