It is April 7th, 1850. Exactly one week has passed since the death of John Caldwell Calhoun, a prominent South Carolina lawman. One of his closest confidantes, Henry Clay, has been told that he has been given ownership of all of John's papers and manuscripts. What he finds in the endless pile of writing is remarkable--and revealing.
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Henry sighed. He didn't like the idea of going through John's personal belongings, but he really didn't have a choice. "Mr. Clay, it was written in Mr. Calhoun's will that you should take possession of all of his writings and manuscripts. You must sort through them and determine which ones are disposable." The attorney, Thomas Grey, said coldly. "I understand." Henry replied quietly. "Very well. Notify me when you are finished." Thomas left the room, and within moments Henry could hear the front door to the mansion slam shut. Finally alone, Henry placed his hand on John's antique cherrywood desk and gazed down at all of the papers and books that lay strewn across it. "Oh, John. You were such a disorganized man." Henry said to himself with a small chuckle. John C. Calhoun had been his closest and most trusted friend, and his passing had left Henry feeling quite desolate. Heaving a big sigh, Henry sat down in John's velvet-covered chair and began sifting through his mountainous collection of papers.
Two hours after he had begun his task, Henry was only halfway through the large pile of manuscripts in front of him. Deciding that he would return the next day and finish the job, Henry stood and prepared to leave. Suddenly, a strange-looking book caught his eye. It was sticking out from the corner of the massive pile, and appeared to have a gold-embellished cover. "Now what could this possibly be?" Henry muttered, setting his cane against the desk. He pulled the book out from under the papers that covered it, and brushed off the thin layer of dust that had gathered on its glittering cover. The book was covered in what appeared to be a thin sheet of gold, and had a silver lock that fastened it together. Realizing that he needed a key to unlatch the book, Henry sighed. Why, he wondered, did John have to have a golden journal with a silver lock?
After much deliberation, Henry decided to use his pocketknife to pick the lock. It worked surprisingly well, and the lock fell off the book. Henry slowly opened the journal, and dared to cast his eyes upon the first page. Surely enough, it was covered in John's barely-legible handwriting. The thin cursive trailed across the page, forming words that Henry couldn't readily decipher. As he flipped through the pages, a small piece of paper suddenly fell out onto the floor. Henry retrieved the piece of paper, and was shocked to see "To My Dear Friend Henry" written on the front. Carefully unfolding the paper, Henry read out loud to himself, "Dear Henry: I do regret that the time has come to pass that I must leave this earthly realm and join the Heavenly one. Do not be dismayed though, my friend. I have left you with a bit of a parting gift, one that should keep you quite occupied for a period of time." Henry paused, and let out a deep sigh. Of course John would send him on a wild goose chase--the man was never fond of making things easy for anybody. Continuing on, Henry read, "I have hidden the last page from this journal, and it is your duty to locate it. With the page, you will find a reward. To find the page, look for an encrypted message." Frowning, Henry set the piece of paper down. How did John expect him to figure out an encrypted message? Henry was certainly no spy. Picking up the journal, he attempted to decipher the first page.
October 20th, 1811
I suppose I am obligated to make an entry in this book, as it was given to me as a wedding gift by Floride's mother. She gave us each a very ornate "journal" to record our personal thoughts in, which I find to be very ill-advised. Should a couple not communicate their feelings orally instead of recording them privately in a silly book? Ah, bother. If I am not to offend my darling wife and her mother, I must do what I would not normally do. Even though it is pointless, I find reason to introduce myself here. My name is John Caldwell Calhoun, and I am aged 29 years. As of January 8th, in fact, I have a lovely wife named Floride Colhoun. She happens to be a distant cousin of mine, and the only reason that our names are not identical is that our relatives seem to have distinct spelling impediments. My Floride is the loveliest of all the women in the state of South Carolina, and I do believe that I am the luckiest of all men in the state of South Carolina to have her. Just five days ago, she gave birth to our first child--a son, named Andrew Pickens Calhoun. I have faith that we shall be able to raise him in all the good virtues of the world, and the necessary patriotism to his country. Well, this page is getting quite full--what a tragedy it is that I shall have to discontinue this entry. I am not confident as to whether or not another entry shall follow.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry chuckled a bit as he read John's entry; it made him think of the gruff, yet kind-hearted man that John had been. He had certainly been a calloused man, but his devotion to his wife exposed his true character. Smiling to himself, Henry tucked the journal into his coat and walked out of the mansion. The cold March air greeted him with a stinging blow. He strode to his waiting carriage, and instructed the driver to take him to his home. Henry stayed up late into the night, reading through more entries in John's journal by the light of a single candle. Henry's reactions to the entries varied from bemusement to annoyance--often ending up somewhere in the middle. John had been such a level-headed man; yet he had possessed a stubborn and self-righteous personality that often frustrated Henry. The second entry contained more about John's early life, and spanned about four pages in total. Henry couldn't help but find it quite amusing that John had been so reluctant to fill even one page in his first entry, yet in his second, he was practically writing his own biography. Although, the entries were separated by a year--a trend that John seemed to maintain throughout the journal.
January 20th, 1812
Since I last wrote, I have been elected to a position in the Congress of the United States. This is, of course, tremendous news, especially since it has very surely provided me and Floride with a steady income. Alas, even if this wasn't true, Floride's family is very wealthy, so we are well-cared for regardless. I cannot help but feel a bit smug about the occurrence of this wonderful turn of events, only because of the many people who found my background slightly "unimpressive". Yes, I am certainly the son of a humble farmer, but that by no means implies that I cannot be successful. After all, I received a strong education from Yale University, and was able to graduate with honors. Very few men may claim that honor! After my graduation, I chose to remain in Connecticut to continue my studies of the practice of law. I found the bitter Northern cold to be a bit unsuitable however, and chose to return to South Carolina in the year 1807. I was admitted to the bar in that year, making a small name for myself within the state. Small reputation was not suitable, though, and I felt that my name needed be known across the country (as it should). From the year 1809 to 1811, I served on the state assembly, and assisted the establishment of peace between the common men of South Carolina. A balance of power was hard to strike between the tidewater planters and the piedmont farmers, but alas, it proved itself not to be a challenge too difficult for myself (not that there exists such a thing). Multiple monumental events occurred last year, including my marriage to dear Floride (as stated in the last entry), and my election to Congress. I am well pleased that my name is now more recognized than ever, and I determined to use my influence to do for the American people what I know is just and right. I believe that our great country deserves to be treated as a sovereign nation; a beacon to all other nations of the world, shining the light of truth and dignity. One man who certainly shares these ideals is Mr. Henry Clay, another prominent congressman such as myself. He has a truly remarkable plan that I ardently support, and it has all of the qualifications of a perfect law. It embodies all of the concepts that I believe in, and provides for a stable and profitable economy for our country. I do hope that we are able to put this plan into action--it would be such an astounding improvement to the Union. What a strong American system it would create! I can only hope that its adversaries are quickly silenced, as I fear that some of them may pose a threat in the near future. However, one must worry excessively over the events of the future--the present is quite enough to be occupied with.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry couldn't help but smile. He and John had hit it off right away--their shared ideals and dreams for America were what brought them together. Henry couldn't help but wonder what John would write next, so he turned the page and started reading the third entry. This time, only six months had passed.
July 4th, 1812
Today is a most glorious day--the day our country gained its true independence from Britain! This is a very thrilling day, and I could not be more eager to celebrate it. Our great nation certainly deserves a day of joy and merriment, especially since another war with our former "Mother Country" has already begun. My personal opinion, which I stand firm on, is that those detestable Brits need to be put back in their rightful place. They have not ceased to antagonize our country; therefore, we shall not cease to make them pay. Ever since my election to Congress, I have fought endlessly for our President to declare war on those uppity English, but he refused ardently until the 18th day of last month. President Madison finally gave in to us--the persistent "War Hawks", as we were called. He signed the declaration of war against Britain, and Congress also voted its approval of the motion. The House and Senate were awfully divided on the matter however, which I blame on those good-for-nothing New Englanders. They're quite opposed to war with Britain, which I assume is due to the fact that they still receive many of their goods from that country. Ah, well, that dilemma is not ours to be concerned over. As of now, I believe that America shall succeed in defeating the British, as the British military force is already partially embroiled in an on-going war with France. This should leave the Brits quite weakened, providing for much room for American victory. I do not fear for our country at all.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
The next entry was over a year later, and Henry was certain that he knew why. John had been keeping himself quite busy with raising troops and funds for the war, as well as working out logistics and assisting the overall war effort. Henry had to admire John's tenacity and fervor; it kept him spry as ever while he labored over countless jobs.
March 18th, 1813
Today is my 31st birthday, however, I do not have time for festivities. This war with Britain has been raging on for almost exactly a year, and our American troops have suffered many embarrassing defeats. This, of course, is disappointing to me, simply because I believed so strongly that our victory would be almost instant. No matter, though. I shall not rest until our country is free of British oppression once more. I have spent my time assisting the war effort in every way that I can--petitioning for more troops and money to fund the army, in addition to speeding along the general logistics of the effort. I have not yet determined if my work is in vain, but I continue pressing on as hard as ever. As long as I live, I will fight for justice for this sovereign country.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Once more, another year followed until the next entry was written. Henry could recall the details of that year very vividly--it had been the year that he and John Quincy Adams had served as American diplomats for the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. It had been signed on Christmas Eve, 1814--but not before a severe British defeat at the Battle of New Orleans.
December 26th, 1814
The war between America and Britain has ceased. A treaty has been struck between our government and theirs, and peace has finally reached this war-torn land. That, however, does not bring me anymore peace. I am quite disgusted at the way that the War Department mishandled the army, and I cannot think of any reason that I should not act upon this. If our country is tangled up in another war yet again, our army surely will not stand. I have an inherent duty to do what is best for this sacred land, and I believe that I must determine to fix the workings of the current War Department. It will be no small task, but I am prepared. A small task is never a beneficial task, anyways. The ending of the war certainly sent a clear message to the British, that much I am certain of. Before news of the treaty could reach New Orleans, our good old boys served up one last crushing defeat to the British army. Our army was led by a man named General Andrew Jackson, and I must say that I quite respect the fellow. He is apparently a southern man such as myself, and has strong ties to the plantation life. I believe that with strong military leaders such as Mr. Jackson, our country is on its way to greatness once more. I shall do all that is in my power to ensure that it reaches that point, no matter the cost. I have been deeply considering my plans to lobby for post-war improvements, such as protective tariffs, implementing a national bank, and building roads and canals throughout the country to integrate trading routes. I am not certain if my plans will be considered by my superiors, but I will fight as hard as I must. After all of this turmoil and unrest, I am comforted in the fact that we now have a second child, Floride Pure Calhoun. She is a lovely little girl, and resembles her mother very much. I can only hope that I am able to provide a stable future for my wife and children, as they are of limitless value to me.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry remembered clearly the deal that he and John had pushed for at the time--the Bonus Bill of 1817. It would have allowed money to be taken from the Second Bank of the United States and used to help re-start the country after the fiscally devastating war. Henry regretted that he and John had not been able to implement the bill, but its failure had only spurred John onwards. His never-failing enthusiasm had astonished Henry once more. In the next entry, Henry could tell that John was as much of a nationalist as he had ever been. Henry was suddenly saddened at the mention John had made of his dear daughter Floride--the baby girl had died tragically only a year after her birth. John had never spoken very much of her, and Henry knew that he tried very hard to distract himself from his grief. The couple had also lost another child, Jane, in 1816. Henry remembered that the girl had not even made it to her first birthday. John also did not prefer to mention this tragedy, and once more pre-occupied himself with his work to conceal his personal sadness. John's work had once again kept him from writing for an extended amount of time--about three years, to be exact.
November 26th, 1817
I have resigned from my duties in Congress. Much has occurred in the past three years, and my career has taken a sharp turn. President James Madison has offered me the job of Secretary of War, and I do feel obligated to accept it. After all, my convictions to repair the poor state of the War Department have remained strong, and I believe that accepting this position will allow me to do so. Four men refused the job before I accepted it, and I cannot help but think them to be cowards. They were all afraid that the deplorable condition of the Department would tarnish their careers, a fact that may be true, yet is unavoidable. The last Congressional supporters of Jeffersonian ideals have been doing nothing but worsening the condition of the War Department since the end of the fight with Britain. They have cut funds and operations in the Department, which has contributed to its current state. I have faith that, with the right resources (and my own brilliant ingenuity), I shall be able to repair this damaged Department. On a much more joyful note, another child has been born to us this year in February. Her name is Anna Maria, and she is of most extraordinary beauty. My only, dearest wish is that the Lord will allow her to survive to adulthood, unlike her two sisters before her.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Anna Maria had been present at John's funeral, and Henry remembered how distraught she had been over her father's death. As John's early account of her said, she was quite a beautiful girl. Several small, insignificant entries followed--mostly about John's political rivals and the horrendous people that they were. Henry had to laugh--John had quite a fiery manner about him, that was for certain. One entry from 1824 caught Henry's eye, and he began to read. Instantly, he remembered that 1824 had been one of the milestones of both his and John's careers.
December 12th, 1824
In the course of this year, I have changed my goals and career path quite tremendously. At the beginning of this year, I made the decision that I would run for the office of President of the United States. I knew that this would be a monumental undertaking for myself, but I thought myself quite prepared. However, I was subjected to many cruel attacks by my ruthless opponents and their supporters, which led to my withdrawal from the running. The election had not even begun yet, so I took this as an opportunity to instead run for the office of Vice President. Although not nearly as powerful a role as the President, I have decided that it shall give me much more influence than my previous job as Secretary of War. The men who decided the run for President in the election included Senator Andrew Jackson (the great military leader from Tennessee), John Quincy Adams (Secretary of State from Massachusetts), William H. Crawford (Secretary of the Treasury from Georgia), and Henry Clay (my valued friend). I decided that I would not mind serving under any of these men, so I announced my change of candidacy to the Vice Presidency. God-willing, I won the election by a landslide amount in the Electoral College. John Quincy Adams received the office of President, and the election ended. I am well pleased with my new occupation, and look forward to its official beginning. This has certainly been a year of large changes, but the majority of them have been for the better. Floride and I now have five surviving children: Andrew Pickens; Anna Maria; Patrick; John Caldwell, Jr.; and Martha Cornelia, who was just born this April. They are all constant reminders to me that I must provide a stable future for the generations to come in this country.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
"Ah, I do remember that election very well." Henry said out loud to himself. The bitter political battle had taken its toll on all of the candidates--some more so than others. Four years passed between the entries, which Henry knew was due to the workload that John received from his new job as Vice President.
June 18th, 1828
Much unrest has occurred this year. This is my fourth year serving under the honorable John Quincy Adams, and I must say, things have changed very much since the beginning of his presidency. Since the passage of the protective tariff last month, I have been thrust into a very difficult position. The tariff was created to protect the strong industry of the North, while extracting money from the South. At first, I supported the tariff and its creators, believing that it could somehow help the national economy. However, complaints have begun to pour in from my constituents in my dear state of South Carolina. They feel that they are being unfairly oppressed by this new tariff, and that their rights are explicitly being infringed upon. Their cries for help have resonated in my mind, and I have made the decision to take their side and fight for the people of the South. I believe that these humble people are being forced against their will to provide funding for benefit of the greedy Northerners--which is clearly a violation of the founding laws of this country. I have made plans to make a trip to South Carolina and draft a series of essays that I will deliver to my superiors in Congress and elsewhere on behalf of my people. I cannot help but feel a strong sense of empathy for these common farmers; these humble planters. The true power in this country should be held by the sovereign people, acting through the states to nullify or repeal a federal law that encroaches upon minority interests. The nullification of this tariff must be allowed in the state of South Carolina, or else the good and honest citizens may lose what they hold most dear--what we all hold most dear--: their liberty. As I have made it my duty to fight for the cause of many other dilemmas, so I take it upon myself to defend and protect the rights of the people of South Carolina. How can a man not show loyalty to his own state?
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry sighed. He knew that at this point, he and John had started to disagree on several matters. Their political opinions had never differed before, so it had put a slight strain on the men's friendship. Nevertheless, their alliance had not been broken. Within four years, the nullification issue had become a full-blown crisis--and John was right in the middle of it. People had expected him to immediately take the South's side and come to their aid, however, he had chosen his moves very carefully. Henry admired John's self-control in that stressful situation, considering that many men would have simply cracked under such pressure.
December 30th, 1832
This year has certainly been the most trying of all. The crisis stemming from the Tariff of 1828 has led to the state of South Carolina declaring its ability to nullify any federal laws that it deems unconstitutional. The President, now Mr. Andrew Jackson, has become enraged at this action, and has now allowed Congress to pass a bill that permits the government to use military force to contain any rebellion in the states. Ships have been stationed in Charleston Harbor, and Jackson is threatening to send an army to the state if the people do not repent of their actions. I must say, any respect or admiration that I once had for that man has long dissipated. His upbringing as a Southern planter clearly means nothing to him--he will not allow South Carolina to nullify the oppressive tariff. His refusal to do so had greatly tarnished his image, and I do believe that Southerners will not forgive him for it. I was, at first, grateful that I had been re-elected to the Vice Presidency, because I believed that the position would allow me to extend greater influence in this issue. However, many personal affairs have occurred that led me to ultimately resign from the office on the 28th of this month. I remain firm in my belief that this was the correct action to take, as my influence had begun to dwindle within Jackson's cabinet. On another note, he had also talked of hanging me--to which I respond that I sincerely wish the same would happen to him. The "Force Bill" that Congress implemented to allow military occupation of South Carolina was nullified by the state not long after it was passed, for which I am grateful. The state has every true right to nullify any law that is infringing upon its rights; and this position I shall stand in until death. As of this year, Floride and I have seven children. James Edward was born in the year 1826, and William Lowndes in 1829.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
That year certainly had been trying for John--but also for the whole country. Henry could remember the tension that the Nullification Crisis caused; pitting North against South. He sincerely hoped that this rivalry would never flare up again.
December 3rd, 1833
A compromise has been reached in this dreadful fight. Mr. Henry Clay and I partnered together to create a compromise tariff that pleased both sides. It allowed for the first tariff to continue (which pleased the Northerners), while placing extra limitations on its effects (which pleased the South Carolinians). I am very glad that this compromise succeeded, and owe it all to Mr. Clay. Without his genius, a civil war may well have erupted from this dispute. I have run for a position as a Senator, and was just notified that I received the election. I suppose that my chances at becoming President are long diminished by this point, as my opinions on the Nullification Crisis were unpopular with many. Becoming a Senator may be another way to gain greater influence; which I am still set upon doing. Now that our country is free once more from internal disruption, I feel that it is high time that some extensive changes be made.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
It was exactly thirteen years until John's next entry, which puzzled Henry. He knew that John tended to place one year, sometimes several, between entries, but thirteen?
July 11th, 1846
It is with deep regret that I write this entry, knowing that it has been well over a decade's time since my last. It pains me to say this, but I believe that my political career is nearing its end. So much has come to happen since the end of the Nullification Crisis, that it all seems to be simply unreal. Mr. Martin Van Buren became President in the year 1837, finally replacing that fool-headed Jackson. I was not fully convinced that Mr. Van Buren's political beliefs were in order, but I decided to cooperate with him as best I could. As a Senator, my voice was rarely heard by the President, anyways. In the Senate, I quickly found that my views on the subject of slavery were much disputed. Northern Senators insisted that the abolitionist movement was the only way to bring true peace to America; whereas I denounced their words as pure foolishness. Slavery is clearly a positive good, as I stated once in an address to the Senate. Some weaker Southern Senators called it a "necessary evil", but I think that to be foolishness as well. How is slavery an evil? I cannot think of a reason that it is, given that it follows the natural order of supremacy. White men have always been superior to black men, and that has been accepted for centuries. Why must these "abolitionists" question this concept now? My hope is that within a few years' time, they will understand the idiocy of their beliefs and silence their ridiculous pleas for slave freedom. My past relatives, including my own father, stood firmly for the idea of slavery. They knew that the practice was just and right, and they used it to improve their own lives. I, myself, own slaves, and find there to be no evil in the deed. Also, now that new states were being added into the Union, the abolitionists found it necessary to raise their complaints even more. In the year 1841, President William H. Harrison died in office, leaving his Vice President, John Tyler, to succeed him. Mr. Tyler and I agreed on many things politically, therefore, in the year 1844, he named me his Secretary of State. We both agreed that the Republic of Texas needed to be annexed, which the Northern abolitionists strictly denounced. They knew that Texas was slave country, and refused to have it added into our Union. The Senate could bring the votes in favor of annexation up to the required two-thirds, which perplexed me greatly. I proposed that the Houses of Congress join together for a joint resolution, which ultimately decided that Texas would, indeed, be annexed. This was wonderful news, as the territory would add much land to our Union. After this triumph, I chose to resign from my one-year stand as Secretary of State, and run for a position as Senator once more. I received the election just as before, which pleased me greatly. However, the blasted Mexicans declared war upon the United States after this victory, claiming that they had the natural right to Texas. The war only began this year, and I can honestly say that I hate it with a flaming passion. I opposed the start of the war from the beginning--I knew that its primary effects would be soaring national debt and endangerment to Constitutional rights. Regardless, the war went on to occur, bringing obvious strife to our Union. I cannot help but believe that this war is simply a Northern conspiracy destroy the South--which may well happen, if the Mexicans are able to regain Texas. We can only wait and see, for there is nothing else to be done at the moment.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry and John had differed greatly in their political opinions at this time. Henry remembered the arguments that had occurred that had driven an impossible wedge between the men. By the next year, both men were reaching their prime.
September 2nd, 1847
The slavery debate still rages on. The abolitionists seem to be growing stronger every day, and the hope for a preserved Union dwindles alongside it. My concern for the well-being of this nation is heightened, partially due to the rise of corruption in our political parties. I have had a concerning realization that members of political parties are simply working for their own survival and not for that of the country--a fatal decision, for certain. They lust after power & spoils from the gaining of an important office, oftentimes using slander and false accusations against their opponents to gain it. Very few men these days seek after political office simply because they wish to help improve our country. Rather, they wish to improve their own standings. I was once a victim of this disease, but thankfully was able to shake it away. I cannot hide my ever-growing hatred for Northern politicians; as well as the North itself. It has proved to be an industry-hungry monster, as well as a sower of seeds of abolition. My fears for this country grow stronger every time I hear talk of abolition or industrialization. I believe that the only way to relieve this awful affliction to liberty is to unite the entire South into a strong, undefeatable force. I cannot express my desire for war to never occur between our states, however, the North will stop at nothing achieve its means. This may imply that they are willing to fight us, if need be. For the rest of my days, I shall proclaim that South must unite, or be crushed. It is the only way to ensure that our liberty may be preserved.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry knew that John disliked the idea of civil war, but he was well-prepared to unite the South against the North, should skirmishes occur. John's next, and last, entry in the journal was written only ten days before his death. It pained Henry to read the entry, as he could practically feel John's angst through the quavering handwriting.
March 21st, 1850
I have contracted tuberculosis as of this month, and I fear that I am near the end of my life. My body has grown weaker with each passing day, and I cannot communicate with spoken words any longer. I was not even able to orally address the Senate with my opposition to the Blasted compromise that they want to pass. One of my close friends gave the address for me, which I regret. I wished with all of my being that I could give the Address myself, but my voice failed me. The compromise will allow California, a prospective territory, to be entered into the Union as a free sTaTe, as well as allowing the new states of Utah and New MExico to be given the choice of becoming fRee or slave states. If three free states are admitted into the Union, it could very well destroy the practice of slaverY--and, therefore, the South.
The entry abruptly stopped at the end of the first page. Henry turned the page, and saw that the last page of the journal had been torn out, just as John had said it would be. Setting the journal down, Henry thought long and hard about all that he'd read. He hadn't found any kind of "encrypted message", and had lost all hope of doing so. As he scanned the last entry one last time, he noticed something that had escaped his eye the first time. Random letters in the last entry had been capitalized--clearly spelling out a message. Scrambling for a piece of paper and quill pen, Henry carefully located the oddly-capitalized letters and wrote out the message. It spelled "BATTERY", which Henry immediately understood. "The Battery in Charleston..." Henry said in complete disbelief. Although it was very late at night, he rushed down the stairs and grabbed his coat from the closet. "Driver! Wake up! I must go to the Battery at this instant!" He cried. His driver, an old black slave, quickly arose from his slumber and hurried outside to ready the carriage.
Within minutes, they arrived at the Battery. Tall, regal homes lined the street across from the cannons and mortars, which faced out over Charleston Harbor. A pavilion stood in the middle of the ammunition, serving as an observation area. Henry looked around him, wondering where on earth John could have hidden the page. As he walked towards the pavilion, his boot suddenly struck something hard. Looking down, Henry saw a small peg sticking out of the ground, with the letters "J.C." inscribed on the top. "John Calhoun." He said quietly. Kneeling down and digging through the soft ground with his bare hands, Henry uncovered a small wooden box with "H.C." written on the top. He took in a deep breath, and opened the box. Inside was a single piece of paper and small pistol. Henry unfolded the paper, and read out loud, "My devotion to the South shall live on even after I have departed this earth. I believe that the prosperity of this nation may still be restored, even though it may come at a high cost. Henry, I thank you for being such a devoted friend all of these years, although our opinions eventually drove us apart. You will always remain one of my closest confidants. For that reason, I entrust you with this duty to keep until your last breath: should those blasted Brits, Mexicans, or confounded Northerners set foot on this land once more, Henry, I would like for you to take this gun and fire the first shot at them shouting, 'For the glory of God, America, and the great man John Caldwell Calhoun!' That should be sufficient. Regards, John C. Calhoun." Henry could not help but laugh. "My lands," he said, "he was the best Warhawk of all."
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Just a fun fact....for those of you who read my "History Field Trip" post about Charleston, you'll be wondering why only "Calhoun" is inscribed on John's monument. Well, according to "The Unholy City", a book by Howard Elgison, it is simply because that name alone should "fill you with a sense of awe and wonder"! Check out my "Pictures" tab for photos of Calhoun's grave, his rather *disapproving* statue, and the church he is buried at.
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Henry sighed. He didn't like the idea of going through John's personal belongings, but he really didn't have a choice. "Mr. Clay, it was written in Mr. Calhoun's will that you should take possession of all of his writings and manuscripts. You must sort through them and determine which ones are disposable." The attorney, Thomas Grey, said coldly. "I understand." Henry replied quietly. "Very well. Notify me when you are finished." Thomas left the room, and within moments Henry could hear the front door to the mansion slam shut. Finally alone, Henry placed his hand on John's antique cherrywood desk and gazed down at all of the papers and books that lay strewn across it. "Oh, John. You were such a disorganized man." Henry said to himself with a small chuckle. John C. Calhoun had been his closest and most trusted friend, and his passing had left Henry feeling quite desolate. Heaving a big sigh, Henry sat down in John's velvet-covered chair and began sifting through his mountainous collection of papers.
Two hours after he had begun his task, Henry was only halfway through the large pile of manuscripts in front of him. Deciding that he would return the next day and finish the job, Henry stood and prepared to leave. Suddenly, a strange-looking book caught his eye. It was sticking out from the corner of the massive pile, and appeared to have a gold-embellished cover. "Now what could this possibly be?" Henry muttered, setting his cane against the desk. He pulled the book out from under the papers that covered it, and brushed off the thin layer of dust that had gathered on its glittering cover. The book was covered in what appeared to be a thin sheet of gold, and had a silver lock that fastened it together. Realizing that he needed a key to unlatch the book, Henry sighed. Why, he wondered, did John have to have a golden journal with a silver lock?
After much deliberation, Henry decided to use his pocketknife to pick the lock. It worked surprisingly well, and the lock fell off the book. Henry slowly opened the journal, and dared to cast his eyes upon the first page. Surely enough, it was covered in John's barely-legible handwriting. The thin cursive trailed across the page, forming words that Henry couldn't readily decipher. As he flipped through the pages, a small piece of paper suddenly fell out onto the floor. Henry retrieved the piece of paper, and was shocked to see "To My Dear Friend Henry" written on the front. Carefully unfolding the paper, Henry read out loud to himself, "Dear Henry: I do regret that the time has come to pass that I must leave this earthly realm and join the Heavenly one. Do not be dismayed though, my friend. I have left you with a bit of a parting gift, one that should keep you quite occupied for a period of time." Henry paused, and let out a deep sigh. Of course John would send him on a wild goose chase--the man was never fond of making things easy for anybody. Continuing on, Henry read, "I have hidden the last page from this journal, and it is your duty to locate it. With the page, you will find a reward. To find the page, look for an encrypted message." Frowning, Henry set the piece of paper down. How did John expect him to figure out an encrypted message? Henry was certainly no spy. Picking up the journal, he attempted to decipher the first page.
October 20th, 1811
I suppose I am obligated to make an entry in this book, as it was given to me as a wedding gift by Floride's mother. She gave us each a very ornate "journal" to record our personal thoughts in, which I find to be very ill-advised. Should a couple not communicate their feelings orally instead of recording them privately in a silly book? Ah, bother. If I am not to offend my darling wife and her mother, I must do what I would not normally do. Even though it is pointless, I find reason to introduce myself here. My name is John Caldwell Calhoun, and I am aged 29 years. As of January 8th, in fact, I have a lovely wife named Floride Colhoun. She happens to be a distant cousin of mine, and the only reason that our names are not identical is that our relatives seem to have distinct spelling impediments. My Floride is the loveliest of all the women in the state of South Carolina, and I do believe that I am the luckiest of all men in the state of South Carolina to have her. Just five days ago, she gave birth to our first child--a son, named Andrew Pickens Calhoun. I have faith that we shall be able to raise him in all the good virtues of the world, and the necessary patriotism to his country. Well, this page is getting quite full--what a tragedy it is that I shall have to discontinue this entry. I am not confident as to whether or not another entry shall follow.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry chuckled a bit as he read John's entry; it made him think of the gruff, yet kind-hearted man that John had been. He had certainly been a calloused man, but his devotion to his wife exposed his true character. Smiling to himself, Henry tucked the journal into his coat and walked out of the mansion. The cold March air greeted him with a stinging blow. He strode to his waiting carriage, and instructed the driver to take him to his home. Henry stayed up late into the night, reading through more entries in John's journal by the light of a single candle. Henry's reactions to the entries varied from bemusement to annoyance--often ending up somewhere in the middle. John had been such a level-headed man; yet he had possessed a stubborn and self-righteous personality that often frustrated Henry. The second entry contained more about John's early life, and spanned about four pages in total. Henry couldn't help but find it quite amusing that John had been so reluctant to fill even one page in his first entry, yet in his second, he was practically writing his own biography. Although, the entries were separated by a year--a trend that John seemed to maintain throughout the journal.
January 20th, 1812
Since I last wrote, I have been elected to a position in the Congress of the United States. This is, of course, tremendous news, especially since it has very surely provided me and Floride with a steady income. Alas, even if this wasn't true, Floride's family is very wealthy, so we are well-cared for regardless. I cannot help but feel a bit smug about the occurrence of this wonderful turn of events, only because of the many people who found my background slightly "unimpressive". Yes, I am certainly the son of a humble farmer, but that by no means implies that I cannot be successful. After all, I received a strong education from Yale University, and was able to graduate with honors. Very few men may claim that honor! After my graduation, I chose to remain in Connecticut to continue my studies of the practice of law. I found the bitter Northern cold to be a bit unsuitable however, and chose to return to South Carolina in the year 1807. I was admitted to the bar in that year, making a small name for myself within the state. Small reputation was not suitable, though, and I felt that my name needed be known across the country (as it should). From the year 1809 to 1811, I served on the state assembly, and assisted the establishment of peace between the common men of South Carolina. A balance of power was hard to strike between the tidewater planters and the piedmont farmers, but alas, it proved itself not to be a challenge too difficult for myself (not that there exists such a thing). Multiple monumental events occurred last year, including my marriage to dear Floride (as stated in the last entry), and my election to Congress. I am well pleased that my name is now more recognized than ever, and I determined to use my influence to do for the American people what I know is just and right. I believe that our great country deserves to be treated as a sovereign nation; a beacon to all other nations of the world, shining the light of truth and dignity. One man who certainly shares these ideals is Mr. Henry Clay, another prominent congressman such as myself. He has a truly remarkable plan that I ardently support, and it has all of the qualifications of a perfect law. It embodies all of the concepts that I believe in, and provides for a stable and profitable economy for our country. I do hope that we are able to put this plan into action--it would be such an astounding improvement to the Union. What a strong American system it would create! I can only hope that its adversaries are quickly silenced, as I fear that some of them may pose a threat in the near future. However, one must worry excessively over the events of the future--the present is quite enough to be occupied with.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry couldn't help but smile. He and John had hit it off right away--their shared ideals and dreams for America were what brought them together. Henry couldn't help but wonder what John would write next, so he turned the page and started reading the third entry. This time, only six months had passed.
July 4th, 1812
Today is a most glorious day--the day our country gained its true independence from Britain! This is a very thrilling day, and I could not be more eager to celebrate it. Our great nation certainly deserves a day of joy and merriment, especially since another war with our former "Mother Country" has already begun. My personal opinion, which I stand firm on, is that those detestable Brits need to be put back in their rightful place. They have not ceased to antagonize our country; therefore, we shall not cease to make them pay. Ever since my election to Congress, I have fought endlessly for our President to declare war on those uppity English, but he refused ardently until the 18th day of last month. President Madison finally gave in to us--the persistent "War Hawks", as we were called. He signed the declaration of war against Britain, and Congress also voted its approval of the motion. The House and Senate were awfully divided on the matter however, which I blame on those good-for-nothing New Englanders. They're quite opposed to war with Britain, which I assume is due to the fact that they still receive many of their goods from that country. Ah, well, that dilemma is not ours to be concerned over. As of now, I believe that America shall succeed in defeating the British, as the British military force is already partially embroiled in an on-going war with France. This should leave the Brits quite weakened, providing for much room for American victory. I do not fear for our country at all.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
The next entry was over a year later, and Henry was certain that he knew why. John had been keeping himself quite busy with raising troops and funds for the war, as well as working out logistics and assisting the overall war effort. Henry had to admire John's tenacity and fervor; it kept him spry as ever while he labored over countless jobs.
March 18th, 1813
Today is my 31st birthday, however, I do not have time for festivities. This war with Britain has been raging on for almost exactly a year, and our American troops have suffered many embarrassing defeats. This, of course, is disappointing to me, simply because I believed so strongly that our victory would be almost instant. No matter, though. I shall not rest until our country is free of British oppression once more. I have spent my time assisting the war effort in every way that I can--petitioning for more troops and money to fund the army, in addition to speeding along the general logistics of the effort. I have not yet determined if my work is in vain, but I continue pressing on as hard as ever. As long as I live, I will fight for justice for this sovereign country.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Once more, another year followed until the next entry was written. Henry could recall the details of that year very vividly--it had been the year that he and John Quincy Adams had served as American diplomats for the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. It had been signed on Christmas Eve, 1814--but not before a severe British defeat at the Battle of New Orleans.
December 26th, 1814
The war between America and Britain has ceased. A treaty has been struck between our government and theirs, and peace has finally reached this war-torn land. That, however, does not bring me anymore peace. I am quite disgusted at the way that the War Department mishandled the army, and I cannot think of any reason that I should not act upon this. If our country is tangled up in another war yet again, our army surely will not stand. I have an inherent duty to do what is best for this sacred land, and I believe that I must determine to fix the workings of the current War Department. It will be no small task, but I am prepared. A small task is never a beneficial task, anyways. The ending of the war certainly sent a clear message to the British, that much I am certain of. Before news of the treaty could reach New Orleans, our good old boys served up one last crushing defeat to the British army. Our army was led by a man named General Andrew Jackson, and I must say that I quite respect the fellow. He is apparently a southern man such as myself, and has strong ties to the plantation life. I believe that with strong military leaders such as Mr. Jackson, our country is on its way to greatness once more. I shall do all that is in my power to ensure that it reaches that point, no matter the cost. I have been deeply considering my plans to lobby for post-war improvements, such as protective tariffs, implementing a national bank, and building roads and canals throughout the country to integrate trading routes. I am not certain if my plans will be considered by my superiors, but I will fight as hard as I must. After all of this turmoil and unrest, I am comforted in the fact that we now have a second child, Floride Pure Calhoun. She is a lovely little girl, and resembles her mother very much. I can only hope that I am able to provide a stable future for my wife and children, as they are of limitless value to me.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry remembered clearly the deal that he and John had pushed for at the time--the Bonus Bill of 1817. It would have allowed money to be taken from the Second Bank of the United States and used to help re-start the country after the fiscally devastating war. Henry regretted that he and John had not been able to implement the bill, but its failure had only spurred John onwards. His never-failing enthusiasm had astonished Henry once more. In the next entry, Henry could tell that John was as much of a nationalist as he had ever been. Henry was suddenly saddened at the mention John had made of his dear daughter Floride--the baby girl had died tragically only a year after her birth. John had never spoken very much of her, and Henry knew that he tried very hard to distract himself from his grief. The couple had also lost another child, Jane, in 1816. Henry remembered that the girl had not even made it to her first birthday. John also did not prefer to mention this tragedy, and once more pre-occupied himself with his work to conceal his personal sadness. John's work had once again kept him from writing for an extended amount of time--about three years, to be exact.
November 26th, 1817
I have resigned from my duties in Congress. Much has occurred in the past three years, and my career has taken a sharp turn. President James Madison has offered me the job of Secretary of War, and I do feel obligated to accept it. After all, my convictions to repair the poor state of the War Department have remained strong, and I believe that accepting this position will allow me to do so. Four men refused the job before I accepted it, and I cannot help but think them to be cowards. They were all afraid that the deplorable condition of the Department would tarnish their careers, a fact that may be true, yet is unavoidable. The last Congressional supporters of Jeffersonian ideals have been doing nothing but worsening the condition of the War Department since the end of the fight with Britain. They have cut funds and operations in the Department, which has contributed to its current state. I have faith that, with the right resources (and my own brilliant ingenuity), I shall be able to repair this damaged Department. On a much more joyful note, another child has been born to us this year in February. Her name is Anna Maria, and she is of most extraordinary beauty. My only, dearest wish is that the Lord will allow her to survive to adulthood, unlike her two sisters before her.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Anna Maria had been present at John's funeral, and Henry remembered how distraught she had been over her father's death. As John's early account of her said, she was quite a beautiful girl. Several small, insignificant entries followed--mostly about John's political rivals and the horrendous people that they were. Henry had to laugh--John had quite a fiery manner about him, that was for certain. One entry from 1824 caught Henry's eye, and he began to read. Instantly, he remembered that 1824 had been one of the milestones of both his and John's careers.
December 12th, 1824
In the course of this year, I have changed my goals and career path quite tremendously. At the beginning of this year, I made the decision that I would run for the office of President of the United States. I knew that this would be a monumental undertaking for myself, but I thought myself quite prepared. However, I was subjected to many cruel attacks by my ruthless opponents and their supporters, which led to my withdrawal from the running. The election had not even begun yet, so I took this as an opportunity to instead run for the office of Vice President. Although not nearly as powerful a role as the President, I have decided that it shall give me much more influence than my previous job as Secretary of War. The men who decided the run for President in the election included Senator Andrew Jackson (the great military leader from Tennessee), John Quincy Adams (Secretary of State from Massachusetts), William H. Crawford (Secretary of the Treasury from Georgia), and Henry Clay (my valued friend). I decided that I would not mind serving under any of these men, so I announced my change of candidacy to the Vice Presidency. God-willing, I won the election by a landslide amount in the Electoral College. John Quincy Adams received the office of President, and the election ended. I am well pleased with my new occupation, and look forward to its official beginning. This has certainly been a year of large changes, but the majority of them have been for the better. Floride and I now have five surviving children: Andrew Pickens; Anna Maria; Patrick; John Caldwell, Jr.; and Martha Cornelia, who was just born this April. They are all constant reminders to me that I must provide a stable future for the generations to come in this country.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
"Ah, I do remember that election very well." Henry said out loud to himself. The bitter political battle had taken its toll on all of the candidates--some more so than others. Four years passed between the entries, which Henry knew was due to the workload that John received from his new job as Vice President.
June 18th, 1828
Much unrest has occurred this year. This is my fourth year serving under the honorable John Quincy Adams, and I must say, things have changed very much since the beginning of his presidency. Since the passage of the protective tariff last month, I have been thrust into a very difficult position. The tariff was created to protect the strong industry of the North, while extracting money from the South. At first, I supported the tariff and its creators, believing that it could somehow help the national economy. However, complaints have begun to pour in from my constituents in my dear state of South Carolina. They feel that they are being unfairly oppressed by this new tariff, and that their rights are explicitly being infringed upon. Their cries for help have resonated in my mind, and I have made the decision to take their side and fight for the people of the South. I believe that these humble people are being forced against their will to provide funding for benefit of the greedy Northerners--which is clearly a violation of the founding laws of this country. I have made plans to make a trip to South Carolina and draft a series of essays that I will deliver to my superiors in Congress and elsewhere on behalf of my people. I cannot help but feel a strong sense of empathy for these common farmers; these humble planters. The true power in this country should be held by the sovereign people, acting through the states to nullify or repeal a federal law that encroaches upon minority interests. The nullification of this tariff must be allowed in the state of South Carolina, or else the good and honest citizens may lose what they hold most dear--what we all hold most dear--: their liberty. As I have made it my duty to fight for the cause of many other dilemmas, so I take it upon myself to defend and protect the rights of the people of South Carolina. How can a man not show loyalty to his own state?
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry sighed. He knew that at this point, he and John had started to disagree on several matters. Their political opinions had never differed before, so it had put a slight strain on the men's friendship. Nevertheless, their alliance had not been broken. Within four years, the nullification issue had become a full-blown crisis--and John was right in the middle of it. People had expected him to immediately take the South's side and come to their aid, however, he had chosen his moves very carefully. Henry admired John's self-control in that stressful situation, considering that many men would have simply cracked under such pressure.
December 30th, 1832
This year has certainly been the most trying of all. The crisis stemming from the Tariff of 1828 has led to the state of South Carolina declaring its ability to nullify any federal laws that it deems unconstitutional. The President, now Mr. Andrew Jackson, has become enraged at this action, and has now allowed Congress to pass a bill that permits the government to use military force to contain any rebellion in the states. Ships have been stationed in Charleston Harbor, and Jackson is threatening to send an army to the state if the people do not repent of their actions. I must say, any respect or admiration that I once had for that man has long dissipated. His upbringing as a Southern planter clearly means nothing to him--he will not allow South Carolina to nullify the oppressive tariff. His refusal to do so had greatly tarnished his image, and I do believe that Southerners will not forgive him for it. I was, at first, grateful that I had been re-elected to the Vice Presidency, because I believed that the position would allow me to extend greater influence in this issue. However, many personal affairs have occurred that led me to ultimately resign from the office on the 28th of this month. I remain firm in my belief that this was the correct action to take, as my influence had begun to dwindle within Jackson's cabinet. On another note, he had also talked of hanging me--to which I respond that I sincerely wish the same would happen to him. The "Force Bill" that Congress implemented to allow military occupation of South Carolina was nullified by the state not long after it was passed, for which I am grateful. The state has every true right to nullify any law that is infringing upon its rights; and this position I shall stand in until death. As of this year, Floride and I have seven children. James Edward was born in the year 1826, and William Lowndes in 1829.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
That year certainly had been trying for John--but also for the whole country. Henry could remember the tension that the Nullification Crisis caused; pitting North against South. He sincerely hoped that this rivalry would never flare up again.
December 3rd, 1833
A compromise has been reached in this dreadful fight. Mr. Henry Clay and I partnered together to create a compromise tariff that pleased both sides. It allowed for the first tariff to continue (which pleased the Northerners), while placing extra limitations on its effects (which pleased the South Carolinians). I am very glad that this compromise succeeded, and owe it all to Mr. Clay. Without his genius, a civil war may well have erupted from this dispute. I have run for a position as a Senator, and was just notified that I received the election. I suppose that my chances at becoming President are long diminished by this point, as my opinions on the Nullification Crisis were unpopular with many. Becoming a Senator may be another way to gain greater influence; which I am still set upon doing. Now that our country is free once more from internal disruption, I feel that it is high time that some extensive changes be made.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
It was exactly thirteen years until John's next entry, which puzzled Henry. He knew that John tended to place one year, sometimes several, between entries, but thirteen?
July 11th, 1846
It is with deep regret that I write this entry, knowing that it has been well over a decade's time since my last. It pains me to say this, but I believe that my political career is nearing its end. So much has come to happen since the end of the Nullification Crisis, that it all seems to be simply unreal. Mr. Martin Van Buren became President in the year 1837, finally replacing that fool-headed Jackson. I was not fully convinced that Mr. Van Buren's political beliefs were in order, but I decided to cooperate with him as best I could. As a Senator, my voice was rarely heard by the President, anyways. In the Senate, I quickly found that my views on the subject of slavery were much disputed. Northern Senators insisted that the abolitionist movement was the only way to bring true peace to America; whereas I denounced their words as pure foolishness. Slavery is clearly a positive good, as I stated once in an address to the Senate. Some weaker Southern Senators called it a "necessary evil", but I think that to be foolishness as well. How is slavery an evil? I cannot think of a reason that it is, given that it follows the natural order of supremacy. White men have always been superior to black men, and that has been accepted for centuries. Why must these "abolitionists" question this concept now? My hope is that within a few years' time, they will understand the idiocy of their beliefs and silence their ridiculous pleas for slave freedom. My past relatives, including my own father, stood firmly for the idea of slavery. They knew that the practice was just and right, and they used it to improve their own lives. I, myself, own slaves, and find there to be no evil in the deed. Also, now that new states were being added into the Union, the abolitionists found it necessary to raise their complaints even more. In the year 1841, President William H. Harrison died in office, leaving his Vice President, John Tyler, to succeed him. Mr. Tyler and I agreed on many things politically, therefore, in the year 1844, he named me his Secretary of State. We both agreed that the Republic of Texas needed to be annexed, which the Northern abolitionists strictly denounced. They knew that Texas was slave country, and refused to have it added into our Union. The Senate could bring the votes in favor of annexation up to the required two-thirds, which perplexed me greatly. I proposed that the Houses of Congress join together for a joint resolution, which ultimately decided that Texas would, indeed, be annexed. This was wonderful news, as the territory would add much land to our Union. After this triumph, I chose to resign from my one-year stand as Secretary of State, and run for a position as Senator once more. I received the election just as before, which pleased me greatly. However, the blasted Mexicans declared war upon the United States after this victory, claiming that they had the natural right to Texas. The war only began this year, and I can honestly say that I hate it with a flaming passion. I opposed the start of the war from the beginning--I knew that its primary effects would be soaring national debt and endangerment to Constitutional rights. Regardless, the war went on to occur, bringing obvious strife to our Union. I cannot help but believe that this war is simply a Northern conspiracy destroy the South--which may well happen, if the Mexicans are able to regain Texas. We can only wait and see, for there is nothing else to be done at the moment.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry and John had differed greatly in their political opinions at this time. Henry remembered the arguments that had occurred that had driven an impossible wedge between the men. By the next year, both men were reaching their prime.
September 2nd, 1847
The slavery debate still rages on. The abolitionists seem to be growing stronger every day, and the hope for a preserved Union dwindles alongside it. My concern for the well-being of this nation is heightened, partially due to the rise of corruption in our political parties. I have had a concerning realization that members of political parties are simply working for their own survival and not for that of the country--a fatal decision, for certain. They lust after power & spoils from the gaining of an important office, oftentimes using slander and false accusations against their opponents to gain it. Very few men these days seek after political office simply because they wish to help improve our country. Rather, they wish to improve their own standings. I was once a victim of this disease, but thankfully was able to shake it away. I cannot hide my ever-growing hatred for Northern politicians; as well as the North itself. It has proved to be an industry-hungry monster, as well as a sower of seeds of abolition. My fears for this country grow stronger every time I hear talk of abolition or industrialization. I believe that the only way to relieve this awful affliction to liberty is to unite the entire South into a strong, undefeatable force. I cannot express my desire for war to never occur between our states, however, the North will stop at nothing achieve its means. This may imply that they are willing to fight us, if need be. For the rest of my days, I shall proclaim that South must unite, or be crushed. It is the only way to ensure that our liberty may be preserved.
Regards,
John C. Calhoun
Henry knew that John disliked the idea of civil war, but he was well-prepared to unite the South against the North, should skirmishes occur. John's next, and last, entry in the journal was written only ten days before his death. It pained Henry to read the entry, as he could practically feel John's angst through the quavering handwriting.
March 21st, 1850
I have contracted tuberculosis as of this month, and I fear that I am near the end of my life. My body has grown weaker with each passing day, and I cannot communicate with spoken words any longer. I was not even able to orally address the Senate with my opposition to the Blasted compromise that they want to pass. One of my close friends gave the address for me, which I regret. I wished with all of my being that I could give the Address myself, but my voice failed me. The compromise will allow California, a prospective territory, to be entered into the Union as a free sTaTe, as well as allowing the new states of Utah and New MExico to be given the choice of becoming fRee or slave states. If three free states are admitted into the Union, it could very well destroy the practice of slaverY--and, therefore, the South.
The entry abruptly stopped at the end of the first page. Henry turned the page, and saw that the last page of the journal had been torn out, just as John had said it would be. Setting the journal down, Henry thought long and hard about all that he'd read. He hadn't found any kind of "encrypted message", and had lost all hope of doing so. As he scanned the last entry one last time, he noticed something that had escaped his eye the first time. Random letters in the last entry had been capitalized--clearly spelling out a message. Scrambling for a piece of paper and quill pen, Henry carefully located the oddly-capitalized letters and wrote out the message. It spelled "BATTERY", which Henry immediately understood. "The Battery in Charleston..." Henry said in complete disbelief. Although it was very late at night, he rushed down the stairs and grabbed his coat from the closet. "Driver! Wake up! I must go to the Battery at this instant!" He cried. His driver, an old black slave, quickly arose from his slumber and hurried outside to ready the carriage.
Within minutes, they arrived at the Battery. Tall, regal homes lined the street across from the cannons and mortars, which faced out over Charleston Harbor. A pavilion stood in the middle of the ammunition, serving as an observation area. Henry looked around him, wondering where on earth John could have hidden the page. As he walked towards the pavilion, his boot suddenly struck something hard. Looking down, Henry saw a small peg sticking out of the ground, with the letters "J.C." inscribed on the top. "John Calhoun." He said quietly. Kneeling down and digging through the soft ground with his bare hands, Henry uncovered a small wooden box with "H.C." written on the top. He took in a deep breath, and opened the box. Inside was a single piece of paper and small pistol. Henry unfolded the paper, and read out loud, "My devotion to the South shall live on even after I have departed this earth. I believe that the prosperity of this nation may still be restored, even though it may come at a high cost. Henry, I thank you for being such a devoted friend all of these years, although our opinions eventually drove us apart. You will always remain one of my closest confidants. For that reason, I entrust you with this duty to keep until your last breath: should those blasted Brits, Mexicans, or confounded Northerners set foot on this land once more, Henry, I would like for you to take this gun and fire the first shot at them shouting, 'For the glory of God, America, and the great man John Caldwell Calhoun!' That should be sufficient. Regards, John C. Calhoun." Henry could not help but laugh. "My lands," he said, "he was the best Warhawk of all."
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Just a fun fact....for those of you who read my "History Field Trip" post about Charleston, you'll be wondering why only "Calhoun" is inscribed on John's monument. Well, according to "The Unholy City", a book by Howard Elgison, it is simply because that name alone should "fill you with a sense of awe and wonder"! Check out my "Pictures" tab for photos of Calhoun's grave, his rather *disapproving* statue, and the church he is buried at.
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