The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-03-20

En- Gov. Psrrys Reatniscences of Public Asn
John c. Calhoun.
>, John G. Calhoun stood pre.eminentR above
all others in South Carolina of my day, and
time. In early life had most exalted opir-
ion of this distinguished Caroliniap, his tai
ents, patriotism and purity: Of character. This
opinion was formed from his general course in
public life, his speeches in Congress and his
administration of the war department, under
President Monroe. Whilst going to school at
Asheyille, N. c., il 1922, Tremember writing
an article advocating his claims toHthe Presi.
dency over those of of[Adams, Jackson, Clay and
Crawford. In the srmmer of 1925, there was
public dinner given Mr.. Calhoun al, Green
vile, S. g. / was ole of the committee who
extended to him the Invitation, ard prepared
the toasts drunk, one of which pointed TO- the
Presidency las the.crowning reward of his pub
lie life. This was. the first time I eyer had the
pleasure of seeing Mr.. Calhoun, and was then
q student of law in Judge Earle's Office. The
speech made on that occasion was very brief
one and the company was not large. General
Thompson, afterwards Minister to Mexico, pre-
sided at, the dnneE. Judge Earle, who was vas
never an admirer of Mr.. Calhoun, was not
present, and left tie village in order to avoid
the dinner He hid been a Crawford man,
and belonged to thu political school of Judge
William Smith, of South Carolina. In the
Presidential canvass Of 1924, Judge Earle sup
ported John. Quincy Adams. He had no very
high opinion Of General Jackson as 2 states
man, but was never very decided in his poll
tics. b. g..;.ig Z. ~ ss,s .os-ag a-,s, ssar
: The next time saw Mr.. Calhoun was at
Pendleton Court, and it was the last time l
spoke to him for many years. During our po-
became yery strongly prejudiced against MIR.
Calhoun. and it was not in my nature to seek
the company of those ]. did not like The total
abandonment by NJ. Calhoun of his early ma
tional principles, and his Jealous espousal of
what he had once repudiated as "the Virginia
abstraction, y shookitm confidence in his wis
dom and steadfastness Of purpose, in politics.
did not see how great statesman could radl-
cally change his political principles, and be
both wise and sincere. ri = =
In 1845, + met .Mr. Calhoun at the anniver-
sary of the Pendleton Agricultural Society. /
had been invited by- the President of the So
ciety, Major George Seaborn, to deliver the an
niversary address TN that occasion. After it
was over, Mr.. Calhoun came up and comph-
mented the effort Il had made in the cause of
agriculture. He Bas then starting 70 Alabama
to look after his planting interests in that
State, and expressed his regret at not being
able to have me at his house, near the village
of PendIeton Mr.. Calhoun was, at that time,
very much interested in farming, and he always
made good crops. He paid great attention 70
the preservation and Improvement of his lands.
Hillside ditching was introduced by him in
this section of the State; and after completing
this labor on his farm, he then turned his at
tention to manuring his fields. He wisely re-
marked that it was Of little value to manure
till the land wes prepared to retain it
Modification haG passed over in South Caro-
lima, and was an ahsolete idea with all thinking
and rejecting men. The asperities of party
had subsidized, anc I ceased to think of Mr..
in politics, began once more to admire his
brilliant genius ami appreciate his public SER
vices in many respects. In the summer of
1916, met MI. Calhoun in Washington, and
had the pleasure of hearing him address the
Senate on several occasions. / was very much
struck with his earnest and ardent manner in
debate. He spoke with great ease and fuency;
his sentences were terse and his conclusions
rapid. He seemed to regard more the idea ex-'
pressed than the language in which it was ut
tered. His style of speaking pleased me more
than the grand solemn manner of Mr.. Webster,
He had all the feeling and fire of the orator,
which thought MIR. Webster wanted in some
measure. - t1iis7s ~ r-' T'.',i ,'-'i
- had the pleasure Of, dining with Mr.. Cal
houn during my stay in Washington, with Gov.
McDufie, Judge Butler and Mr.. Burt, of South
Carolina. At the table there was an amusing
discussion between him and Judge Butler on
the location of national capitals. Mr.. Calhoun
that the capital of nation was al
ways on one side, and never in the centre Of o
kingdom or empire. Judge Butler controverted
this assertion, and instanced Spain and Jerusa
lem Mr.. Calhoun explained by stating that
Madrid was Moorish city, and not originally
the capital of Spain. What he said in regard
to Jerusalem do not now remember with suf-
feient accuracy to state, but Mr.. Calhoun was
always we'll posted in reference to apYg theory
which he advanced. If facts failed him, he
would, nevertheless, support his theory with
the most cogent argument and reasoning. l.
.Ron. Warren R. Davis give
an account of % discussion at q dinner table
between Mr.. Calhoun and an English Captain,
in reference 70 the trade winds. The Captain
liste1ed very attentively to the theory, but said
vations did not sustain Mr., .lCalhoun's theory;
ueNSELuclcSS, uuIs S6luOuu a. SumCho S1uoASA
the party that he was correct III opposition to
the positive experience and observatiohFof the
English Captain. IN fuotherwurds, the Captains
facts were of less weight than! Mp Calhoun's
!! ..,s t,a.,...,t
After the adjournment, of Congress, trav-
eled to the Virginia Springs, in company with
Mr.. Calhoun, Governor McDuffie and Mr. Burt.
We were all in the same stage coach. Mr..
Calhoun spoke of Cays and Websters manner
in argument he felt it, and you saw that he did
feel It and know it. But Clay would never
give any such manifestations He never :ac-
knowledged that he was worsted in 7debate,and
would never let you see that he thought So
Mr.. Calhoun said Colonel Benton was the
greatest Of humbugs, and could make more out
Of nothing than any other man in the world.
"Hel ought" said Mr.. Calhoun, "to have gone
about all his life with .quack doctors, and writ
tap nuffs for thei; medicines Had he done 40