CHAPTER II.

Early Development of Character-His Education-Enters CollegeGraduates Studies Law-Commences Practice-Professional Reputation-Enters the Arena of Politics-Elected to the State Legislature-Services in that Body-Popularity among his Constituents— Chosen a Member of Congress.

BORN and nurtured amid the closing scenes of the Revolution, and when its dying thunders were still heard faintly echoing in the distance, the stirring incidents of that protracted contest, and the legends and traditions of border warfare, were among the first and earliest recollections of young Calhoun. They were often recounted in his hearing, and left their impress upon his character, in its sternness, and what might almost be called its harshness. He inherited, too, from his father, the active energy, firmness and determination, that characterized him, and from his mother's family, their ardency of feeling, and their high-toned and impulsive enthusiasm. When a lad he was remarked for his thoughtful disposition, his quickness of apprehension, his decision of character, and his steady and untiring perseverance in the accomplishment of any plan he had conceived, or in the pursuit of any object which he desired to secure.

The early trials and struggles, the hopes and disappointments, of those who are successful in life, what

ever may be the calling or profession, differ oftener in kind than in character. Few minds are so peculiarly constituted as not to require to be submitted to the ordeal, when in the early stages of development. The discipline of the young is like the task of the pruner. What is unsightly or unproductive is removed, in order that the thrifty or more promising shoots may grow with greater vigor, and bud and blossom with increased luxuriance. “It is no doubt a true observation," remarked Bishop Patrick, "that the ready way to make the minds of youth go awry, is to lace them too hard, by denying them their just freedom;" but when the regimen is properly advised and faithfully observed, it is healthful, and strengthens and invigorates the character for the sterner and severer duties of advanced years. Chance sometimes fairly thrusts her favors upon those who seem little inclined to profit by them, but like Dead Sea fruits, though fair and tempting without, they turn to dust and ashes within. Fortune is proverbially a blind goddess, and she has never maintained a very high reputation for her impartiality. The French have a political maxim, that "Time is a statesman's principal assistant." This is equally ap plicable to the career of every man, in boyhood and in age-Time, Patience, Energy, and Perseverance, like the brothers in the fairy tale, find nothing so difficult that it cannot be overcome.

In the life of Mr. Calhoun, this truth is strikingly exemplified. The advantages which he possessed in so far as an education was concerned, while he remained at home, are now exceeded by those enjoyed by the child of the humblest citizen of his native state. The

upper country of Virginia and the two Carolinas was settled mainly by Irish and Scotch-Irish emigrants,—a very different class of people from the more polished and refined Huguenots and descendants of the Cavaliers, who dwelt in the lower valleys of their noble rivers. The former were poor in this world's goods, but rich in those sterling qualities of heart and soul that fitted them so well for the hardships and privations of a pioneer life, and which constituted a richer legacy to their children than the wealth secured by their industry among the hills and dales of their forest homes. Among such a people, the means of instruction were, of course, quite limited, and children were taught the rudiments of learning principally by their parents.

Mr. Calhoun was indebted for the most part to his father and mother for the information acquired in his youth. There were few or no schools in the sparsely settled district where they resided, and the only branches of education taught in them were reading, writing, and arithmetic. When he was old enough they sent him to an ordinary country school, at which he learned ab that his teacher could communicate. These draughts from the fountain, turbid though it was, created a thirst for more; but as there was not a single academy in the whole upper region of the state, and none within fifty miles, except in Columbia county, Georgia, of which Mr. Waddell, a Presbyterian clergyman who had married his sister, was the principal; and as his father was unwilling, both on account of his limited means, and of his aversion to the learned professions, to send him away from home; he reached the age of thirteen with

out having added anything to his stock of knowledge, except the limited amount of information he was able to pick up in conversation with others, and to obtain from the few books to which he had access.

At the age of thirteen he was placed under the care of his brother-in-law, and commenced a course of study in the higher branches. He had but just made a beginning in this new occupation, with which he was perfectly delighted, when the death of his father took place. His sister shortly after died, and Mr. Waddell immediately discontinued his academy. John continued to reside with his brother-in-law; but as the latter was absent for the greater part of the time, engaged in the performance of his clerical duties, he was left to depend upon his own resources for amusement. The plantation was in a remote district, and he had not a single white companion, with the exception, at intervals, of Mr. Waddell, and an occasional visitor. In this situation, had he fallen a victim to listlessness, and ennui, it could not have been wondered at. But his active mind required employment, and in the house he found what proved to him a rich mine of intellectual wealth.

His brother-in-law was the librarian of a small circulating library, and to this he at once resorted. No one counselled or directed him in the selection of books for perusal, but as if led by instinct, he discarded fiction entirely, and occupied himself, to the exclusion of all lighter reading, with historical works. These were few in number, but he devoured them eagerly. Rollin's Ancient History; Robertson's Life of Charles V., and History of America; and a translation of Voltaire's

Charles XII., first attracted his attention. He was completely fascinated with the inexhaustible store of information which the French scholar had accumulated, and admired the well-turned periods and graceful and easy diction of Scotland's great historian, while he hung with delight upon the thrilling account of the daring exploits of the Swedish monarch. Having dispatched these volumes, he took up the large edition of Cook's Voyages, Brown's Essays, and Locke on the Understanding, the last of which he was unable to finish, for the reason that he had already overtasked his strength, and his health had become considerably impaired.

"All this was the work of but fourteen weeks. So intense was his application that his eyes became seriously affected, his countenance pallid, and his frame emaciated. His mother, alarmed at the intelligence of his health, sent for him home, where exercise and amusement soon restored his strength, and he acquired a fondness for hunting, fishing, and other country sports. Four years passed away in these pursuits, and in attention to the business of the farm while his elder brothers were absent, to the entire neglect of his education. But the time was not lost. Exercise and rural sports invigorated his frame, while his labors on the farm gave him a taste for agriculture, which he always retained, and in the pursuit of which he found delightful occupa tion for his intervals of leisure from public duties.

"About this time an incident occurred upon which turned his after life. His second brother, James, who had been placed at a counting-house in Charleston, returned to spend the summer of 1800 at home. John