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 Calhoun as a Lawyer and Statesman. dency and had been elected to the Senate to succeed Mr. Hayne. The tariff act had been passed and South Carolina had retali ated by passing the ordinance of nullifica tion. President Jackson had issued a pro clamation denouncing the course pursued by South Carolina and proclaiming his intention of enforcing the tariff laws regard less of consequences. The whole country was in the highest state of excitement. As Mr. Calhoun journeyed to Washington, great crowds gathered together to see him at different points along his route. When he entered the Senate chamber to take the oath of office, you could have almost heard a pin fall, so still did the chamber become. Mr. Calhoun was the cynosure of all eyes. As he took the oath to support the Consti tution, he was calm and self-possessed, and, so sincere was his manner, that those who witnessed it could not help feeling there was no mental reservation in his performance of this ceremony. The day the debate began, there was an immense throng of spectators, the chamber and galleries being packed with people. The discussion took place over the Force bill. In speaking of this debate, Mr. Stephens says that it was " the greatest since the for mation of the government, for then principles were discussed." There were many able men in Congress at that time, but the three bright particular stars were Clay, Calhoun, and Webster. Mr. Randolph was present and heard Mr. Calhoun speak and it is said that it was his last appearance in the Senate chamber. One who was present at the time describes Calhoun's manner and appearance on that occasion in the following graphic style : " After the advocates of the bill to enforce the tariff laws in South Carolina had stated their case, Mr. Calhoun rose to reply. There was hushed silence in the Senate chamber, and the deep emotion of the speaker was reflected in the faces of his au ditors. He apologized for his excitement, on the ground that he had not spoken in a

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deliberative assembly for sixteen years, hav ing been secretary of war for eight years and vice-president for nearly as many more. His mode of speaking accorded singularly well with the position he occupied. His na tive State was imperilled. She was encom passed by foes on every side. Her natural allies were cold or hostile, and her chosen champion stood like a lion at bay, — or rather like a lion in a cage. His back was against the railing which separated the Sen ate from the lobby. There was a long desk before him. He had pushed the chairs out of his way, to the ends of the desk, and de livered his speech walking rapidly from side to side of his cage." He soon warmed up with his subject and there came forth from his mouth syllogism after syllogism of seem ingly faultless logic. And then came the responding speech on the part of Mr. Webster. It, too, was a splendid specimen of logic, — strong, com pact, unusually argumentative in style, and with less of ornament and imagery than was its author's wont. In the words of another : "His speech was complete in every element, logical, rhetorical, and moral. It exhausted the argument, and justified the eulogy of Stephens, that ' it was the habit of Daniel Webster to say everything that could be said on his side of the question, and to say it better than anybody else.' He possessed unquestionably a 'nationality of soul,' and he availed himself of his opportunity." He carried his audience with him and seemed fairly to vanquish his opponent and to tear into shreds the argument which he had ad vanced. A few days after came the reply of Mr. Calhoun, and it proved to be perhaps the grandest effort of his life. "The whole speech was a sample of logic as perfect as anything which our language can afford. In unity, energy, and condensation, it will compare with Demosthenes' orations. Not a superfluous word or sentence can be found. On such a field, Calhoun had no superior,