The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-19

Congress, the Hon Robert W. Barn
well, l went up to Washington to as
certain the truth of the reports.
Mr. Barnwell contradicted the cur
rent rnmors, although he thought the
President rash enough to make the
attempt should Mr.. Calhoun give him
the opportunity But he regarded
the situation as very grave. "We
must have war, SIR" he repeated
with emphasis "The State cannot
and will not recede from her posi-
ton. Nobody imagines that Jack
son will abandon the ground taken in
his proclamation There must be
collision between the State and Fed
eral authorities-a bloody collision,
resulting in actual war Mr..
Calhoun, he said, twas hopeful, as
usual,' but he could see no al
tentative but an appeal to force. |
went on to Mr.. Calhoun's lodgings,
and found him alone. He met me as
cheerfuIly as was his Wont in his
mountain home in South Carolina. l
expressed my qualification in finding
him in his own rooms instead Of in
the more confined quarters to which
rumor had assigned him and that as
yet there was no rope around his
neck. He seemed highly amused at
IL .oo., tho+ LoI roooho1 tho ofbor
side of the river. However lawless
Gen Jackson might be "he had too
much sense" to attempt such an out
rage. IL have as much authority to
arrest him as he has to arrest a Sena-
tor of sovereign State. +"
repeated Mr.. Barnwell's view of
the matter, that war was in, liable
without concession on one side.
"Mr. Barnwell," he said. ''is a
brave man, noble fellow, but he is
too respondent +; that is his difficulty
as politician. He looks at the dark
side always. Notification is peace
full remedy. l have always maintained
it and the result will prove it." He
informed me that Mr.. Clay had pro-
position to submit, which he under
stood would be acceptable to the
South, that he (Mr Clay) was to
speak that day and that l had better
go to the Senate and hear him. [
acted on his advice and heard
Henry Clay, at his very best. in the
role of peacemaker 1t was noble
speech, full of his broadest and lofti-
est patriotism With all his winning
eloquence he proposed his famous
compromise, based upon a gradual
reduction of the tariff, and when Mr..
Calhoun rose and accepted the terms
in the name of his State there was an
outburst of Joy and graduation which
moved the audience to ringing cheers
and made many hoary Senator wipe
his eyes
This is the man who is represented
by the writer of the jackson sketch
as "Aying on this very day to hide
himself in South Carolina man
who stood in the front of battle, who
held the scales of war and peace III
his hands, who bearded the lion in
his den and qualed not before an in-
imical President, an hostile Senate
and an opposing people. If any
other American since Washington,
except Old Hickory himself, has ever
shown more truly the courage Of his
convictions let him speak. or forever
hold his peace.
There is one other erroneous state
ment in this sketch The writer aays
that Jackson had "surrounded South
Carolina with 100000 men" This
is entirely at variance with the facts.
There was not one regiment, nor one
company, nor one man on the bard
ers of South Carolina in hostile ar
ray. There was one naval vessel
sent to the harbor, to aid the Custom
House authorities in collecting the
revenue. That was the sole display
of force upon which the admlnistra-
tion ventured. Mr. Poinsett in
formed me, several years later, that
in conference with the President
Gen. Jackson said to him: "You are
arming and drilling men in Charles
ton, learn. The State cannot put
more than 10000 men IN the field
under any circumstances. Your mill
itary strength is utterly inadequate.
Here" he said. opening drawer,
care letters offering me volunteers
to the number of 10000 men, if I
call for them, to enforce the tariff
laws"
Mr.. Clay's compromise stilled the
storm. But the writer says that
Jackson chad surrounded the State
with armed men, Where he got
his authority for this statement can
not imagine. That army, (Which
fro7o Mr. Calhoun's sOnl." never got