Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-02-15
NEW news OF YESTERDAY
Connecticut Yankee Who Shaped
CaIhoun's Legal Education.
President Timothy Dwight Of Yale Ad.
vlsed the Great Carolinian to
Study Law In the New
School at Litchfield.
BY 6. ]. EDWARDS.

John G. 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 student In the first
law school established in this country.
at 1.itchfield, Conn, within a stones
throw Of the birthplace OF Henry
Ward Beecher. He received diploma
from This pioneer school in 1907. was
admitted to tie 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 it was the al
most universal practice for young men
who aspired to be lawyers to prepare
for admission to the bar by reading In
the Office Of q lawyer. So far as
know. no b;ographer Of Calhoun tells
why the great South Carolinian broke
away from this custom of long stand
Ing
Briefly, he was persuaded to do 80
by none other than A Connecticut
Yankee: and my authority for this
statement Is Rev. Jonathan Brace.
VINO for many years was proml-
nent Congregational clergyman In
Connecticut. and who. when Calhoun
was beginning to gain great pronl-
hence. 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 10 Princeton In
stead of Yale college" said MT
Brace. but certain intimate family
associations with some of the Yale
instructors Induced Calhoun to enter
Yale, where he speedily became a
great fayorite 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
AZ to the true source Of political pow
cr which very greatly Impressed Presi'
dent Dwight. 1t was an argument that
lasted all evening, and when It. was
over President Dwight ventured to
say 10 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 oil
contemporary government and poll
tics would, without doubt. II used to
that end, make Calhoun man Of very
great national prominence, and, per-
haps might briug him to the presi-
dcncy.
"Of courze, this enconirm greatly
pleased Calhoun. and It may have
done something to persuade him to
take IN politics very early In his Ca
reer. However. ut the time o. the ar
gumcnt that drew forth this praise
Calhoin's ambition was to make
great lawyer Of himself. and after his
graduation from Yale he sought the
1dvice Of President Dwight respecting
his preparation for admission to the
bar. The elder man strongly advised
Calhoun to enroll himself as a stu
lent in the law school at Litchfield.
Conn. saying that Calhoun could ID
that way more thoroughly ground him.
self in the fundamental principles OF
tho law than by reading the books IN
any lawyers office.
The Lftchield law school was then
Young institution, not even It's foun'
ders we're certain that 1t would prove
4 successful experiment. Calhoun at
first wag doubtful about tho wisdom OF
following President Dwights advice,
81 he started to read law In an office
in Charleston: but while he was thus
engaged he came 10 the conclusion
that President Dwight had laid out
the proper course for him to folio"
and he sat down and wrote letter 70
The I.itchlield law school. In which
he asked If he would be accepted as
student. In due course he received
favorable reply and shortly thereafter
enrolled as student in the school,
4 step that Cardinals greatest lawyer
and ablcst public citizen never re-
greticd taking ut the advice OF COD
necticut Yankee.
;conyri-h:. 1911. by F.. J. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)