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

position to Governor Orr, visited Mr.. Calhoun
twice in my electioneering tours through. Pick
ems District, never found a kinder man, or
one more plain and unassuming in his man.
nera, .thaii Mr.. Calhoun, anywhere; but was
particularly struck with his kindness and win
ming manners at his own house. How true it
is that greatness is never pretending or as
suming 1t is only the "would be great man"
who has to assume and pretend to what he has
not. the first visit /. paid Mr.. Calhoun we
were alone the whole day, and from ten o'clock
till dinner was announced, | do not think
either Of us left our seats for moment, nor
was there scarcely pause in conversation: He
was in fine spirits, and his coversation was
truly fascinating. 1t twas not that of q studied
speech or lecture in which Mr.. Calhoun too
often INDUCED with his admiring listeners. It
was natural and simple, cordial and cheerful,
amusing and Instructive, giving and taking,
calling in the whole range Of his hfe's exneri-
ence. thought and learning. He spoke OF his,
course in Congress, described his contempora-
ries, told anecdotes Of Randolph, Lowndes,
Jackson Polk, Benton, and others. He did
not, admire President Polk, and spoke of the
believe that our armies could capture the city
of Mexico, OF hold the country, if we con-
quered it. He spoke in high terms of the Off
GERS of the United States Army, and said ne
knew thirty of those officers who were capable
of commanding. the largest armies Of Europe.
When the Missouri question was on the tapis
in Congress, Mr.. Calhoun said ne suggested to
Mr.. Lowndes, that Congress having authorized
the formation of State Constitution, the peo-
ple of Missouri, if not admitted into the Union,
would be legal independent State of the
Union, and beyond the control of the United
States. In speaking of the Federal Union, he
said the love of it with the American people
was stronger than their love of liberty. was
greatly shocked, as q Union man, with this
idea, and did not assent to it. contended
that the love of the Union with the American
people was only for the purpose of maintain
ing their liberty and independence. But it
would seem from our present political condi-
tion, that Nh. Calhoun was right and was
wrong A large portion of the Northern peo-
pie seem willing to establish military despo-
tism to preserve the Union; and l was ex-'
trer,ely mortified to see that portion of the
Southern people are willing to acquiesce in this
despotism to get back into the Union.
I have always said that all great men were
egotists, Cicero and Demosthenes were eminent
ly 80. i Mr.. Calhoun was not without this foible
of greatness any more than he was OF another
ipfrmity, which, it is said, belongs to all great
men-ambition. He liked very much to talk
of himself and he always had the good fortune
to make the subject exceedingly interesting
and captivating to his hearers Mr. Calhoun
was man of the very highest mental energy
and activity. In this respect no one surpassed
him. But he was unfortunate in always having
the great powers of his mind concentrated on
one subject at time. He thought and reasoned
SO rapidly and directly, and was so absorbed by.
the one subject for the time being, that he pur-
sued the argument without considering how
the question would affect something else. This
was too much his character to be q wise states
man or safe counsellor. Whilst the advocate
of great system of internal Improvements, he
thought Of nothing but the great social and
commercial blessings which is would bestow
upon the country. He did not stop to consider,
or turn to the right or left, to see how such q
system would strengthen the powers OF the ma
tional government and crush those OF the
States. When he became the advocate of a
tariff for protection, he thought only Of build
ing up our national independence and encour-
aging American labor. he did not reflect on
its sectional bearing, or stop to consider that
one portion of the United States would not find
it profitable to engage in manufacturing. When
he became the champion of notification, If not
its author, he saw in it nothing more than
remedy for getting rid of the onerous e1actions
of the tariff system for protection, which he
himself had formerly advocated through the
highest and NEST patriotic motives. He did
not consider whether or not notification would
make our national Union q rope of sand. This
did not appertain to the one idea which had
possessed his great mind, and which was to
break down the system of protection. In pur-
suing one question he lost sight of all others.
How many thousands of such men of smaller
minds do we meet in ordinary life. They are
forever wrong, and always changing their opin-
ions, because they are always on the extreme
and never right. PHILOSOPHY teaches us that
extremes are always dangerous, and that the
path of wisdom and safety is ever middle
course.
Unfortunately, Mr.. Calhoun throughout bis
brilliant career as an American statesman was
jumping from one extreme to another in poll
tics. From the extreme of national powers
under the constitution. bordering on consolida-
ton, to the extreme-of States rights, bordering
on the destruction of all national power From
the extreme of protection to NO protection, not
even incidental, in laying duties for revenue.
From the extreme of internal Improvements, to
the denial of any such power on the part OF the
general government From the advocacy of q
6ational bank, to the denial Of the power to es-
tablish such an instimtionl At one time Gen.
Jackson was, in the opinion of Mr.. Calhoun,
great patriot and incorruptible. man; then ne
was great tyrant and utterly corrupt. Atone
time, in letter to Governor Noble, he urged the
election of President and Vice President by
the people, then he thought, in the latter part
of his life, nothing more ruinous and suicidal
in South Carolina. In 1872, he was the cham
pion Of the war, but on the Oregon question
his speech is most mastery vindication of the
peace policy. War was first the greatest bless
ing, and then the greatest curse. MIR. Calhoun
was the advocate of the election of General
Taylor. but very soon saw that he was not the
right man in the right place In order to
break down General jackson's administration,
Mr.l Calhoun became Wing and the ally Of
Clay and Webster. He then abandoned the
vVhio Marty and because Colonel Preston and