The Honourable John C. Calhoun leaves "The Great Triumvirate"

John C. Calhoun, arguably South Carolina's most famous United States Senator and two time Vice President of the United States, died of tuberculosis on March 31, 1850, in a Washington boarding house (the Old Brick Capitol). Congress initially buried Calhoun's body in a public vault located in the Congressional Cemetery on April 2, 1850. Later in 1850, the family disinterred the body and moved it to St. Philip's Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where his illustrious stone can be viewed today. The following quotation is from "The Congressional Globe," April 6, 1850, page 626.

IN SENATE

TUESDAY, April 2, 1850.

The Senate met at twelve o’clock, for the purpose of attending the funeral obsequies of the Hon. John C. Calhoun, late a Senator in Congress from the State of South Carolina.

The galleries, and every avenue therto, were crowded with spectators, and hundreds left the doors unable to obtain admittance.

At twelve o’clock, the House of Representatives, preceded by its officers, entered the Chamber, and too seats assigned them.

Numerous officers of the army and navy, and many distinguished strangers, occupied sofas in the lobbies.

The Supreme Court of the United States entered the Chamber, and took seats at the left of the Vice President.

The President of the United States and the Cabinet soon followed; the President being conducted to a seat at the right of the Vice President.

The diplomatic corps, which was very fully represented, occupied seats near the centre of the Chamber.

At twenty minutes past twelve, the corpse was brought into the chamber, in charge of the Committee of Arrangements, and placed immediately in front of the Secretary’s desk. Several relatives and friends of the deceased, Senator Butler, and the South Carolina delegation of the House of Representatives, accompanied the corpse as mourners.

The Rev. C.M. Butler, Chaplain to the Senate, read the passage of Scripture, found in the 1^st Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, 15^th chapter, beginning at the 20^th verse, to the end of the chapter.

Mr. B. then delivered a brief discourse from the words, in the 82d Psalm, 5^th and 7^th verses:

“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.”

The address being ended, the Senate and audience left the Chamber, and formed in procession in the following order:

The Chaplains of both Houses of Congress.

Physicians who attended the deceased.

Committee of Arrangements:

Mr. Mason, Mr. Dodge, of Wis.,

Mr. Davis, of Miss., Mr. Dickinson,

Mr. Atchison, Mr. Greene.

Pall-bearers:

Mr. Mangum, Mr. Cass,

Mr. Clay, Mr. King,

Mr. Webster, Mr. Berrien.

The family and friends of the deceased.

The Senator and Representatives from the State of South Carolina, as mourners.

The Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate of the United States

The Senate of the United States, preceded by the Vice President of the United States and their Secretary.

The Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives

The House of Representatives, preceded by their Speaker and Clerk.

The President of the United Stated.

The Heads of Departments

The Chief-Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, and its officers.

The Diplomatic Corps.

Judges of the United States.

Officers of the Executive Departments.

Officers of the Army and Navy.

The Mayor of Washington.

Citizens and Strangers.

The line having been formed, the procession moved to the Congressional Burying Ground, where the remains of the deceased were deposited, with the usual solemnities, in the receiving vault.

The Senate returned to their chamber, and adjourned.