Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 11.pdf/296

 Calhoun as a Lawyer and Statesman.

CALHOUN

AS

A

LAWYER

AND

269

STATESMAN.

By Walter L. M1ller of the South Carol1na Bar. II. IT was after his return from Litchfield that Mr. Calhoun made his debut in the arena of politics. The attack of the British frigate Leopard on the American frigate Chesapeake stirred up the whole country and called forth public meetings all over the Union, to give expression to the feeling of righteous indignation. A meeting was announced to be held at Abbeville, the county-seat of the district in which Mr. Calhoun resided, and he was appointed on the committee to draft the resolutions which were to be presented on that occasion. It so happened that he was selected to prepare the resolutions for the committee, and so ably did he discharge this duty that he was requested to address the meeting in support of the resolutions before the vote was taken. It was a grand occasion for this rural com munity and as a consequence the meeting was largely attended. In his speech Mr. Calhoun acquitted himself handsomely, and the result was that he was nominated for the legislature and triumphantly elected at the head of the ticket, although, as I have already said, there was a strong prejudice against lawyers in this district. From this time on until the day of his death, — a period of more than forty years, — Abbeville district and South Carolina were loyal and faithful to Mr. Calhoun. He served two terms in the legislature and while there made a fine record. He introduced and carried through several measures which have become a part of the permanent legis lation of the State. While in attendance upon the legislature, an informal meeting of the Republican members was called to nom inate candidates for the places of President and Vice-President of the United States.

Mr. Calhoun took occasion to express his vieys upon the state of the country. The great struggle for mastery between Great Britain and France was then going on and they paid but little attention to the rights of neutrals. Mr. Calhoun criticised the re strictive measures which had been adopted by our government and gave it as his opinion that a war between this country and Eng land was inevitable. Events turned out just as he predicted. His speech made a fine im pression and the bold and aggressive course which he advocated and pursued added to his popularity and at once gave him a position among the leading politicians of the day. Says Francis' " Orators of the Age " : " Give a man nerve, a presence, a sway over lan guage, and, above all, enthusiasm, or the skill to stimulate it; start him in the public arena with these requisites and ere many years, perhaps many months, have passed, you will either see him in a high station, or in a fair way of rising to it." Mr. Calhoun measured up to these requirements and, as a consequence, he returned home from the legislature crowned with honor and with all the prestige of success. At this time war with Great Britain was apprehended and the members of Congress were selected with that end in view. Owing to the high stand which Mr. Calhoun had taken in the legislature and especially to the bold course which he had advocated and pursued on this measure, it was but natural that the eyes of the people should be turned to him as a suitable person to represent them in the national halls of legislation, at this crisis in the country's history. We are not surprised, therefore, to learn that in the fall of 18 10 he was elected a member of Con