Calhoun as a Lawyer and Statesman.
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expect. Lawyers have to prosecute men hood, good practical judgment, and con for crimes, — they have to expose rascality servatism characteristic of the Scotch. Thus among the high and low and rich and poor. [ we see that Irish blood flowed freely through As long as this is the case, there will always the veins of the subject of this sketch, and be some persons prejudiced against them. we all know that the sons of Erin have al In spite of all this, however, their talents ways had a world-wide reputation for their command recognition. It was true in the love of liberty and their antipathy for tyranny time of Mr. Calhoun. He was not only and oppression in every form. In the second elected, but his name was at the head of the place, he was brought up at a time and in a ticket. And it is true now. We find that place favorable for the development of these same sturdy virtues. America was then com lawyers abound not only in the State legis latures, but also in the national halls of paratively an unsettled country and priva tion and hardship were the rule rather than legislation. Although Mr. Calhoun had made an un the exception. At his father's knee and usually brilliant start as a lawyer, still after with his mother's milk, he imbibed a love all it is largely a speculative question to what of freedom and a spirit of independence. degree of eminence he would have attained His father was a man of bold and independ in the legal profession, had he continued ent spirit. In the frequent contests between actively in this pursuit. His reputation is the white settlers of South Carolina and the founded not upon what he accomplished as Cherokee Indians, he took a prominent part, a lawyer during the few years he was at the and, at the head of a company of rangers, bar, but upon what he did as an orator, he did good service in protecting the infant colony. In the Revolutionary struggle, he writer, and statesman. It has been said by another that it takes was a zealous Whig and won for himself three generations to make a gentleman. distinction both as a patriot and a soldier. However this may be, certainly hereditary The Caldwells, too, were zealous Whigs and endowments and ancestral influences as a they proved their faith by their valor on the field of battle. Again, not only was Patrick rule have a great deal to do in the develop Calhoun a brave soldier, but he won for him ment of the highest form of statesmanship. self also prominence in the political walks While, of course, there are brilliant excep of life. For thirty years he was a member tions, as in the case of Mr. Clay, and more of the legislature. In this way he became notably still perhaps in that of Mr. McDuffie, still as a rule hereditary environments have conversant with public affairs and was thrown much to do with one's success in the calling in contact with the prominent men of the country. I have no doubt this had a good of a politician and statesman. In this re spect Mr. Calhoun was particularly fortunate. deal to do with shaping the life and mould In the first place, he was born of a family ing the conduct of his son. Family talk at noted, both on the paternal and maternal the fireside is a potential factor in stimulat sides, for their patriotic ardor, and he ing the thought, directing the course, and was brought up among a liberty-loving moulding the destiny of children. No doubt people. His father, Patrick Calhoun, young Calhoun, when a boy, had often was born in Donegal, Ireland, and his heard his father give an account of his deeds mother, Martha Caldwell, was the daughter of daring, relate anecdotes, and tell what he of a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian, and this knew of the public men of the country. was a good cross, — the fiery zeal, nervous Oftener still, perhaps, after his father's death, impetuosity, and hopeful enthusiasm of he had heard these same stories from the lips of his mother. The seed thus sown was the Irish tempered by the firmness, hardi
