Calhoun as a Lawyer and Statesman. views like one demonstrating a problem, the truth of which was so clear to his mind that he did not doubt its acceptance by all who listened to the proof. Perhaps he was too little of a party man to believe, as the English parliamentarian did, that " opinions might be, but votes were never changed by a speech." Mr. Calhoun's last appearance in the Senate chamber was touching. The Com promise Bill of 1850 was under discussion. It was in accordance with the fitness of things that the last speech of the great champion of slavery should have made up on that subject, which more than any other had engaged his thoughts for many years, slavery. He was, however, too weak to de liver it; so it was read by his colleague, Judge Butler (others say Senator Mason). It will be interesting to Carolinians to know that Mr. Calhoun left the Senate chamber, for the last time, leaning on the arm of Judge YV. H. Wallace, then a young man, in Wash ington with his father. Mr. Calhoun died with the harness on. He was still a mem ber of the Senate and was in Washington in attendance upon his duties, when the sad event occurred. He was prepared for the summons when it came. To a friend, who spoke of the time and manner in which it was best to meet death, he remarked: "I have but little concern about either; I de sire to die in the discharge of my duty : I have an unshaken reliance upon the provi dence of God." In one of his fainting spells in the lobby of the Senate, he said to Mr. Rhett i " Ah! Mr. Rhett, my career is nearly done. The great battle must be fought by you younger men." To this Mr. Rhett re plied: " I hope not, sir, for never was your life more precious, or your counsels more needed for the guidance and salvation of the South." He answered — " There, indeed, is my only regret at going — the South — the poor South! " and his eyes filled with tears. I have read somewhere that in his last days Mr. Calhoun longed for one hour more in
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the Senate. Had his wish been gratified, what golden words of counsel would he have given! After his death, his body lay in state in the capitol and thousands of people looked upon his face for the last time. Splendid eulogies were pronounced upon him by his distinguished fellow-statesmen, Clay, Benton, Webster, and others. Com mittees consisting of distinguished members of Congress accompanied his remains to his native State and all along the route great crowds gathered to do him honor. He was buried at Charleston, the beautiful city by the sea, the metropolis of the commonwealth he loved so dearly and had served so faith fully. The funeral obsequies were very im posing and magnificent tributes were paid to him, not only there, but in Columbia, and in other places in the State. A fund was started to erect a monument in his honor, but it would in all probability have been lost during the war, had it not been for " the venerable and beloved Carolina matron who, amid all the perils of war and the storms of battle, carried, concealed on her person, the sacred fund which was dedicated to the erection of this monument." After the war, through the efforts of the women of Carolina, the sub scription was completed and a splendid monument erected in Charleston in honor of Mr. Calhoun. On the 28th of April, 1887, the monument was unveiled and a great oration delivered by the Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar. Nor must I fail to mention the work entitled "Carolina's Tribute to Cal houn," so ably edited by Col. John P. Thomas, the polished writer and accom plished scholar. During the latter years of his life, Mr. Cal houn resided at Fort Hill, near Pendleton, South Carolina. Many of the wealthy and aristocratic planters of the low country owned handsome residences in and around Pendleton and there they spent their sum mers. The social element of the place was therefore, far above the average and an ex change of hospitalities was quite fashionable.
