Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 11.pdf/297

 270

gress by a large majority over his opponent. He took his seat as a member of the Twelfth Congress on the fourth day of November, 1811. He was still a young man, being then only twenty-nine years old, but his reputation had already preceded him. Dur ing this same year he married his cousin, Floride Calhoun. Previous to this time he had removed to Bath on the Savannah.. There was a galaxy of distinguished men, that perhaps has never been surpassed, in the House of Representatives at the time Mr. Calhoun entered it, embracing such names as Henry Clay, John Randolph, Peter B. Porter, Mr. Grundy, Mr. Key, and others. Not only was this Congress noted for the brilliant array of talent that composed its membership but also for the importance of the questions that came before it. Indeed it was an epoch that was long to be remem bered and a crisis in the country's history. What shall be done with England on account of her encroachments on our rights, her disregard of our grievances, and her im pressment of more than three thousand of our sailors? Shall we tamely submit, or shall we try the arbitrament oi arms? Ques tions such as these had to be solved. How will our young Carolina Congressman, a lawyer of only a few years' experience from a backwoods country town conduct himself? How will he be able to sustain the reputa tion which he has made, when brought in competition with such men and on questions too of the gravest import? It was easy enough to speak away down at Abbeville where he was surrounded by his neighbors and admirers. But how will he acquit himself here, at the nation's capital, when the eyes of the whole world are turned upon him? Will he become abashed and fail, or will he prove equal to the occasion and win himself fresh laurels? I have no doubt Mr. Calhoun lay awake many a night ponder ing over just such questions as these. But the question was solved. Mr. Calhoun at once stepped to the front and assumed his

proper place, that of a leader of great men on a great question. Mr. Lamar explains how this happened so beautifully that I am sure I shall be pardoned for quoting from him. "He had been admitted to the bar only two years before. Yet this unknown young man, and obscure attorney from an obscure country village, a stranger to the elegant accomplishments and the graces of scholarship, before he had made a speech, took his place at the head of these distinguished and brilliant men, as their equal and even their superior, and maintained it with increasing power and ever-widening fame to the end. In the light of after-events the cause of this extraordinary circumstance could be easily discerned. In the presence of a great im pending crisis, full of solemn import to men of sense and virtue, whose extent the most far-sighted cannot fully measure, and before whose dangers the most resolute naturally quail; when the voice of faction is hushed, and rivalries and animosities cease; in such a crisis, demanding immediate action, mastery and leadership go of their own accord to the master-spirit, to the man of transcendent intellect, bravery of soul, prompt ness of decision, energy of action, all strength ened and vivified by an ardent and disinterested patriotism." Or to make the explanation shorter and simpler, in Mr. Calhoun, the man, the hour, and the occasion met. He was appointed by the speaker, Henry Clay, to the second place on the Committee of Foreign Affairs, its chairman being Mr. Peter B. Porter of New York. On this committee also were Felix Grundy of Tennessee, Philip Barton Key, and the eccentric John Randolph of Roanoke. Party feeling at this time ran high and the most intense excitement existed through out the entire country. The President's message was impatiently waited for and, when it came, though warlike in tone, was somewhat ambiguous. That part of it which related to other powers was promptly referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The attention of the country was now trans ferred to this committee and its report. When the report was submitted, it uttered