River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-02-27
THE GREAT NULLIFiER.
A Graphic Sketch of South Carolina's Most
Eminent Statesman.

A Graphic Sketch of South Cardinals Most
Eminent Statesman.
Oliver Dyer's Great Senators of
Forty Years" is attracting much ia
vorable notice. The following sketch
of John C. Calhoun will give the reader
pleasant taste of the authors style:
Forty years ago (1s4s) John G. Cali
houn, of South Carolina, was one Of the
most noted men on the American conti-
nent The rabid abolitionists OF the
North of whom was one-who hated
slavery and shareholders with virulent
animosity, felt toward Calhoun the
same as Southern men, who hated abo-
litionists with equal virulence, felt to-
ward William Lloyd Garrison. All
through the North Calhoun was known
as the great secessionist, the great null
lifier,' the great disunionist, and
the great bad man generally,
who had long been trying
to destroy the Union. As ! was full to
the brim OF abolition bigotry and
prejudice, when | went to Washington
was naturally eager to get a sight of
the great South Carolina nullifier and
disunionist; and when he was pointed
out to me, in the Senate chamber,
gave him a searching scrutiny.
He was tall and gaunt. His complexion
was dark and Indian-like. His eyes
were large, black, piercing, scintillant.
His hair was iron-gray, and rising near
ly straight from the scalp, fell over on
all sides, and hung down in thick
masses like lions name. His features
were strongly marked, and their ex-
preston was firm, stern, aggressive,
threatening"
On New-Year's day, 1s49, Mr.. Dyer
had an interview of several hours dura-
ton with Calhoun, and subsequently
learned 10 like him more than he liked
any other man in Washington.
after that New-Year's day, 1s49,"
Mr.. Dyer continues, II occasionally
met Mr.. Calhoun, and every time i had
an opportunity to hear him converse and
to study his character my appreciation
Of him was strengthened. He was, by
all odds, the most fascinating man in
private intercourse that | ever met. His
conversational powers were marvellous.
His voice was clear, sweet and mellow,
with musical. metallic ring in it,
which gave it strength without dimin-
ishirg its sweetness. His pronunciation
and enunciation we're perfect. His man
ner was simple and unpretentious. He
talked on the most abstruse subjects
with the guileless simplicity of pratt
Ting child. His ideas were so clear and
his language so plain that he made
path of light through any subject he
discussed.
'Calhoun's kindness of heart was in
exhaustible. He impressed me as being
deeply but unobtrusively religious, and
was so morally clean and spiritually
pure that it was pleasure to have ones
soul get close to his soul-a feeling that
never had for any other man. He
seemed to exhale an atmosphere of
purity, as fresh and sweet and bracing
as breeze from the prairie, the ocean,
or the mountain-an atmosphere which
one could safely breathe all in and be
better and purer from the inspiration.
Ee was inexpressibly urbane, refined,
gentle, winning; and yet he was strong
and thoroughly manly, with an elegant
and engaging invincibleness pervading
his softness and gentleness- / admired
Benton; admired Clay still more; ! adj
mired Webster, on the intellectual side,
most of all; but | loved Calhoun; and,
as came to know him well, and saw his
exquisitely beautiful nature mirrored in
his face. his countenance seemed an
gelic. and his benignant greeting in the
morning was like benediction that
lasted the whole day."