The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-10-20

the Editorials 10 which Reference
f. Had no Answer Is Needed-His
Measurements Lead to the Belief
That He Has Never Read the Edi.
toriaIs TO Which He Replies-If
He Did Read Them. Then He Ut
terly Failed to Comprehend Them.
Atlanta, Ga, Oct. II, 1891
COL John P. Thomas, Columbia ). Z.
Dear Sir:-I read with pleasure your aole
reply 10 the attacks made oy Mr.. Hogn VII
son editor of the Press and Banner, OF aDpe-
vile, S. c., on John c. Calhoun as a statesman
and otherwise. s,,,,,or
ested attempt to right the bIa mempy ety,s oi Osi
To the we'll informed, the true character OF
Calhoun as we'll as his statesmansnip, are so
well known that IL is a har'i matter ior me 10
say anything now on the subject can only
enliehten those who are ignorant Of the man
and his life work. ,.
a near relation of Calhoun, and formerly
resident of Abbeville, S. c., desires TO say IN
reply TO Mr.. Wilson's assertion or lnslnua'
tions that Mr.. Calhoun's memory has been
kept alive by the efforts of his kinsmen whlle
been forgotten, that he (Mr. Wilson), with,
perhaps, one exception, cannot mentlon
single instance OF any OF his relations, elther
in private conversation or public speeches, @ OF OF
his greatness; nor has any OF them wrlICen
book or praise OF his life success.
Mr.. Wilson knows this statement TO be true.
He needed no euogy rom 1 ms re reiatiOn; S,a;emon
Mr. Wilson should have so much to say about
poor White Trash,' class OF people VINO
seem from his accounts TO have existed pre-
vious to 1855, cannot understand, unless nIs
intention was to array class against class. IL
certainly has no connection with Calnoup.
He draws the conclusion that the "Foor
o1o
antagonistic: and that the large slave hold
er's efforts were directed toward forcing the
poor white trash out Of the slave states.
Mr.. Wilson is evidently not well up on tne
history and ways Of the Sout previous 10
and since 1865 If am to judge him by bis
writings. In order 10 score point against
Calhoun and the old slave holders. he sacrln'
ces true history aud builds up an imaginary
case.
BY reason OF the death of the owners. the
large Southern plantations have been solo lot
division among their heirs, or partltloneo,
and we have many more small farms owned
by white people OF rented TO white or negro
tenants than formerly.
When Mr.. Wilson states that the large
slave owner bought out the small land own
ers, he is correct in his statement; but the
conclusion he draws Is completely erroneous
His conclusion Is that the "Poor White Trash
were not wanted and every possible means
was used to force them out OF the slave states
The fact is as follows: AS the slaveowner
would acquire more slaves by purchase or
natural Increase, they would be compelled TO
have more land, and by offering large price
duce them to sell.
MIR. Wilson is very much in love with the
expression, Poor white @ Trash, apd s JSdge bie
aim to create the impression that II was
term of reproach applied by the large slave
owner TO his less fortunate neighbor.
If Mr.. Wilson will make a little 1nvest1ga-
tion, he Will learn the expression, is negro
coinage used by them, like their other favor
lite expression, Poor Buckra." have often
heard the negroes when was boy. use these
these expressions, but have never heard
them applied by our class OF white people to
another. except in fun-imitating the negro.
The old slaves now living use these express
sions yet.
Mr.. Wilson tries to create impression that
these Poor White Trash" were forced by the
slave owners TO go TO some western state
where there were no slaves.
There were some poor people as we'll as q
number OF rich people who left South Caro-
lima during the days of slavery. Some for
one cause and some for another, but all went
OF their own accord 10 try 10 better their con.
ditions on the rich lands OF tue West, and fol-
lowing that instinct that -or ages past has
been leading men west. Since 1865 ten men
have gone West where one went before that
date.
The following is taken from one OF Mr..
Wilson's editorials:
"Iu the days of Calhoun he was the champ
{" ion Of slavery and all of bis efforts were a. 81
"perpetuate slavery 1t was thought best to
make the South an agricutur raj, and not a
manufaeturlns country; 1he plan pas TO
holder TO find praJatable employment" Crhe
italics are mine.)
The foregoing is a fair sample of the hume
shows how little he knows OF the work of
Calhoun while In public life. His defence OF
slavery was a mere incident In his life as will
fully appear later on In this article.
Mr 20 a nn
governmental principles are antiquated and
entirely out OF date and do not fit our times
There have been many changes since his day,
and the world has much vast strides In every
thing except statesmen and principles OF gov
ernment. There has been abso utely no I'M
provement In that respect, and 1t Is so very
United States today is without single states
man in office. We have great abundance OF
small brains and demagogues. though.
For the sake OF argument, admit that CAL
boun did advocate theories OF government
that have been exp oded; admit that he ad-
yocated slavery and free trade. What has
that got 10 do with bis ability and recognized
greatness or his services to his country?
After a careful study OF what Mr.. Wilson
has had to say of Calhoun give the follow
ing az the substance OF his objections to him {:
]. He was a slave owner.
!. Because the people of South Carolin aud
OF the United States bad great confidence In
him.
8. Because he was man OF brains and left
his impress on the country.
4. Because be advocated slavery and free
trade.
S. Because he is mentioned in every speech
made In Abhevlle County, his birth place.
which gives Mr.. Wilson "that tired feeling"
Because IL makes him sick to hear the
name OF Calhoun mentioned SO often.
7. Because in the fifties the name of Cal
houn was pronounced with more reverence
than the people called the name of our Saw
ior, and with more respect than the majority
Of our preachers pronounced the name OF
God.
8. Because his private life aud character
were worthy OF Imitation.
These eight reasons. all of which should go
to Mr.. Calhoun's credit and raise him In Mr.
Wilson'S opinion, damn him.
In his overruling desire TO bette the great
est statesman the United States has produced
he does not see his Inconsistencies
He has utterly failed to comprehend what
constitutes Calhouns greatness.
The following quotations from men Of bis
day and since, and the other matters briefly
mentioned, will give him some ideas that
may In the future guide him. and what will
show his claim to brains, patriotism and
craftsmanship:
He was Vice-President of the United States.
For years member first OF the House OF
Representatives and then of the Senate.
He was at one time Secretary of War also
Secretary OF State, and refused the mission 10
the Court Of st. james.
In recent letter, Hon. w. ]. Bryan calls
him. "One OF the greatest statesmen of the
pation.H
Rev. DR.. Basil Manly, President Of the Uni.
versity of Alabama, wrote to Mr.. Calhoun on
December 4th, 1874; ~ cannot forbear to re-
new TO you the assurances of my hearty
approval OF the leading doctrine in govern.
"menL which IL has been the business OF your
life to illustrate and establish, and Of my
warm admiration OF your public char
acter and services"
In writing to Calhoun informing him of his
appointment do the position OF Secretary o
State at 9 time when he had retired to pri