The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-06-12
REMARKABLE CONVERSATION WITH
MIR. CALHOUN.
He predicted Secession nearly ftt, gear. ago.

1A' P''t''''" 'eeeeseof' "ed'tyygty LtdFs ago
\ private letter from tie venerable Commo-
dore Stewart Is published in the eastern papers
IN which h. gives very interesting account of
a conversation which he held with The late John
{. Calhoun. at Washington. in December. 1872
Com. Stewart had cultivated very friendly re-
lations with the South Carolina Representative
and frequently discussed political matters with
him. On one occasion the conversation turned
upon point, of unusual importance and j. thus
described in the letter:
One evening. | struck on the divided views
of our sectional interests of the war-siatCd To
him that the opposite feelings on this subject
tad puzzled me exceedingly. and asked him how
il was that the Planting States were SO strongly
and - decidedly in favor of the war. while the
Comm REAL States were 80 much opposed Ia il.
" WIth tins latter section oi our country II seem ii
to me that the punishment of England, throu n
the medium OF war, ought 10 Meet their highest
appreciation. and call for their greatest ,ilort
as they were the greatest suffer r. through her
instrumentality aud power over oar commercial
| affairs. since 1892, which were - arrogantlv
urged by plunder and imprc>smcnt on the high
way ot nations, while the southern portion of
the Union had felt but little IN comparisol /
| observed, with great simplicity, E" You in the
South and Southwest are decidedly the aristo-
cratic portion of the Union Won are 80 in
holding persons IN pcrpetuiiy IN slavery; you
are 10 IN every domestic quality; ~ IN every
habit of your lives. living aud actions; in
habits. customs. intercourSeS 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. tut
by the sweat OF Slavery. and Yet you assume all
the attributes. professions aud advantages oi
/ Democracy
~ 81
| through the head of "A young statesman and
| from the heart of patriot. but you lose sight
OF the politician and the sectional policy of The
| people. | admit your conclusions in respect To
| us SOuthronS That we are essentially arisio-
cratic, / cannot deny but we can and do Weld
much To DemocTacy. This Is our sectional
| policy; we are from necessity thrown upon and
welded to that party. however it may occasion
\ ally clash with our feelings for the conservation
/ of our interests. II as hrongh our offhnjoi
/ ,cjh that party an the Middle and Western State,
that re hold po,rer bit arhen rs cease thus 10
control his nation Through a dtsojnted Democ
racy, or any material obstacle in hat part,
rhich shall tend TO fhrO'r ts out Of that raie ana
control, zee shall then resort TO the dissolution oJ
/ the Union.
The compromises in the Constitution, under
/ the circumstances. were su.lc ent for our faith
ers; but under the altered condition from that
period. leave to the South no resource but dis
| solution; for no amendments To the ConstitG.
| tion could he reached through convention OF
| the people under their threc-iourths rule"
| | laughed ncrcdulOusly and said:
| well. Mr.. Calhoun, ere such can take place
| you and / will have been 50 long non est. thai
We can now laugh AT its possibility. and leave il
with complaccncy 10 our children's children
who will then have the watch on deck"
! Alas, how entirely were the views of that
/ young head statesman circumscribed by the
/ patr otic feelings OF his heart. What he then
thought an impossibility for human hands to ef
feet for ages on ages to come. h. now sees veri
fed to the letter a predicted by that far seeing
statesman John &. Calhoun.