The Life and Times of
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The Life and Times of
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Chapter Ten It would hardly be supposed from the quiet tone of these letters that the highest prize in the country had been at this moment set before Mr. Lowndes's eyes; yet so it was, for on December 18, 1821, the legislature of his native State had nominated him for President of the United States. The preamble and resolutions read curiously now: " At a public meeting of the members of both branches of the Legislature of the State of South Carolina, held on the evening of the 18th of December, 1821, at the Hall of the House of Representatives in Columbia, Colonel Samuel Warren of Pendleton having been called to the chair, the following Preamble and Resolutions were adopted: " Whereas, the next Presidential Election, however distant, is becoming an object of interest throughout the United States; and whereas it is apprehended that in selecting an individual worthy of this distinguished honour, serious differences may arise, involving sectional divisions of alarming magnitude, a consequence, the bare apprehension of which obviously enforces the expediency of the people of this Union turning their eyes upon some individual who shall unite the confidence, respect and esteem of the North and West, the East and the South; who, remote from any connection with a cabinet succession, shall be brought forth truly, strongly, and indubitably as the ffational candidate. " Be it Resolved, that it is the sense of this meeting, under the existing state of public opinion in reference to our next President, that no individual in the Union unites more entirely the qualifications for this Station, with the prospect of success, if the Election be left entirely with the people, than our distinguished fellow-citizen, William Lowndes," etc. These, and succeeding resolutions to the same effect, were forwarded to him in Washington, with the following letter from the gentleman who was to be his successor in Congress, and a popular leader of the State's Rights party of South Carolina in the troublous times that were to come in 1832, James Hamilton, Jr.:
The especial meaning of this letter, and particularly of the phrase, " do not concede your pretensions to any individual in the Country," was that Mr. Calhoun had been nominated for the presidency by the State of Pennsylvania. Were the two Carolinians to be pitted against each other ? and what effect would such rivalry have upon their chances and upon their friendship ? Fate stepped in and settled the first question; no active rivalry was to be theirs. And for the second, it is evident that the two men took the situation in the highhearted, honorable fashion that might have been expected of them. Mr. Lowndes was completely surprised, and unwilling to stand in opposition to his friend. He also greatly disliked a " caucus " nomination, and said so plainly. He was assured that the primary motion had been confirmed by all but a very small minority of the legislature, but it was still distasteful to him. The only letter now extant from Mr. Lowndes on this subject is dated December 29th, three days before the one from Mr. Hamilton given above. They must have crossed on the road, and it is evident that there must have been a previous, probably informal, letter from Major Hamilton, since Mr. Lowndes refers to " your letter from Columbia." That not being now within reach, the second has been given to open the subject. Mr. Lowndes says:
To this, and probably to other letters,for some of the expressions quoted do not appear above, Major Hamilton answered a week later.
Major Hamilton goes on at great length to point out to Mr. Lowndes that the claims of Mr. Calhoun had been warmly advocated in the meeting at Columbia, but that the preference of the State was decidedly for him. " The most influential members from the interior and middle country were with you. The middle districts, northeastern, southern, and southeastern parts of the State were unanimously your friends; the country was divided between Broad River and Pendleton [the district which Mr. Calhoun had represented in Congress and where his home, Fort Hill, was situated]. ... In Charleston it is not necessary for me to tell you how strong you are," etc. " In the existing state of things, I do not know that your friends here can practice a better lesson than to be patient and moderate, when we see you yourself afford us so good an example in these particulars," etc. There are several other letters, from Major Hamilton, Judge Huger, Colonel William Drayton, etc., all pointing out the impropriety of South Carolina withdrawing or changing her candidate until the will of the Democratic party shall have made itself clearly understood, when, if the nominee of Pennsylvania be preferred, she will " cheerfully and proudly support him." It is hard now to believe that there was a time when South Carolina preferred any one to Calhoun. Ten years later there could have been no " division " when he was concerned. Two personal anecdotes are remembered by the writer on the subject, the one told by her father: that returning as a young midshipman from a cruise, and asking information about current affairs, he was told of the candidates, " that Mr. Lowndes had most of the State, but Mr. Calhoun had Pendleton district and Mr. William Lowndes." The other, that people in Washington were amused and surprised to see that the daily walk which the two nominees had long been accustomed to take together, to and from the Capitol, continued as usual, not the slightest difference having been caused by the new state of affairs. In one of Mr. Hamilton's later letters he begs Mr. Lowndes not to show his letters to Mr. Calhoun's supporters. The only mention of the affair in the letters to Mrs. Lowndes is a fragment preserved by Mr. Chase from Mr. Grayson.
Of course Adams was the next President. Would the result have been different had Mr. Lowndes lived? It is impossible to say. His course on the Missouri bill and on the tariff had clearly shown the absolute justice and impartiality of his nature, and had shown also that he labored for that ideal republic which was constantly in his thoughts. By the commercial classes everywhere, and by those few in every community who took thought, as he did, for " the character of the country," he was most highly esteemed; nevertheless the spirit of section had already arisen, and that demon is hard to lay. Before the election came he was sleeping " in the vast ocean deserts of the North." After his death his success was spoken of as having been certain, but it was after his death. Carolina was not to be gratified by the election of either of her distinguished sons, and the succession went, yet once more, to the th during the summer. His health declined steadily and he resigned his seat in Congress. His wife, as often happens to the nearest, did not at all realize how ill he was. He had so often recovered from illness that she expected recovery again. His family were clearer sighted, yet neither he nor they were without hope. Before leaving home he commended his wife and children to the kindness of his eldest brother, Thomas, and told him that he would do everything possible for the recovery of his health, and be satisfied with whatever the Supreme Wisdom might ordain. The affection of his family never failed him. There is a letter from his sister, Mrs. Simmons (a childless widow), telling him that she fears that his plans may be interfered with by want of money, and that she has just received a large legacy from her eldest sister, Mrs. Champneys, which she entreats him to accept of, hoping " you won't be so unkind as to refuse to take it for the recovery of your health which is so precious to me." The resolution to undertake the European voyage must have been hastily adopted. The only letter regarding it is a short note from Philadelphia, from Mrs. Lowndes to her father, saying that" the doctor assures me that my husband's lungs are perfectly sound, and the whole trouble is in the liver." They were to sail immediately in the ship Moss; Mr. Cheves had made all the pecuniary arrangements, and would take charge of Pinckney. In the ship Moss they accordingly set sail from Philadelphia on Monday, the 21st of October, 1822. They had with them their little daughter, twelve years old, and their faithful servant Amy. Two kind friends, Mr. and Mrs. Connell, of Philadelphia, were also on board. For the first few days Mr. Lowndes appeared somewhat improved, but the weather became stormy and he was exhausted. On Friday Mr. Connell thought his condition alarming, and on Sunday morning, October 27th, he breathed his last. Mr. Connell, writing to a friend in "Washington, says: " No preparation having been made to preserve his body, it became necessary to commit it to the ocean. We preserved it, however, until Monday afternoon, when the writer hereof assembled the passengers and crew and read over his remains the funeral service of the Episcopal church before we committed his body to the deep. Mrs. Lowndes and her daughter were in their stateroom, and I believe they were not aware for some days of his body having been buried in the ocean, as we thought it too trying a scene for her to witness." The last sentence is partly incorrect. Mrs. Lowndes, through (said her daughter) a mistaken kindness, was left in ignorance of the precise moment of the burial; but she knew that it must be. Suddenly they heard a plunge, the dread sullen sound that comes when the" heavy shotted hammock shroud Drops in its vast and wandering grave." To her dying day and she lived to be eighty Mrs. Rutledge recalled with awe that solemn sound, and the scream of her mother who instantly recognized its import. So ended, at the age of forty, all that was mortal of this noble statesman and pure patriot. His life seems inconclusive, and yet the broken column has beauty of its own. On reaching England, Mrs. Lowndes, in pursuance of the original plan, crossed immediately to France, where were friends prepared to receive her. Her old Washington friends, M. and Madame Hyde de Neuville, insisted on her sharing their "apartment" until she could make her own arrangements. From her cousin, Mr. Pinckney Horry, who had married and lived in France, and from his wife (Mademoiselle de la Faye de la Tour Maubourg) she received the greatest kindness and attention, and also from other Americans then resident in Paris. General and Madame de Lafayette, old friends of her father's, were especially devoted to her. The general wrote to Colonel F. K. Huger, his friend of Olmutz:
To America, accordingly, Mrs. Lowndes returned as soon as it suited the Connells to do so; returned to take up the burden of a saddened and anxious life, of the guardianship of children, and of the management of a considerable but embarrassed estate, all of which burdens she bore, and duties she performed, with courage and good sense, during thirty-five years of widowhood, dying in 1857, aged seventy-seven. Mr. Lowndes left three children. Of these the eldest,
Rawlins, always an invalid, married Miss Hornby, and died early without
issue. The second, Thomas Pinckney, married Miss Margaret Washington,
granddaughter of Colonel William Washington, of Revoluntionary fame, died
early leaving three children; of whom one son, Thomas Pinckney, alone
survives. He married Miss Anne Branford Frost, daughter of the Honorable
Edward Frost, and has several children. The writer is so painfully
conscious of the inadequacy of the picture of Mr. Lowndes which she
presents that she is glad to call to her aid those remarks of his
contemporaries which show the impression made by him upon the minds of the
men who knew him best. When the news of his death reached Washington,
Congress was in session. Major Hamilton, Mr. Lowndes's successor in the
House, rose and delivered a fervent panegyric upon his predecessor. Major
Hamilton, however, spoke as a Carolinian and a personal friend; therefore
one remark alone is quoted here: He had less self-love
and more self-denial than any man I ever knew."
(This is) " the greatest bereavement in the loss of a citizen which has befallen the Union since I have held a seat in its councils. The highest and best hopes of this country looked to William Lowndes for their fulfillment The most honorable office in the civilized world the Chief Magistraey of this free people would have been illustrated by his virtues and talents. During nine years service in this House it was my happiness to be associated with him on many of his most important committees. He never failed to shed new light on all subjects to which he applied his vigorous and discriminating mind. His industry in discharging the arduous and responsible duties constantly assigned him was persevering and efficient To manners the most unassuming, to patriotism the most disinterested, to morals the most pure, to attainments of the first rank in literature and science, he added the virtues of decision and prudence so happily combined, so harmoniously united, that we know not which most to admire, the firmness with which he pursued his purpose, or the gentleness with which he disarmed opposition. His arguments were made, not for victory, but to convince the judgment of his hearers." Mr. Archer, of Virginia, said in a long speech proposing that the House should wear mourning for a month, an unusual proceeding for one not actually a member," Panegyric on this occasion was rendered unnecessary by the settled feeling and opinion of this country in relation to Mr. Lowndes. . . . He was already ranked with the eminent names which had passed by and been consecrated to national respect. He was already ranked as a man superior in worth as he was in mind, as one of the purest and ablest, and most faithful of the statesmen who might claim from our country the meed of honor." Mr. Clay wrote to Mr. Cheves:
The newspapers from every part of the country were filled with eulogies. In Charleston a public meeting was called at which Mr. Stephen Elliott, the author of " Elliott's Botany" and a graceful writer and speaker, was appointed to deliver a biographical " funeral eulogium to be pronounced at a public meeting of the citizens." Mr. Elliott accepted the appointment, but unfortunately postponed the preparation of the discourse until himself overtaken by death. Nor was this a transient opinion excited by the emotion of the day. Years afterwards, Mr. Wise, of Georgia, Mr. Benton, of Missouri, Mr. (afterwards President) Van Buren, of New York, recorded their admiration, Mr. Benton declaring him to be the brightest of the galaxy " which Carolina had sent to the Twelfth Congress. Mr. Todd, of Pennsylvania, replying to Major Hamilton on a bill laying duty on imports, says:
Towards the close of his life Mr. Clay told Colonel John
Lee, of Maryland, that among the many men he had known he found it
difficult to decide who was the greatest, but added," I think the wisest
man I ever knew was William Lowndes;" and Mr. Cheves, in a conversation
with the Eeverend Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, late rector of Grace
Church, Charleston, lately published in "Lippincott's Magazine," but
prepared for the press many years since, said," Mr. Calhoun is far more
brilliant, and his mind more keen and rapid; he is a man of genius, and
has the temptation of such men to leap to conclusions boldly, perhaps too
hastily. But in ~ the power of looking at a subject calmly,
dispassionately, in every light, Mr. Lowndes had no superior. I should
have preferred his judgment to that of any other man, and such I think was
the feeling of their contemporaries. I will illustrate my view. If the
nation were in great peril, and Mr. Lowndes recommended one policy and Mr.
Calhoun an opposite one, I think that a majority of the American people
would have said, ' Intrust the country to the guidance of William Lowndes,
follow his counsel;' and in my judgment they would have done
wisely."
Enough, perhaps more than enough, has now been said and the writer has naught to add, except the hope that the student of American history, the youth preparing to take his part in the government of the country, may pause for a moment to consider the influence and honor that came to this man who did much and asked nothing. It was said of him that he had " no vision of ambition." None for himself, in truth, but all men knew that for his country his ambition was high and great as Washington's had been. For her he coveted the praise, and name, and honor which meaner men seek for themselves ; and so men gave them to him freely, good measure running over. And fate was kindest to him of all; for when he died he knew that by the war, which he had helped to create, the Repablic was strong and respected abroad ; and he thought, moreover, that within her borders peace and harmony had come to her, somewhat by his labors. And so, while happy in this thought, " God's finger touched him and he slept." |
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