The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-03-30

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the public debt, and would have entailed the collection of addi-
tional revenues, but the defense of the country by the most prac-
tical method, was TO his mind of first Importance; even his av-
oritc theories were subordinate to this. Whilc in This speech, he
deprecated the necessity for the high tariff, he advocated a
gradual reduction, in order not to destroy infant industries
brought into existence and ahnormally Furnishing because of the
exclusion of foreign goods during the war. While this too was
contrary to his policy under ordinary circumstances, it goes to
fairly. But his plea was for necessary revenue and not potec-
ton, then as ever aftcrward; his dread, was of a surplus taken
unlaWfully from the pockets of the people, inviting Wastcful if
if not unlawful appropriations.
Some have attributed his violent opposition to the tariff of
1928 to personal animosty toward General Jackson, then Prcsi-
dent. Of this number, may be mentioned Mr.. Benton of MissOu-
ri. 1t would be well to remember that Mr.. Benton and Mr..
Calhoun were not friends, and while the former would not mis-
state a fact, he would perhaps unduly color a circumstance.
AS this is a notable period in the careers of both Mr.. CAL
houn and President Jackson, it may not be amiss to review
some of the facts leading up to their disagreement.
These men, since they were first associated in public life, had
been fast friends. 1t is said that Gen. JacksOn's admiration for
Mr.. Calhoun bordered on idolatry. Mr.. Calhoun, after a service
of six years in the lower House, which was marked by the lead
ing part he took in reporting the war resolution of 1872, and by
other services of like import, had displayed such marked ability
that, without his seeking, in December 1877, even after his re-
election to congress, he was invited by Mr.. Monroe, the newly
elected President, to take a place in his cabinet, as Secretary of
War.
A little depression here will serve to show that his great
powers of analysis and generalization, the metaphysical charac-
terstic of his mind which some are pleased to assert rendered
him impractical, was fully equaled by his capacity for business
details. When he took charge of the War Department., it was in
utter confusion. There were outstanding debts Of over
$40, 0OO,0 900, in the nature of past due claims, which he reduced
during his administration to less than three million dollars.
After a few months observation of conditions, he drafted an en-
tirely new set of regulations, reorganizing the entire department.
These regulations were practically unchanged for a quarter OF a
century. He found the annual cost per man, including officers
in the service, more than $451.0O per aunum, and he left the cost
less than $2S7.OO per annum. When he came into office, the
annual expenditure on the army was $l,OOO,OOO. He reduced
this 81, 100000. And yet, it is said that the army had never been
better provided or paid. There is not an instance on record,
during his entire public career, where he has advocated a parsi-
monious policy; but he dreaded wastefulness. So perfect was
the system devised by him, that he was able to report to Con-
gress in 1923, that ''of the entire annual appropriation of money
drawn from the Treasury for military service, including pensions
amounting to 1851, So. 81, although it passed through the hands
of two hundred and ninety-one discussing officers, thee has"not
been a single defalcation nor the loss ola single cent to the gov
eminent" No mere theorist could have wrought such wonder
full changes in that disorganized department..
But let us recur to the main point. 1t happened, while MIR.
Calhoun held the position of Secretary of War that the Seminole
Indians made frequent incursions into the territory of the United
States, and General Jackson was sent to drive them into the in
terror of the Spanish possessions. 1t seems that the President
and Mr.. Calhoun had secretly given General Jackson more lati-
tude than they could consistently make public, and acting on
this, he had gone far into the interior of the Spanish possessions,
and had seized and fortified several Spanish forts which he
claimed had sheltered the enemy. In this it is contended by some
that he exceeded even his secret authority, and especially when
he executed Arbuthnot and Ambrister, two English subjects. 1t
is stated, it appears on very good authority, that IN a cabinet
meeting Mr.. Calhoun advised that she GacksOn) should be pun
ished or repremanded' for his conduct in this execution.
This circumstance was not known to General Jackson until
after Mr.. Calhoun had served for one term as Fice-President,
himself being president. There was never afterward any
friendship between them; but we can not agree with those who
believe that this incident accounts for Mr.. Cahoun's opposition
to the protective system, and the bold stand he ultimately
took for States Rights. The fact is, it was scarcely possible for a
man whose every act found its origin in a logical cause, as was
the case with Mr.. Calhoun, to long agree with a man whose
ideas, however correct, often originated in impulse, however well
meant, and were executed with military promptness, as was the
case with General Jackson. When President Jackson was
elected the second time, Mr.. Calhoun looked forward to this
event for the reduction of duties, and so advised his friends; and
it was only after disappointment in this quarter, that he advised
the notification proceedings taken by his State.
Mr.. Calhoun never INDUCED in personal .invective except in
repelling an attack, and then, he confined himself strictly to the
record, and in language absolutely free of grossness. His attacks
were on principles, not men. And while we have the greatest
generation for General Jackson as one of the noblest of South
Cardinals sons, in the light of Mr.. Calhouns entire career, which
dealt with principles not men, we can but conclude that his
remark in the cabinet was but the reluctant admission of his
sense of right, affecting, as it did, even his friend. No one
knows how much the expression was warped or its application
changed. 1t was finally reported by an enemy of Mr.. Calhoun.
Whatever may have been the feeling of the President for MIR.
Calhoun, til gratifng that he cherished no unkind feelingfor the
people of his native state, though arrayed with the Nation
against the stand they had taken. Hear just this short extract
from his memorable Modification Proclamation: 'FellOW-citizens
of nv native State, let me not only admOnish you as the First
Magistrate of our common country, not to incur the penalty OF its
laws, but use the influence that a father would over his children
whom he saw rushing to certain ruin" 1t must be acknowledge
ed that, entertaining such contrary opinions as to the attitude OF
the State, his course was moderate. 1t is we'll worth remem-
bering, however, that the State Of South Carolina had attempted
to settle the question at issue, in the United States Court, and