The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-01

SHOW so H
Zone false conception is that which Carlisle
to that Kings relation to his wife, which you
may read for yourself; and the second is, that
1t Is untrue that the unfortunate quarrel be-
tween Calhoun and Jackson originated IN an
attempt made by Jackson to force Mrs. Eaton
on certain society In Washington. He again
and again informed all concerned, that social
intercourse was matter of which each had
right to Judge for himself, and that he would
In no wise attempt to control it,
THE REAL CAUSE OF cALHorNs soURNEss.
Even the most superficial observer of Aneri-
can politics might know, that with our public
men questions as to social intercourse were
usually secondary to political aspirations, and
Mr.. Calhoun formed no exception.
He disliked Eaton for preferring Van Buren
to himself for President, and Mrs. Calhoun's
dislike of Mrs. Eaton followed that OF her hus-
band, and not the reverse. Jackson's Cabinet
was, as cabinets in republics are too often, the
focus of movements for the succession. Ing
ham, Branch and Bcrricn were Calhoun men.
while Eaton Barry and Van Buren himself
were Van Buren, men. AS soon as Calhoun
and his friends knew, or thought they knew,
that Jackson inclined to the little Dutchman,
there was fax for political confagration, and
Mrs. Eaton happened to be the burning matcn
that set 1t on fire, and that's all there Is OF 1t.
A
We expressed our regret that Mrs. Jackson's
death deprived her consort OF that wise coun-
sci which public man can only get from
good wife, but we were careful not to assert
that every wife should 60 with her husband to
washington. In fact, we hold that very few
women are suited to such places. Most OF
them exceed both the measure and appropriate
sphere of advice. Some, also, have manners
and habits which increase the difficulties In
their husbands way. The White House pre-
s,lpposcs, however, q Presidential household
during a continued residence of four years.
The best head OF such household is lady
like Mrs. Washington; but, unfortunately, that
model woman stands, as "Mrs. President"
almost solitary and alone.
Mr. Calhoun had his wife and daughters
with him at Washington; for residence ut
and his family. Calhoun was perhaps the
purest politician of that period in his princl-
pies as to family life; but that purity came to
the wrong market when 1t went to Washing
ton. Calhoun was too great q moral rigorlst
in politics, and topping 1t off with social eXclu-
siycness made him dlsagrceable to many. Mrs.
Calhoun and daughters were Southern ladies',
OF typo- that becomes e-enu n,o-9-iif-
suited to q society such as our political me-
tropolis must necessarily draw around ltself
They revoted from vulgarity and cherished re-
finement and while they would, rs denizenS
of the White House and rulers OF the social
tone in the upper circles, have exercised
rood influence. vet, as they had to move as
equals In promiscuous crowd, their desiring
to constitute society of their own enhanced
the many incongrutics that existed between
Calhoun and the world around him. They
should have submitted to the public Us they
found 1t or staid at home.
THE AMERICAN CATO.
Mr.. Calhoun might have learned from the
history of his great Roman prototype that Cen
sors are not likely to be favorites among poll
ticlans. Their place II anywhere among the
public stations of our Imperial people, Is IN the
Senate. One State may, for reasons OF Its
own. stand by such q man, but never our
whole people, Our Catos must, therefore,
have no Presidential aspirations: their power
lies In bringing the States to their support.
Had Mr.. Calhoun never wished to be Presi-
dent, all his life would have been success.
The very fundamental idea OF States rights is
an intelligent faith that the States are to
American politics what mother earth was to
the giant Ant;rus, viz: the perennial, rein
vigorating force. But this force none can
exercise with full effect who seek the
suiIsages of the whole Union. His Presden-
tial candidacy weakened Calhoun In this one
section, as it, too, had asprants. and he should
have seen that his power was great enough TO
make others President, but not himself To
exercise this power well he needed an uncloud-
ed vision, and this iln could not have while he
was Il candidate himself. He Inexperienced
Van Buren, for That reason-the very man who
had the head and heart that would nave aided
Calhoun Van Buren, and Calhoun would pave
completed each other If they had been friends.
The New Yorker would then have added full
commercial liberty to the sectional free trade
of the South Carolinians.
cAhHOUN's TREATMENT OF VAN BUREN,.
IL, f1,nO nlunt nf
in 1872 must prove the preceding obscrva-
tions. These two men should have co-operat-
ell. And why did they not? Because they
were rivals. Take from Calhoun his Preslden-
tia ambition, and how different he would have
stood to Van Buren, AS competitor, Mr.
Calhoun misludgcd him. He wanted him out
of Jacksons Cabinet. He voted against him as
Minister to England, and opposed first his eicc,
ton to the Vice-Presde-cy, and atterward
TO the Presidency. And all for what Be-
cause. with the false Presidential squint
in his eye, he saw an .intrlgller and an
insincere Republican In Mr.. Van Buren,
and he never detected his mistake until 1887,
when, on frankly and honorably calling on
Van Buren, Us President, he saw for the nrst
time q statesman, to whom lie should always
have been friend. And We, who have Just
passed through careful examination of all
the facts in The premises, must say Van Bilren
was, throughout, high-toned gentleman; not
word nor line shows intrigue or bad faith
in him. Van Buren was all right; Calhoun all
wrong. The Northern man WAS IN this case
superior to the Southern man.
VAN BURENS RESIGNATION.
When Van Burcn left the State Department
in 1881, he wrote u letter to Jackson, which
exhibited his wisdom in u high degree: lie
makes it point, thai the cabinets OF our lresi,
dents should not be the arena for subsequent
Presidential Strife Madison was in Jeilerson'Ss,
Monroe in Mulisons cabinet, but not as rivals
to anybody. They were the accepted success
sors of the Presidents whom they served. In
Mournr's cabinet there were three Presidential
candiIutes-Crawford Calhoun and Adams
and they weakened it. This fact Mr.. Van
Buren, recognized, and the moment he discov-
cred that Jackson's cabinet was divided on the
succession, he perceived its injurious effects
and promptly resigned. 1t was the truest act
OF friendship ever performed in America, and
Jackson appreciated it. Mr. Calhoun under
stood it entirely, and so did ninc-tcnths Of the
people.
Prince Pierre Napoleon is one of The best