The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-27

no desperate distance, 1 was all of
sudden shouted after in high-pitched
tones, though amiable. We faced about
to settle the riddle of the interruption.
The calls were from one Rhetz, a
member of the Calhoun inner circle. Be
ing of friendly diplomacy, this Rhetz
had maintained good relations with the
General and myself.
"Ah! here we have our friend Rhetz,"
exclaimed the General Rhetz was yet
some distance. While we waited the
General made his comment. "He is
the one who should come from CAL
houn; my silence on Notification, as
Noah warned us, has made the Vice
! President nervous, and he would feel
me out. l think Major, and by your
leave, I shall clear the business up
for them. Come, now, what say you?
Let us run up our Union flag like gal
liant, hearty fellows, you and me, and
call on the fray. I think, too, I'll
give them my views on Calhoun"
Would it be wise to declare open
war on Calhoun"
He has for long waged secret war
on me-" retOrted the General. mo;
let us unmask ourselves and thereby
unmask him. 1t will cripple him and
strengthen us, since the sole chance he
i has to harm me is to pretend to be
ness now should erve somewhat to
hamstring the enemys campaign
against Peg"
Il was about to call on you" said
Rhetz greetings over, land was told
/ at the door how you were somewhere
! for stroll about the grounds"
What was your concern with me?"
! asked the General, his manner most
= urbane.
No concern at ALL" responded the
affable Rhetz, mo concern beyond a.
friendly regard, Mr.. President / would
call only to exhibit my friendship"
And that should give me great pleas
ure,' said the General, casting a comic
| slde-look towards me. Then, with a
| plain purpose of helping the scout to
J his discoveries: And what of Con-
! gress? L suppose both House and SEN
ate still heave with the ground-swells
of the Webster Hayne debate"
There is no end of cloak room talk"
said Rhetz. And, by the way. Mr.
| President, here was a feeler-"there
be folk, and your friends at that, who
wonder you are not openly with Cal
houn and against Webster and his
Yankees for this principle of States
Rights" Rhetz followed this last OBJ
serve with a setting forth OF argument
bearing for the Calhoun-Hayne conten-
ton.
Beware OF metaphysics" observed
the General, dryly turning his gray
look against Rhetz, as that rice-land
sophist laid down one by one those
| various refnements and distractions
wherewith the Palmetto gentry-the
! CaIhouns and the Buffers and the
! Pinckneys and the Haynes-were blaz-
ing the path for Secession; beware of
metaphysics! No good comes of split
| ting hairs. A rough hewn honesty
, a turgid frankness-should be the bet
ter road" The General walked on in
silence for a brief space, Rhetz also
silent, feeling himself on the brink of
| some precipice of the Generals tenn
per, and in no sort eager for a fail.
Sir, resumed the General, "let me now
set you an example; let me be most
open with you, not only for Nullifica-
ton, but for your friend, Calhoun.
First then, Calhoun is not trust
worthy. Did he not for years teach
! me to believe he was my friend with
Monroe, when it was he of all that
cabinet who urged my court-martial
| for taking Florida and hanging Am
bristie and Arbuthnot? Calhoun was
my enemy, sir; he is my enemy now.
He would hide the fact, but it is too
late. When I tell you how Calhoun
| is my enemy, would you still urge on
me this prince of duplicity for a states
man whose word is worth a following?
| Calhoun, for plan or a principle.
cannot be relief on. He is congenital-
ly bad, and will propose nothing that
is true or high" Here, as the Cen
erals anger began to tower, he would
strike viciously at old weeds, dead and
winter-bitten, which ranked the path
we traVersed, cutting them down with
| his hickory stick as with a saber;
Rhetz still silent, without voice. There
| lives but one more trustees than CAL
houn-that arch-rogue Clay. And my
friends would show amazement at my
| failure to be openly with Calhoun
Also, you say they fear 1 may follow
| Webster and his Yankees Sir I know
! the Yankees; they are a dour hard
brood, who to aid their interests might
| not scruple to oVer-reach. / have vet
to hear, however, they betray their
| friends, as did Calhoun; 1 have still to
| know they would bargain the downfall
| of their party, as did Clay. Judas
| would have done a no more ebon deed
! than did that Kentucky renegade when
he sold his soul to Adams for a place
And now am to take great doctrine
| from such children of deceit? Webster
and his Yankees may be centered on
| themselves and selfish; doubtless they
are. But you may tell Calhoun that
l prefer them as companions of policy
| before such cozeners as himself and
| Clay" The Generals voice here rose
| like the far high scream of an osprey.
| 'Calm yourself, General" / said, in
| tones which never failed to bring him
! to himself. There is scant need of
informing all Washington city of our
| opinions"
The General had paused in his walk
and taken off that high white hat.
deep girdled of a mourning band As he
! talked he beat this stiff headgear with
mis- cane until I quite trembled for its
| integrity.
Calhoun" went on the General. but
with temper more in hand, claims for
his state the right to annul the law
! the right to secede from the Union
| Sir, If We were to walk by this doc
| trine of Nullification, the Union would
be like bag open at both ends. No
matter where or how you picked il up
| the meal would all run out Tell Call
houn that / shall tie the bag and save
| the country"
The Generals lean jaws at this last
mention of Calhoun closed hard and
iron-fast like a trap, while his nose
seemed more beaky and predatory. Ev-
| identity he half-scented Calhoun as a
prey to come, and would be ready TO
swoop on him.
You would seem deeply to hate both
Clay and Calhoun. Mr.. President"
1thetz suggested. Rhetz was somewhat
feeble OF voice; the Generals outburst
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