The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-08
4 CHARACTER STUDY:
JOHN CALDWELL CALHOUN
By COUNCIL S. WOOTEN. ESQ

Inc president, DR.. Timothy Dwight,
was a New England Federalist of the
school Of Hamilton, while calhoun
was a Jeffersonian Republican. In a
rccltatlon during the senior year on
the chapter on politics in Paley's Nor
al Phllosophy, h doctor. with the,
intention Of eliciting his opinion
propounded to him the question as to
the legitimate source of power. CUES
lions relating to were
ABOVE all others that Mr.. Calhoun
most delighted to discuss. He was a
peter reasoner thar his teacher, and
he discussed the question With such
Vlgor OF argument and success, as to
eilclt from his distinguished teacher
the declaration that the young man
nad talent enough to be President Of
une United States. After his gradual
tlon, he studied law at the celebrated
school at Litchfield. Connecticut. at
winch 50 many Of the most eminent
members of the profession in those
early days received their legal educa-
ION. He commenced the practice of
law at Abbeyille. South Carolina. He
soon acquired a lucrative practice and
IL he mad remained at the bar he
would have Won fame and fortune.
He was soon elected to the legislature
and entered upon his political career
which continued with such distin-
SoSSVSS AhklI Ills uedLH III
1852 as a member of the United
states Senate On the 4th of November
1911, be took his seat at the first ses-
sion Of the twelfth Congress, having
been called in extra session by the
President, Mr.. Madison, on account Of
the threatened aspect Of affairs with
England which resulted in the war Of
1872. During this year he married his
cousin. Florlde Calhoun, who possess
ed a modest fortune, which enabled
him ito steer with all sails set into
the open sea of politics. / read some
years in a newspaper a love let
ter he wrote to his dear FlOride. He
poured forth in the greatest and most
tender strain the emotions of his love
sick soul. like the bird pours forth his
in the melody Of song. 1 had been
reading Calhoun's speeches and writ
ings for years, which are the finest
specimens Of metaphysical and alb
struse reasoning in our language and
I was not prepared to find such an eX
preston Of poetic sentiment and re-
fined taste. Romeo. as he overleaps
the orchard walls and d~iScourses love
to Juliet in the balcony scene, was
not more romantic, when he says:
Two Of the fairest stars in all the
heaven
Having some business, do entreat her
To twinkle in their spheres until they
return
What if her eyes were there, they in
her head
The brightness of her cheek would
shame these stars
AS daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in
leave
Would through the airy region stream
so bright
That birds would sing and think n
We're not night"
Uyho~ Gso1In,n ontoro5 Top orocc no
was only % years old. Clay was speak
er of the House and was five years
older than Calhoun. h speaker ap-
pointed Calhoun to the second place
on the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
P. B. Porter, New York, was chair
man. At the first meeting Of the
Committee on motion Of Mr.. Porter.
Calhoun was unanimously chosen to
preside over their elaboration. This
was q high honor for a young man
still under thirty years and during
his first term in Congress. He needed
no preparation to assume his public
duties. He sDrang into the arena like
Minerva from the head of Jove, fully
grown and clothed in armor.' Intel
lect will always assert its superiority.
Napoleon when a young man under
thirty was elected one Of the cOnSuls
of France together with Sieyers and
Ducos. AS they entered the council
chamber there was one arm chair in
the room, and Napoleon very cody as
sumed it. Sieyers says: 'Who-shall take
the chair?" "Boneparte, surely SAID
Ducos: 'he already has it, He is the
only man who can save us Very
well, gentlemen" said Napoleon, "let
us proceed to business" That was the
language Of a master. There We're
many brilliant young men elected to
the 18th Congress who afterwards dis
tinguished themselves in the service OF
the country. 1t was the war Congress
that provided mean for the wal
against England. Mr.. C~alhOun's col
leagues from South Carolina We're
Langdon Cheves and William LoWn-
des both men of eminent ability. Mr.
Clay in speaking of this Congress says
"Of all the Congresses with which ]
have had any acquaintance since M