Virgil Maxcy was the son of Jonathan Maxcy, successively president of Rhode Island College (now Brown University), Union College, and South Carolina College. He was a prominent politician and lawyer in Maryland, and an ardent supporter of Calhoun. After having been solicitor of the treasury under Jackson, and chargé des affaires at Brussels under Van Buren, he was killed in February, 1844, (with Secretaries Upshur and Gilmer and others) by the explosion on board the Princeton.
Tulip Hill, near Annapolis
Nov. 16, 1823.
My dear Sir,
I have duly recd. your letter and felt certain that your impressions in relation to Mr. C—n"s opinions respecting manufactures were founded in misapprehension. Frankness in the avowal of his opinions on all political questions and a readiness to assume the responsibility of defending them, are distinguishing traits in Mr. Calhoun's character. I have since the receipt of your letter had a communication with him on the subject of it. He thinks your mistake in relation to his opinions or rather your impression that he had expressed different opinions from those he entertains on the subject of manufactures, originated in his disapprobation of Mr. Baldwin's project,[1] which he considers violent in degree and altogether unnecessary. He thinks that little need be done to render the principal branches flourishing. For his opinions on this subject he refers such of his friends as feel an interest in knowing the extent of them, to a speech which he delivered in 1816, and which he thinks was republished from the Intelligencer into Niles Register.[2] He is surprised at Col. Taylor's[3] misapprehension of him as he went over the whole ground with him, and he thought that he, (Col. Taylor) felt disposed to yield to the conclusion, that we ought to make such naval exertions as would enable us to keep open our connexion with our markets, in time of war, or so to modify the industry of the country as in some degree to render us independent in war of foreign markets, for the leading and necessary articles of supply. Col. Taylor appeared to him to prefer the first branch of the alternative. In the conclusion of his letter he desires me to say, that when you arrive at Washington, he will be happy to discuss the subject freely with you, and he concludes his letter in the following strong language, which I, who have known him most intimately for more than 15 years believe to be perfectly sincere: viz. "I may say with truth that I could not be tempted, even by the Presidency, to disguise or conceal my opinion on great points of National policy."
