the various posts to be furnished with thermometers, barometers, and hygrometers, and the surgeon-general from time to time to publish the result of their observations in condensed reports, which were continued during the time he remained in the war department. The result has been, a mass of valuable facts, connected with the diseases and the climate of our widely-extended country, collected through the long period of nearly a quarter of a century."

The important facts thus obtained under the auspices of Mr. Calhoun, were afterward collected and arranged by the late Dr. Samuel Forry, then of the United States Army, and, together with other materials, published by him in three different works, entitled "Medical Statistics of the United States," "The Climate of the United States and its Endemic Influences," and " Meteorology." Besides rendering his aid and assistance in securing these valuable contributions to the cause of science, Mr. Calhoun was one of the earliest friends and advocates of that great national enterprise-the coast survey-originated during the administration of Mr. Monroe. He laid the foundation, too, of the extensive gallery of Indian portraits which long adorned the walls of the War office, and constitute now one of the most attractive and interesting ornaments of the halls of the National Institute.

In every branch of his duties as the presiding officer of the war department, Mr. Calhoun did the state good service; and the influence of his clear mind, his precision and love of order, his punctuality and integrity, was felt by all his subordinate officers and agents. The

* Memoir of Mr. Calhoun, 1843.

improvements which he introduced were not evanescent in their character, nor of temporary duration; but they were designed to be permanent, and the sequel proved them such in reality. His purgation of the Augean stable was complete. Unsettled accounts were no longer left to accumulate till the halls of Congress echoed and reëchoed with the clamors of the public creditor; the reörganization of the army was as admirable in practice as in theory; the system of fortifications which he proposed, maritime as well as frontier, afforded all the protection needed or desired; and the removal of the Indians beyond the Mississippi, which he warmly recommended, as experience has demonstrated, was a boon and a blessing to the red men of the forest. The system of financial administration which he first established, is still in operation-daily bearing witness to the practical talents of the great mind that originated it. So perfect has it been found, that notwithstanding the immense amount of money disbursed by the department since he was at its head, exceeding two hundred millions of dollars, no losses of any importance have happened.*

From his position as a member of the cabinet, and the necessity of devoting his whole time to the performance of his official duties, Mr. Calhoun had little leisure, as he had not much inclination, for participating in the strifes and contests upon the various political questions agitated during the administration of Mr. Monroe. Though averse to the legislation by Congress on the · subject of domestic slavery, he approved of the course of Mr. Monroe in regard to the Missouri compromise,

* From 1821 to 1836, there was no loss on an expenditure of one hundred millions.

viewing it strictly as a measure of conciliation and peace; but his opinions on the subject were afterwards changed.

The tariff question was again presented under this administration. The act of 1816 contemplated a reduction of duties in 1819. The manufacturing interest had increased to the proportions and stature of a giant, but like the plant forced in a hothouse, it still required some artificial stimulus. In 1818, the friends of a high protective tariff beset Congress with their applications for an increase of duties. The profits of the manufacturers were large, but like the daughters of the horseleech, they continued to cry "give! give!" In 1819 they succeeded in procuring the appointment of a committee on manufactures. This was a decided innovation, as previous to that time the subject had been entirely under the control of the appropriate revenue committee. Mr. Monroe, against the advice of Mr. Calhoun, was finally induced to recommend additional encouragement, and at length the act of 1824, which established an average rate of duties of about thirty-eight per cent. was passed. This bill originated with the iron manufacturers of Pennsylvania and the other middle states, who had recently held a convention at Pittsburg, but it was not countenanced or approved by the manufacturers of the eastern states. The members of the South also opposed it in a body. Mr. Calhoun concurred in sentiment with his political friends from the same section of the country, although he thought that injustice had been done to the iron interest in Pennsylvania by the act of 1816.*

* Speech against the Force Bill.

During the administration of Mr. Monroe the subject of internal improvements was likewise again agitated. Mr. Calhoun was, in the main, an idle but not an indifferent spectator, of what was going on around him. He was led to reflect more than he had ever before done on the power of Congress under the constitution to construct works of internal improvement, on account of the continued agitation of the subject, and the impression ultimately made upon his mind, that no such power existed, was clear and abiding. He did not approve, therefore, of Mr. Monroe's recommendations in regard to internal improvements, though the opinions advanced in the special message of May 4th, 1822, corresponded essentially with those which he himself entertained.

CHAPTER VII.

Presidential Election of 1824-Mr. Calhoun chosen Vice-PresidentCharacter as Presiding Officer-Refusal to leave his seat when a tie vote was anticipated-Decision in regard to the right to call to order -Opposition to the Measures of Mr. Adams-Reelection of Mr. Calhoun-The Tariff Question-Matured Opinions-Address.

Ir is very common for a certain class of people to lament the degeneracy of the present age,-as common as it is for another class to maintain, that

“Old politicians chime on wisdom past,

And totter on in blunders to the last."

The one are true conservative bigots, wedded to ancient forms and usages, and the other ultra progessionists, fond of overturning for the sake of overturning, and never so well pleased as when the destruction of an old system furnishes the opportunity of substituting some favorite theory of their own. Human institutions are by no means perfect, and it would, perhaps, be impossible to frame a law or a constitution, for one generation, which should be construed by another, under a change of time and circumstances, in the same manner. One abuse is very apt to be followed by a score, and innovation is the prolific mother of a numerous brood. Yet, after all, he has studied the great book of human nature to but little purpose, who imagines that politicians are, in the main, any more corrupt at