The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-08-19


i'd now, somehow Mr.. Calhoun was
not popular. He was a bachelor,
and a most eligible one, too, bat
the ladies did not like him, or
rather, they all avowed they were
afraid of him.
"By and by curious stories were
whispered about. Men aud won.
en- mentioned them in undertones,
and children were not allowed to
hear them at all. They were to
the effect that Mr.. Calhoun was in
the habit of INDUCING in fits OF
periodic but extreme int0xicatiOn,
and that OH such occasions he
would call in two enormous negro
drivers IA sort of sub overseer),
and the three wonld drink and Ga.
rouse together in the most riotous
manner imaginable.
These stories were heard all
over the parish. No responsible au.
thority backed them. At any time
in the south it has been Il danger.
GUS thing to circulate stories Diet.
rimental to ones ueighbor, for
somebody will be apt to he hurt it
any lying has been INDUCED in.
Here was the very first man in the
community, a model of courtesy to
his neighbors and Of fair dealing
to all. 1t could not he true.
"ln the autum of 1856, a fear.
full story intiltrate,l itself through.
out the community. It was as.
serted on certain day that two
nights before a negro on Smith.
ield, the finest of the great Cal.
houn estates, had been chained t.
a tree, tat pine piled high about
him, the torch applied to the ill.,
tiammable stuff and the poor crea
lure burned to death while his
shrieks of agony echoed for miles
throughout the lovely valley.
What his offense had been, ii any,
could not be told. The late Hon.
II. q. Manning, United States
Minister to Mexico in Mr.. Cleve.
lands first administration was
then district attorney for Rapi,les,
NatchifOcLes and other Red river
parishes. 1t was bis official duty
TO investigate the matter. "A nun,
ber of gentlemen, planters, who
held their calling in respect, wait.
ed upon Mr.. Calhoun, acquainted
him with the charge, and inquired
if hr had anything to say. lie
looked at tho Hon. Henry Boyce,
then United States District Judge,
the head Of the committee, a mo.
ment in silence.
"'Who Is responsible for this
story?' said the planter as his fac,
became livid with fury. 'Does
any gentleman emphasizing the
word) make such a charge against
ue? Name him and l will know
ow to deal with him.
"No gen leman charges you with
uch a h, rror," answered the dig
! fled judge, himself planter,
but we learn that 500 negroes
saw the chine committed"
"a cheerful aud dignitiea bust.
, ess for y OIL to be engaged in, lis.
tening to niggels' tales. When
you can bring some responsible
authority for this story, | will an
swer it. Good morning" Aud he
nodded to his gatekecper to open
the way out for his visitors.
| :'The story made 4 great sensa.
ton at the time, but it could never
he proved, even if the entire force
bot the Calhoun estates had wit
messed the burning us charged, ioI
slaves could not testify. Judge
Manning would never say. wha,
his investigation disclosed. Ger
tainIy had it been possible to make
a case against him, Mr.. Calhoun
would have been prosecuted, bis
great wealth Notwithstanding.
avery shortly after this it was
announced that the master u
Smithtield would soon be married
and the rumOr proved to he true
The lady chosen WAS from New
Orleans, very much Der husband,
junior in years, and IA great beau
ty. III due time a sou was born
and finer child never delighted
parental hearts. But when tn,
infant was about IS months old /;
careless nurse let him fall, and tn
injuries developed a serious spina
disorder that resulted in 4 l,erma
neut distortion. This son grew t,
manhood, aud, crippled as he was
became his fathers idol. He wa
taken to Italy to be educated, an,
there lie had the title OF count be
slowed on him:
"ln Louisiana during tue ferc
est days of the reconstruction pei
iod, young Calhoun developed Iii
fathers quality Of courage on a
least two occasions when his char,
ces were, indeed desperate. l 4
not know what became of him al
ter he lost possession Of the grea
parental estates.
The Calhoun estates wer
made the center of a new paris
out of parts of Rapides and Ma