New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-10

and no one pretends to know where we are drifting
There Is great deal ~ uek nsye sF1 yvn
turn OF that sort OF rather would say thaI my %
est hope IS IA the hands Of Providence. hope all NH
vet turn out we'll; hut do not see how or when Inc
dark hour, II is said Is just before Gay; may II NC
however feel half that gloomy spirit that felt three
winters when the war was raging ana saw al %
difficulties the distance. The stOrm-coud was then
gathering; and as IN nature the most painful ana terri
bic moment is when the horizon Is blackenlng WIN o
coming tempest. so is 1t with me in this matter. Inc
depressing to the spirits the hushed calm when pre-
cedes the devastating whir OF the tornado OF sweep
the torrent When T upon you, there is some exhlla
ration IN its force and fury, feeling somewhat KINDRED
to the excitement OF battle such is my eohatlVn ~"
and such is the condition Of things here, ana hence
never spent cheerful and agreeable WINTER IN
Washington The same remark, believe is app9hoiS
20 all around me. The members are ali friendly Ia thel
intercourse and to Northern and Southern men 10
gether you would suppose there was anything IKE
enmity between them.
He makes an exception, however, not only IN
respect of eloquence but of craftsmanship IN favor
of Calhoun,l Webster, Clay, and Benton, ali oil
whom were in the Senate at that time, and whom
he designates as "the master spirits of the last
quarter of century, at least on this continent"
Some of the prominent persons are described as
fOllOws:-
erected for the second officer of the Government
= His cOuntenance is open and bland, his chest
full His eye is bright blue and intelligent; his halr
thick aud slightly gray His personal appearance Is
strikng and no one can look at him without ieelng
conscious that he is far above the average. on
his right the aisle leading to the front door, SITS
with his hands folded IN his lap as to hold up his
protruding and superintendent abdomen his sleepy
looking eyes occasionally ganelng at the galleries, ana
then at the crowd pressing IN below Benton SITS I'D ns
welRnOwn place, leaning back in his chair, and giving
all who desire II full view of his person. One vacant
seat is far off on the same side Of the House
vacant in such crowd excites the attention Of all
"Whose seat is That ." goes IN whispers around " IL IS
Calhouns-not well enough to be out yet" "Who is
that sitting by Cass 7" saws one. "Thal Buchanan
come ali the way from home TO bear Clay" what
thin-vsaged IL that standing over yonder and con-
yonder I" "Yes." That is Richie, Of The Union"
coat and all that hair about his chin Did You ever see
such aswaggerer ne can't be senatoI' I9at Is
him." " He is in the Supreme Court where he has
case to argue to-day" see CoTWn' ana Badger, ana
BerIien and DAWSON, all near Clay All OF them quet
while Clay pursues his writing. On the opposite side,
Butler, and Foote, and Clemens, and Douglas
After the carriage OF the motion OF Mr. Mangum TO
proceed to the consideration OF the order Of the day. Mr.
Clay folds his papers and puts them IN ms desk ana
after the business is announced rises gracefully ana M
jesticaY InsantaneOusy there is general applause,
which Mr. Clay seems not TO notice Inc noise Wlthu
is heard without and the great crowd raised such
shout that Mr. Clay bad TO pause until the officers went
out and cleared all tho entrances and then he began
He spoke on that day two hours ana hteen minutes.
The speech reported IN TIE GOCe word for word as
he uttered II. | such report before. His
voice was good his enunciatiOu clear and distinct, his
action firm ls strength far surprising my expectation
He had the riveed gaze OF the multitude the whole time
When he concluded. immense throng OF friends both
men and women, came up 10 congratulate and TO 6Ss
him.
Here is significant reflection occasoned by the
death of Mr.. Calhoun
March 31st-The Angel OF Death has Just passed by,
and MS shadow is seen lingering upon the startled
CalhOun His race is ended. His restless aud merry
spirit sleeps III that deep and long repose which awaits
O'clock. Peace to his sshesl His name will long be
remembered IN the history Of this country. He has
history and PERHAPS it is lnost fortunate for his
that he died just at this time
remarkable conversation with friend in the
month of May. 1860, gives Mr.. Stephenss gloomy
presentiments i'll prospect of the Civil War which
he then deemed inevitable. In reply to the ques-
ton why there must be war in of the election
of the Republican candidate, he remarks -
Because there are not virtue and patriotism and
enough left in the country to avoid IT. Mark me when
repeat that in less than twelve months shall be in
then Cod only KNOWS The Union viii certainly be dis
upted; and what will make It so disastrous Is the way
which II VIII be done, Tie Southern people are not
unanimous now, and will not be, on the question Of
secession. The Republican nominee will be elected.
Then South Carolina will secede. For me, should be
content TO lot her have her own way ana go out alone
But the Gulf States Will follow her example The people
by no means unanimous, but the m9iOrities Will
follow her. They are what we VIII start OIL win In our
new nationwide Gulf States following South Carolina
hesitation will encourage the North 70 make upon
us. the South would unanimously and simultaneously
eminent But then, If there only Slave states
in the new confederaey. we should be known as the
Black Republic, and be without the sympathy OF the
world Still If had wise and patriotic men. and men
that were statesmen, we could make great country OF
In the same compensation, he iustfes his refusal
to have his name presented before the Charleston
Convention as a candidate for the presidency
The Democratic party had quite enough men from
whom choose. did not wish the Office. In perfect
sincerity with you, should exceedingly dislike to be
President. l do not wish that office nor any other.
What in Douglas is his desire to be President
have sometimes asked him what he desired the Office
for IL yet added to the fame single man.
You may look over the Inst or the Presidents which OF
them made any reputation after he became President
Four years, eight, too short time 10 enable
a man TO pursue policy which VIII be permanent
enough to give him reputation. Louis Napoleon,
President OF France under the Constitution, could have
made reputation. He Is beginning now to make 10.
When shall have been where he Is long again
has been already, he may then, II his abilities really
great become illustItOus. could never why
many men IN this country should be- anxious 20 be
President. People don't generally believe me In what
about myself In this respect but that Is all very
Indifferent TO No, sir; ] far prefer living
here-right hereto being President OF the United
States III had loved office should have continued in
House OF Representatives. That Office TO Is
preferable TO the Presidency. If were ambitious TO
make reputation, should be able 70 make II faster
in that place than in the other.
Our extracts from this pregnant volume might be
continued to o much greater extent, did our space
permit; but we can only commend it to the atten-
ton of our readers a calm and dspassionate
statement of the views of great Southern authority
in regard to the course Of political action which
terminated in the disastrous 1t will be read,
of course, as an expression and illustration of the
ideas of the South, and one will be disappointed
at its Southern tone and cOlOTing, which in fact
constitutes the principal interest Of the work. The
cause which has compelled SO many sacrifices and
inundated so many victims could not have better
exponent of its claims. than the just and able man
who is the subject of the biography.