DEATH OF MR. CALHOUN: HIS EULOGIUM BY SENATOR BUTLER.
"MR. PRESIDENT: Mr. Calhoun has lived in an eventful period
of our Republic and has acted a distinguished part. I surely
do not venture too much when I say, that his reputation forms
a striking part of a glorious history. Since 1811 until this
time, he has been responsibly connected with the federal
government. As representative, senator, cabinet minister, and
Vice President, he has been identified with the greatest events
in the political history of our country. And I hope I may be
permitted to say that he has been equal to all the duties which
were devolved upon him in the many critical junctures in which
he was placed. Having to act a responsible part, he always
acted a decided part. It would not become me to venture upon
the judgment which awaits his memory. That will be formed by
posterity before the impartial tribunal of history. It may be
that he will have had the fate, and will have given to him the
judgment that has been awarded to Chatham.
"Mr. Calhoun was a native of South Carolina, and was born in
Abbeville district, on the 18th March, 1782. He was of an Irish
family. His father, Patrick Calhoun, was born in Ireland, and at
an early age came to Pennsylvania, thence moved to the western
part of Virginia, and after Braddock's defeat moved to South
Carolina, in 1756. He and his family gave a name to what is
known as the Calhoun settlement in Abbeville district. The
mother of my colleague was a Miss Caldwell, born in Charlotte
County, Virginia. The character of his parents had no doubt a
sensible influence on the destiny of their distinguished son.
His father had energy and enterprise, combined with perseverance
and great mental determination. His mother belonged to a family
of revolutionary heroes. Two of her brothers were distinguished
in the Revolution. Their names and achievements are not left to
tradition, but constitute a part of the history of the times.
"He became a student in Yale College, in 1802, and graduated
two years afterwards with distinction--as a young man of great
ability, and with the respect and confidence of his preceptors
and fellows. What they have said and thought of him, would have
given any man a high reputation. It is the pure fountain of a
clear reputation. If the stream has met with obstructions, they
were such as have only shown its beauty and majesty.
"Mr. Calhoun came into Congress at a time of deep and exciting
interest--at a crisis of great magnitude. It was a crisis
of peril to those who had to act in it, but of subsequent
glory to the actors, and the common history of the country.
The invincibility of Great Britain had become a proverbial
expression, and a war with her was full of terrific issues.
Mr. Calhoun found himself at once in a situation of high
responsibility--one that required more than speaking qualities
and eloquence to fulfil it. The spirit of the people required
direction; the energy and ardor of youth were to be employed
in affairs requiring the maturer qualities of a statesman. The
part which Mr. Calhoun acted at this time, has been approved
and applauded by contemporaries, and now forms a part of the
glorious history of those times.
"The names of Clay, Calhoun, Cheves, and Lowndes, Grundy,
Porter, and others, carried associations with them that reached
the _heart of the nation_. Their clarion notes penetrated the
army; they animated the people, and sustained the administration
of the government. With such actors, and in such scenes--the
most eventful of our history--to say that Mr. Calhoun did not
play a second part, is no common praise. In debate he was equal
with Randolph, and in council he commanded the respect and
confidence of Madison. At this period of his life he had the
quality of Themistocles--_to inspire confidence_--which, after
all, is the highest of earthly qualities: it is a mystical
something which is felt, but cannot be described. The events
of the war were brilliant and honorable to both statesmen and
soldiers, and their history may be read with enthusiasm and
delight. The war terminated with honor; but the measures which
had to be taken, in a transition to a peace establishment,
were full of difficulty and embarrassment. Mr. Calhoun, with
his usual intrepidity, did not hesitate to take a responsible
part. Under the influence of a broad patriotism, he acted with
an uncalculating liberality to all the interests that were
involved, and which were brought under review of Congress. His
personal adversary at this time, in his admiration for his
genius, paid Mr. Calhoun a beautiful compliment for his noble
and national sentiments.
"At the termination of Mr. Madison's administration, Mr. Calhoun
had acquired a commanding reputation; he was regarded as one
of the sages of the Republic. In 1817 Mr. Monroe invited him
to a place in his cabinet; Mr. Calhoun's friends doubted the
propriety of his accepting it, and some of them thought he would
put a high reputation at hazard in this new sphere of action.
Perhaps these suggestions fired his high and gifted intellect;
he accepted the place, and went into the War Department, under
circumstances that might have appalled other men. His success
has been acknowledged; what was complex and confused, he reduced
to simplicity and order. His organization of the War Department,
and his administration of its undefined duties, have made the
impression of an _author_, having the interest of originality
and the sanction of trial.
"While he was Vice-President he was placed in some of the most
trying scenes of any man's life. I do not now choose to refer
to any thing that can have the elements of controversy; but I
hope I may be permitted to speak of my friend and colleague
in a character in which all will join in paying him sincere
respect. As a presiding officer of this body, he had the
undivided respect of its members. He was punctual, methodical,
and accurate, and had a high regard for the dignity of the
Senate, which, as a presiding officer, he endeavored to preserve
and maintain. He looked upon debate as an honorable contest of
intellect for truth. Such a strife has its incidents and its
trials; but Mr. Calhoun had, in an eminent degree, a regard for
parliamentary dignity and propriety.
"Upon General Hayne's leaving the Senate to become Governor
of South Carolina, Mr. Calhoun resigned the Vice-Presidency,
and was elected in his place. All will now agree that such a
position was environed with difficulties and dangers. His own
State was under the ban, and he was in the national Senate to do
her justice under his constitutional obligations. That part of
his life posterity will review, and will do justice to it.
"After his senatorial term had expired, he went into retirement
by his own consent. The death of Mr. Upshur--so full of
melancholy association--made a vacancy in the State Department;
and it was by the common consent of all parties, that Mr.
Calhoun was called to fill it. This was a tribute of which any
public man might well be proud. It was a tribute to truth,
ability, and experience. Under Mr. Calhoun's counsels, Texas
was brought into the Union. His name is associated with one of
the most remarkable events of history--that of one Republic
being annexed to another by the voluntary consent of both.
Mr. Calhoun was but the agent to bring about this fraternal
association. It is a conjunction under the sanction of his name,
and by an influence exerted through his great and intrepid
mind. Mr. Calhoun's connection with the Executive Department of
the government terminated with Mr. Tyler's administration. As
Secretary of State, he won the confidence and respect of foreign
ambassadors, and his despatches were characterized by clearness,
sagacity, and boldness.
"He was not allowed to remain in retirement long. For the last
five years he has been a member of this body, and has been
engaged in discussions that have deeply excited and agitated the
country. He has died amidst them. I had never had any particular
association with Mr. Calhoun, until I became his colleague in
this body. I had looked on his fame as others had done, and
had admired his character. There are those here who know more
of him than I do. I shall not pronounce any such judgment as
may be subject to a controversial criticism. But I will say,
as a matter of justice, from my own personal knowledge, that I
never knew a fairer man in argument or a juster man in purpose.
His intensity allowed of little compromise. While he did not
qualify his own positions to suit the temper of the times, he
appreciated the unmasked propositions of others. As a senator,
he commanded the respect of the ablest men of the body of
which he was a member; and I believe I may say, that where
there was no political bias to influence the judgment, he had
the confidence of his brethren. As a statesman, Mr. Calhoun's
reputation belongs to the history of the country, and I commit
it to his countrymen and posterity.
"In my opinion, Mr. Calhoun deserves to occupy the first rank as
a parliamentary speaker. He had always before him the dignity of
purpose, and he spoke to an end. From a full mind he expressed
his ideas with clearness, simplicity, and force and in language
that seemed to be the vehicle of his thoughts and emotions. His
thoughts leaped from his mind, like arrows from a well-drawn
bow. They had both the aim and force of a skilful archer. He
seemed to have had little regard for ornament; and when he used
figures of speech, they were only for illustration. His manner
and countenance were his best language; and in these there was
an exemplification of what is meant by action, in that term of
the great Athenian orator and statesman. They served to exhibit
the moral elevation of the man.
"In speaking of Mr. Calhoun as a man and a neighbor, I hope
I may speak of him in a sphere in which all will like to
contemplate him. Whilst he was a gentleman of striking
deportment, he was a man of primitive tastes and simple manners.
He had the hardy virtues and simple tastes of a republican
citizen. No one disliked ostentation and exhibition more than
he did. When I say he was a _good neighbor_, I imply more than
I have expressed. It is summed up under the word _justice_.
I will venture to say, that no one in his private relations
could ever say that Mr. Calhoun treated him with injustice,
or that he deceived him by professions. His private character
was characterized by a beautiful propriety, and was the
exemplification of truth, justice, temperance, and fidelity to
his engagements."