John Calhoun letter to Anna Maria Calhoun, 24 February 1838

Washington 24th Feb 1838

Mr DEAR DAUGHTER, I received three days since yours of the 10th Inst; and have taken the first leisure moment to reply, so you see what a punctual correspondent I am.

You know it is much more easy to make a speech to the Senate, than to the country. The former may be delivered in two or three hours, but the latter requires several days to prepare it before it can reach the auditory through the channel of the press. Between drawing off, correcting the manuscript, and the proof sheet, all my leisure hours have been completely engrossed for the last four or five days. I enclose you the result. I do not know how it will appear in print. My friends thought highly of it when delivered. It was condens'ed in the delivery, but is still more so in print; for I find, that I can crowd more ideas together on paper, than I can in debate in the same space.

My correspondence has fallen so much in the rear in consequence of my engagements, that you must be content with a short letter; particularly, as I shall have to begin forthwith to prepare for a general reply, as I find that I am the General object of attack from the side of those opposed to the bill. Mr Clay made a very long reply, but in the main very feeble and personal. I intend to give him, as good as he sent, and so informed him on the conclusion of his speech. . . .