Year: 1864




A letter from John G. Calhoun was found by cor
respondent Of the Cincinnati Commercial in desert.
&C house in Marietta, Ga. In this letter MIR Calhoun
Cefends himself from complaints made inst his ac-
ton, and urges cordial nnion among bis friends to
carry out his purposes The letter ia dated October
20. 1888: We quote part of this document:


Would to God the whole South (the weak and ex-
posed portion OF the Uniop) had adopted tie same
course, and merged all of their local and past differences
in one general effort for their common interest Had
they SO acted, how df rent would be our condition
and lLhuence at this day.


HaVlng now answered your question, I now turn to
fehne my own position and that which, in nv opinion
the whole State Rights party and the entire South,
@agas 10 take at this Important juncure of af
fairs


then, have abandoned not single principle changed
no opinion, any of my political relations | stand
as have long God, disconnected from all psrties ex-
cept the Old State Rights party Of 98 to which *
cuslv y belong and 10 whose rauks, with the blessing
of God, hope to die. My whole nature and system
OF thinking must undergo complete aud entire revolu
tlon heoEe CAP change. Even my personal relations
with Mr. Van Barren remain Unchanged l have not
been III the Presidents house. had any
with him, directly or Indirectly in eght years. In ta-
king the did in relation to the Constitutional
Treasury, and On every other question since have
acted in strict conformity to principles avowed years
fore


But, while have thus continued to occupy immov-
able my old opinions have deemed it my duty to give
Tie Administration an honest and sincere support,
or as the Constitutional Treasury concerned and
other measures according with principles and poll
cy AS much as the party have srayed from the true
principles and policy of the republican iath believe
that our only recruiting ground is in their ranks. We
car have no hopes from the National or Northern
Wings. Not only their acts but their principles, are
opposed to u.s. They are abotionists by profession
sincerely and cannot be brought into ranks with
out complete conversion while, the contrary, the
great body of the Administration or d. mocratc party
p1oessed, for the most part principles, while they
devated from them in practice In addition, there is
natural conflict in the slaveholding States, which
tends to throw the Democratic party our sde and
the Nationals against u.s. of witch strong proof
on tie abolition question. 1t would have been mpos
soe to have got single of the latter in either
House to subscribe to the principles in relation to abo
lton to which the whole body of the former agreed.


Thus, while acting on these views, have never left
1t to be doubted by words acts, that occupied
distinct and separate position, and would oppose any
act of the party that did not accord with my prnci
Piles and policy as freely as it from Nationals


The moment we enter into the Presidential canvass
for Can lidae whose principles and policy do not
cord with ours influence and control would be lost
but, II we stand fast on our ground with the
derstandng that we shall either take no part at ALL
throw weight where it will be most efactuai to ad
vance interest," control will ba felt to The last
with powerful effect.


From what have stated it will be easy to copjec-
ure what in my opinion ought to be the of our
party and if they could be induced to act it, /
would uuderWre Tor the foal triumph Of our princi
pe and with them the esta blishment of our security
and prosperity.