Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 11.pdf/227

 202

not unlikely to bear fruit rn after years. Though John had determined to become a farmer and to steer clear of politics, it would not be surprising, if, deep down in his heart even then, there were a hankering for a political life and a secret longing to follow in the footsteps of his father and become a public man. At any rate there is not the slightest doubt that, after he entered politics, his father's course and example had much to do with shaping his own. We find this fact strikingly exemplified and illustrated by an incident which happened in his father's political life taken in connection with the general course which the son pursued throughout his long political career. When the Federal constitution was submitted to the people of South Carolina for their adop tion, we learn that Patrick Calhoun opposed it on the ground that it allowed other people than those of Carolina to tax the people of the State, thus violating the principle of taxation without representation. Is it at all surprising that his distinguished son should afterwards have become the great exponent of States rights and a strict observance of the Constitution? Like father like son, as a general thing is a pretty safe rule to go by. The hereditary instinct, the bent of his mind, and the trend of his thought were all illustrated not only by the subject which he selected for his graduating essay, namely, "The qualifications necessary to become a perfect statesman," but also by a circumstance which hap pened while he was a student of Yale Col lege, and which is almost invariably men tioned by those who write about him. It seems that on one occasion during his senior year he got into an argument in the class room with his distinguished preceptor, the president of the college, Dr. Dwight, as to what is the legitimate source of power. The learned doctor was an ardent Federalist, and young Calhoun was one of a few in a class of more than seventy members, who were avowed Republicans in their political prin

ciples. Party feeling was bitter at the time, and this discussion was an animated one, though entirely friendly. The class was re citing on the chapter on Politics in Paley's "Moral Philosophy." Mr. Calhoun did not hesitate to avow and maintain in a vigorous way his Republican principles, — that the people were the legitimate source of power. The debate exhausted the time allotted to the recitation. So ably did Mr. Calhoun maintain his side of the question and so favorably did he impress his preceptor that the latter remarked afterwards to a friend that " the young man had talent enough to be President of the United States." Indeed he went even further and made the predic tion already referred to on an earlier page. The two terms in which Mr. Calhoun graced the vice-presidency were a sufficient veri fication of his- distinguished preceptor's prophecy. While Mr. Calhoun was in the law school at Litchfield, Connecticut, he joined a debating society and took an active part in it, in this way improving his talents for extemporary speaking. In reading Mr. Clay's life we learn that he also was a member of a debating society while receiving his professional education. And in taking this step, both of them acted wisely. The training received in a literary society is an invaluable part of a collegiate education. It develops what there is in a boy, gives him self-confidence, improves his style as a de bater and a writer, and adds to his grace as a speaker. It also strengthens the attach ment which a man feels in after years for the institution in which he was educated. It is indeed surprising how strong is the at tachment which some men feel for the liter ary society to which they once belonged. Not long ago I heard of a distinguished judge in a western State writing back for a badge of the society of which he was a member some twenty-five years ago. I know a distinguished member of the bar of Wash ington City, who is as loyal and true now to