The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-03-18
THE REMAINS OF MIR. CALHOUN.

he desired to say that be had received a
communication from the family of the
late Hon. John G.. Calhoun in regard to
removing his remains To the family bury
ing ground at Pendleton.
Alderman Eckel moved that in respect
to the memory of Calhoun the communi-
cation be received by Council standing.
Unanimously adopted.
The following letter was then read amid
a profound and respectful silence, the
members of Council standing at their
seats uncovered:
FORT HILL, February %, 1880.
To Els Honor, IFm. Il. Courtenay, Mayor
Of the City Of Charleston:
DEAR SIR-John C. Calhoun died in
The City of Washington on the 3lst of
March, A. D. 1850. The body, after its
arrival in Charleston, was retained and
inferred in that city, by authorities Off
ciating, where they still lie.
No member of Mr.. Calhoun's family
approved of that measure. Mrs. Calhoun
and her only daughter frequently ex-
pressed their dissatisfaction of that pro-
ceeding.
Mrs. Clemson, the last surviving child,
said to me some time before her decease: !:
CATER profound reflection and deliberate
consideration she had come to the con-
clusion that it was her solemn duty to
request that her fathers remains should
be transferred from his temporary tomb
in Charleston to his final resting place in
the cemetery in Pendleton, where his
wife and most of his children were in
TERED" Her death was as sudden as it
was unexpected. In her frequent con-
ferences with US on the subject, she de-
pended upon US to make the request on
the part of her mother as that of herself.
Had it not been for certain circumstan-
ces, I should have communicated the
command long since.
My health is precarious, and, with ad-
vancing years, / feel compelled under
sense of solemn duty to transfer the obli-
CATION and charge confded to me into
your keeping for such action as may, in
your wisdom, be most proper.
Had it been possible to have consulted
the wishes of Mr.. Calhoun, we are con-
vinced that his decision would have been
in accordance with that of his family and
that of his fellow-citizens who survived
him.
The erection of monument in COM
of his exalted character, his
services to his country and
the world at large, was discussed in the
of the State, and determined
upon.
His fellow citizens of both sexes con-
tributed and q fund was formed adequate
to the purpose.
We have never ascertained the amount
that was raised. Much dissatisfaction
has been expressed by the contributors
to that fund, for the reticence of those
into whose charge the fund was placed.
We personally incurred censure for vain
efforts to obtain reliable or official infor-
nation concerning the fund, or the causes
for the delay in not carrying the project
into operation.
We know pertinently that strenuous
and occult efforts were made to subvert
or apply the monument fund to other
purposes than those for which it was
raised. That unrighteous intent was
by the interference of the sur
viving members of Mr.. Calhoun's family.
The papers inform US of committee
of distinguished gentlemen, whose pur-
pose is to erect monument or heroic
statute of Mr.. Calhoun Mt Fort Hill.
We have been informed and notified that
that committee will visit Fort Hill at an
early future to confer upon the subject
before forming a programme Of proceed
ings. At this late period it is important
that the public should be informed of
the amount possessed and actually avail
able.
This prayer is solemn voice from the
tomb. 1t calls for the remains of the
husband to the side of the wife, from his
children for their father, that they may
60 down with all time together.
Believe in the distinguished considera-
ton with which I remain most respect
fully your friend,
THos. G. CLEMSON.
The Mayor said: 1 deem it my duty
to say that so far as the funds are con-
cerned they ore in safe custody, doubt.
less suffering loss in current income du-
ring the war between the States, when all
funds were of Confederate issue and sub
worthless. AS to the cause of
delay in erecting the memorial to Mr..
Calhoun l have no specific information,
bat we can all understand, amidst our
terrible convulsion and prostration, that
men should pause in the embodying of
their tribute to our great statesman until
they may be able to commemorate the
mighty dead in an appropriate memorial.
No charge of indifference can rest upon
this city or section as to the man while he
lived, or the name and memory of Cal
houn. We supported him with Jealous
devotion in life, buried him with all civic
honors in the bosom of our city, and
none more than Charlestonians pay
greater reverence and homage to the
great son of Carolina so distinguished in
the councils of the State and the Union.
The City of Charleston alone, among the
cities of the State, has preserved his form
and face, and that great presence in this
very chamber looks upon us even now
from the glowing canvas of Healy and in
the living marble of Mills. The remains
of our great statesman have been kept
here, where they we're laid by a loving
people. The wishes of his family, who
desire them inferred at Fort Hill, have
never yet found definite and official ex-
preston, as far as I know, nor have they
ever been communicated to this body au-
for our action until now.
This request we have the power now for
the first time to act upon, and l know
that only anticipate the action of the
Council in suggesting immediate compli-
ance with the wishes of the family on
this subject.
Alderman Rose then offered the fol-
lowing, which was unanimously adopted:
Whereas, the surviving members of the
family of Mr.. Calhoun desire to remove
his remains from Charleston to the burial
place of the family in Pendleton in order
that they may rest with his own kindred
and among those whom in life he most
loved and valued, be it
Resolred, That committee of three
Al. C,;lu Tn,no;l opd civ oiti1nna Of