The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-03-01
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Connecticut Yankee VINO Shapet|
calhoun's Legal Education.
President Timothy Dwight Of Vale A.
vlsed the. Great caroiinisn to
Study Law In the New
School at lltckieid.
BY E. J. EpwARps.

BY e. ,. EDWARDS.
John C.. Calhoun was graduated
from Yale college in 1904 when that
seat Of learning was under the admin.
istration Of the first President Tim
othy Dwight. After his graduation
Calhoun became a student In the first
law school established in this country.
at Litchfeld, Conn. within a stones
throw of the birthplace of Henry
Ward Beecher. He received a diploma
from this pioneer school in 1907. was
admitted to the bar of Connecticut on
the credit of that diploma, and then
went Immediately to his native part
Of South Carolina and set himself up
In the practice of law. At the time
Calhoun studied law 1t was the al.
most universal practice for young me-
who aspired to be lawyers to prepare
for admission to the bar by reading In
the Office Of a lawyer. So far as
know. no biographer of Calhoun tells
why the great South Carolinian broke
away from this custom of long stand.
ing.
Briefly. he was persuaded to do &C
by none other than a Connecticut
Yankee; and my authority for this
statement is Rev. Jonathan Brace
who for many years was q promi.
nent Congregational clergyman In
Connecticut. and who. when Calhoun
was beginning to gain great promi'
nence. secured his information from
the family Of President Dwight OF
Yale.
''In his early manhood Calhoun was
a stanch Presbyterian. and SO he
should have gone to Princeton in.
stead of Yale college," said Mr..
Brace. But certain intimate family
associations with some Of the Yale
instructors induced Calhoun to enter
Yale, where he speedily became a
great favorite with President Dwight
He entered the Junior class. In HIS
senior year he had many conferences
with President Dwight, and there was
one based upon their different views
as to the true source Of political pow
er which very greatly impressed Presi
dent Dwight. 1t was an argument that
lasted all evening. and when 1t was
over President Dwight ventured to
say to Calhoun that his gift for pro
found reasoning. his ability to per
suade, those who heard him argue that
his argument was sound. and his
knowledge Of historic as we'll as OF
contemporary government and poll
tics would. without doubt, II used te
that end. make Calhoun a man Of very
great national prominence. and, per.
haps might bring him to the presf
dency. IT,, 4e
"Of course. this encomium greatly
pleased Calhoun. and It may have
done something to persuade him te
take up politics very early in his ca
reer. However. at the time of the ar
gument that drew forth this praise
Calhoun's ambition was to make a
great lawyer of himself. and after his
graduation from Yale he sought the
advice oil President Dwight respecting
his preparation for admission to the
bar. The elder man strongly. advised
Calhoun to enroll himself as. a: stu.
dent in the law school at Litchfield.
Conn.,. saying that Calhoun could In
that way more thoroughly ground him.
self in the fundamental principles OF
the, law than by reading the books In
any lawyers, Office.
1.-THE Litchfield law school was then
a young institution. not even its foun,
ders were certain that 1t would prove
a successful experiment. Calhoun at
flrst was d6uubtfulsahou. the wisdbil OF
following President Dwighs's advice
80 he started to read law in an Office
in Charleston; but while he was thus
engaged he came to the conclusion
that President Dwight had laid out
the prope,. course for him to follow
and le sat down and wrote a letter tc
the Iitchfleld law school. in which
he asked if he would be accepted as .
student. In due course he received 9
favorable reply and shortly thereafter
enrolled as a student In the schcol-
. step that !Carolina's greatest lawyer
and ablest public citizen never re
GREETED taking ut the advice. Of . Con
Decticut Yankee"
Copyright. 1911. by T.. ). Edwards. Al
Rights Reservedo
5i
THE vacuious Life.