The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-06-02
John G. Calhoun.

More than thirty years ago. when it was customary
for gentlemen of the South to make long journeys
horseback, traveller, on winter evening, stopped
farm house in North Carolina and asked nights
lodging 1t cheerfully granted After the hos
pitable supper had been concluded, the stranger
sumed a meditative mood he sat with his large,
melancholy strained eyes fixed upon the fire, as if in
painful and prolonged thought. But the host
not disposed to indulge the silence of the stranger;
he was evidently determined on the reward which
the countryman in his situation usually exacted from
the traveller he enterained-a comfortable talk
the politics Of the times which all the better if
seasoned with argument and controversy. So poll
ties introduced the farmer, Henry Clay man,
and advocate of tariff, taking up nearly all the
ersation, talking at great rate, while his guest
and then nodded such distinct recognition be-
came a man listening from polteness rather than
from interest. Finally the voluby of the farmer
spent he had evidently exhausted his stock OF
argument.
When he had fairly got through, and enjoying
the silence Of the stranger proof of his conviction
the latter turned upon him, and looking him steadily
in the face. commenced remarkable speech that
lasted fully an hour. He became animated he
proceeded; he spoke in rapid decisive sentences;
he set cat with illustration of the tariff and free
trade in the wants and exchanges of neighborhood;
he evidently designed to bring the subject within the
grasp of his hearers mind and within the limits of
his personal experience; and although his images
were homely, his language was pure, his pronunca~
ton cultivated, and his manner slnguarly earnest.
The farmer had had the subject put to him in
this way before. He seemed to be impressed at
every sentence of the stranger the expression of
surprise and conviction grew steadily in his face: he
had the awakened and pleasing air of a man receiv-
ing truths. When the stranger had concluded
the conviction complete. Suddenly the silence
that ensued was broken, and after thoughtful
pause the farmer turned abruptly his guest, eyed
him from head to foot, and said, very deliberately
''You John G. Calhoun, of South Carolina. 81
am the quiet reply.
This anecdote-and the writer is prepared to prove
its authe ncity-s striking illustration of the pecu
liar STYLE the intellectual identity, of Mr. Calhoun
Exchange
| The above reminds us of an amusing occurrence
that happened in he good old days of stage riding
between Cheraw, s. c., and Fayetteville, n c. Mr.
Calhoun and Mr. McDufie, the U. S. Senators from
South Carolina, frequently travelled IN the stage
| from Cheraw via Fayetteville to Raleigh, on their
way to Washington. On one OCCASION an old friend
of ours a warm Henry Clay whig, was in the stage
with Calhoun and McDuffe, but lie did not know
them He commenced talking politics usual, and
was very violent in his denuncations of democrats
and all opponents of Clay Finally, he declared that
he would be pleased to such men as Calhoun and
McDufie hung high Hannah Mr. MeDufhe
turned round, and in smiling manner said, MIR
Calhoun how do you like that" whereupon our
Henry Clay friend made one bound and out of the
stage he went through the window, and could not be
induced to return. He waited for the next stage.