Calhoun as a Lawyer and Statesman. This is the language of fiction, reason teaches us the same. It is my wish, to elevate the na tional sentiment to that which every just and virtuous mind possesses. No effort is needed here to impel us the opposite way, that may be but too safely trusted to the frailties of our na ture. This nation is in a situation similar to that which one of the most beautiful writers of antiquity paints Hercules in his youth. He rep resents the hero as retiring into the wilderness to deliberate on the course of life which he ought to choose. Two goddesses approach him; one recommending to him a life of ease and pleasure; the other of labor and virtue. The hero adopted the counsel of the latter, and his fame and glory are known to the world. May this nation, the youthful Hercules, possessing his form and muscles, be inspired with similar sentiments and follow his example." While Mr. Calhoun was a member of Congress the law was changed giving the members of that body an annual salary of fifteen hundred dollars in place of a per diem allowance, as had been the case hitherto, and this measure received his support and vote. It proved to be very unpopular. On his return home he found both his uncles, Joseph Calhoun of Abbeville, and General William Butler of Edgefield, both of whom had once represented his district, condemn ing his course on this matter, the latter even coming out for Congress against him. Mr. Calhoun went before the people, however, and boldly vindicated his course and the re sult was that he was reelected. The mem bers generally could not stand the pressure, and the law was put back as it was before at the next session. Mr. Grosvenor, a Federal member from New York, who had personally become estranged from Mr. Calhoun and had quit speaking to him, was so favorably impressed with the latter's course on this occasion that he complimented him highly on his speech and then added : " I will not be restrained. No barrier shall exist which I will not leap over, for the purpose of offering to that gentleman my thanks for the ju dicious, independent, and rational course
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which he has pursued in this House for the two last years, and particularly upon the subject now before us. Let the honorable gentleman continue the same manly inde pendence aloof from party views and local prejudices, to pursue the great interests of his country, and fulfil the high destiny for which it is manifest he was born. The buzz of popular applause may not cheer him on his way, but he will inevitably arrive at a high and happy elevation in the view of his country and the world." In after years an incident very similar to this, again occurred in the experience of Mr. Calhoun. The Ashburton treaty was under consideration in the Senate, and he made so able and eloquent a speech upon it that his colleague, Mr. Preston, who was not on social terms with him at the. time, was so delighted that he hurried over to the House and unbosomed himself to his friend, Mr. Holmes, in the following language : "I must give vent to my feelings : Mr. Calhoun has made a speech which has settled the ques tion of the Northeastern boundary. All his friends, nay, all the senators, have collected around to congratulate him, and I have come out to express my emotion, and declare that he has covered himself with a mantle of glory." As secretary of war under Mr. Monroe, Mr. Calhoun acquitted himself with credit. He brought order out of chaos and so con ducted the office as to bring it up to the highest state of efficiency. As vice-president, he has never been surpassed either before or since in the discharge of his duties. As the presiding officer of the Senate, he was fair, impartial, and courteous. In the discussion of the Panama question, Mr. Randolph, the senator from Virginia, criti cised the administration in the severest terms and went outside of the merits of the question to abuse the secretary of state, Mr. Clay. It was thought by some at the time that the former should have been called to order by the presiding officer, but Mr.
