Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-24
CALHOUN AND DAVIS.
ApAY WITH THE LIVING AND THE
DEAD STATESMEN.
,ysSerson Davis - the Successor OF CAL
houn-Bonors to the Latter's Re-
mains in Virginia

read with interest.
After the death Of Mr.. Calhoun his man
Gle as leader fell upon Jefferson DAVIS
more than any other of the promlnen'
Democratic statesmen. lie was III IeNu-
or. not only Of the southern Democracy
but of the national A.,
IL il great mistake 10 suppose that
either of these great and upright men vas
q disunionst or sectionalist. during tne
late war there was both writing ana taiS,
inc about unconditional Union men.
This il absurd. The Constitution io,ns
the Union. and il bristles all through IL
with conditions and limitations, ana the
history of its adoptions and ratihca'lohs
bris;les with them even more thckly. but
for these, md tho necessary compromises
which they evidence and embOdy, the Con-
stitution would never have been accepted
tv the people of the States 10 whom twas
propounded. and the Union would not
have been inaugurated.
A public man of some prominence on inc
present political arena has recently oossl-
ed OF the latent powers" when ne eA-
ulted that no could find in the Cons'ltu-
ton. 1t vas these Latent and construc-
tive powers which the wiscst trainers ana
expounders of the Constitution nave ~;
ways deprecated. feared, and denieu' ahu
which the wholesome limitations OF the
fundamental law were designed 10 prevent
or prohibit -
MIR. Calhoun and Mr. Davis were both
educated statesmen. wEo understood ana
appreciated the guarantees. cuechS' anu
balances OF the compact 81 mon ana were
both patriotic deyOtccs OF THAT mon "hlch
they believed the fathers OF the republic
had designed and the States had iespe',
lively accepted. II was because they loved
TINS Union so well that they resisted what
tbev regarded as ageressions and encroach-
ments upon It's true principles. Could
these be STAYED. or even averted, they
were Union and national men.
SLAVERY A NATIONAL MATTER.
Even slavery was TO them really a M
tional matter The Constitution recog-
nized and protected il. and bad to do so,
else il would have been Overwhelmingly
rejected. How could a subject that was oil
such vital Importance as 10 inVoiVe the
very fate Of the Union IN Its inception De
ANYTHING less than nationalI Even after
the people OF the eastern States had sold
their slaves and put the money IN protect
ed manufactures and commerce the guaran-
fees of the Constitution were the same,
and the subject Of slavery was stu OF ma
uonal concern. though 1t had now come TO
exist in only one portion OF the territory
embraced by the Union.
MIR. Calhoun's long and grand career as
apublic man WAS virtually closed on the
18th of March, 1850. when he made his last
Appparance III and before the senate. but
he did not expire until the last day OF that
month During tins interval he retained
his faculties. and his active mind was stu
occupied with public affairs. As to HIM
self he said TO Alr. Nenable, of North Caro-
lima: Il have but little concern about
either the time or manner of my departure
desire TO die in the discharge OF nv duty
and have an mistaken reliance on the
Providence OF Cod"
All the usual honors were paid TO his re-
mains and his memory. and both Clay and
Webster. the other members of the immor-
tai trio. LAID their laurels on his tomb.
But that tomb was only temporary. Three
weeks had 70 be allowed for his family ana
friends TO make q decision and suitable ar
rsngements as to his final resting place.
On the 22d Of April, 1850, n solemn corfeJe
left Washington, and arrived IN Richmond
in the afternoon of the same day. Governor
John b. FLOYD the mayor OF the city;
(that excellent and kindly man, General
William LAMBERT and the citizens had
made due preparation for Its proper re-
peption; so that a large procession, civic
and military. met the funeral tram as lar
out as Buchanan's Spring and escorted 1t
10 the Capitol Colonel John A. Meredith
commanded the military, and that fine |
equestrian. Captain BENJAMIN Sheppard, |
who when mounted reminded every one 50 |
much of Washington, was Chief marshal; |
This large procession comprised men OF all
political parties, and majority were
probably anti-Calhoun men, but they
ioined cordially III this solemn tribute
The honored remains were reverentlally
deposited in the hail Of the House of Dele
gates, PRAYER was offered by the Rev.
Btephen b. TAYLOR. a watch from the State
Guard was set and the night passed on.
But the gentlemen from Washington ana
Charleston who were accompanying the re-
mains were handsomely entertained at "A
dinner at the Exchange Hotel by Hon.
John \. Mason.
CONQUERED ONLY BY DElTH.
Just as | was about TO retire for the night
I received from Governor Floyd "a note
stating that he had determined TO appoint
an honorary committee on the part of Nlr
Cinia, who should attend the funeral perty
within her border, and requesting me 20
be one of them. | was greatly surprised,
for | was politically neither Floyd nor
Calhoun man. What led him to think of
me | did not know and never inquired.
There were, however, some circumstances
whether known 10 him or not which rem
dered disappointment not inapproprinte:
1 had known MIR. Calhoun and had enjoyed
his charming and instructive society.
Mr. Webster in his fine eulogy IN
the Senate alluded TO his fascination
for young men and the interest be
H. i .
room in Washington drinking in that fasc-
nation, when General Cass, lust after he at
the end Of much balloting had received the
Democratic presidential nomination, called
upon him. OF course. OWNED the object
Of the visit and immediately though roluc-
family terminated NINE. lhad also become
ACQUAINTED with two of Mr.. Calhoun's sons.
Moreover, some business relations had taken
me twice 10 Charleston, where | had 10 re-
main long enough to form some agreeable
acuuaiutances and TO receive some gratffy-
lug courtesies Governor Floyd's compli-
ment was accepted. and the next morning
] was at the Capitol ready TO discharge the
duty devolved upon me 50 Unexpectedly.
There Governor Floyd made very feel
Ing address and delivered up the remains
10 the committee who were escortng them.
Hon. James NJ. Mason, chairman OF the
United States Senate committee. respond
ed, and among other things said that " Dir.
Calhoun had been victor IN every engage
ment and was conquered only by death
Mr.. Daniel Rayenel, as chairman OF the
Carolina delegation, also toucmngly re-
sponded. Then prayer was offered by the
Rev. DR.. Charles Read, and a mourntul
procession took up their line of march for
The Petersburg depot. The state Guard
acted as escort, the bell was tolled. and MI
nute-guns fired 10y the Lafayette Artillery.
THE DAY IN PETERSBURG.
In due course Of time we reached the
railroad depot in Petersburg, and expected
10 proceed on TO Charleston, but dispatch
came from that then weeping and lately
devastated city that the arrangements
there could not be completed on the scale
they had IN progress IN time 10 receive
their Lonored cmeftaln's remains II they
were brought directly on and advising
suitable delay. This advice was immed-
etely adopted and that day was spent in
Petersburg. JarTatts Hotel was the head
quarters and most Of the delegations spent
fhe whole day there This detention being
entirely unexpected there was no OPP
poItuniiy for any public demonstra-
ton by the citizens Of Petersburg,
but some attentions We're paid PR
yately by some OF her prominent men.
Our Virginia commission consisted of
three-two State'slights Wings and one
Democrat. We were treated not only with
courtesy, but with cordially. With we'll
timed suspensions and renewals, Mr..
Daniel Rayenel showed us the most gen