LAD #13: John Calhoun's Speech

John C. Calhoun, the author of the Clay Compromise Measures

Calhoun starts his speech by saying that the issue of slavery and general discontent in the South has grown so much that it threatened the unity of the country, and poses the question: how can the Union be preserved? Even though people in the south have tried to preserve peace it wasn't successful. He then asks, what caused the beliefs of the impossibility of certain things as they were remaining in the Union? Calhoun states that the primary reason is the equilibrium between the sections of the United States has been thrown off, because the North has more control over the government due to having more states and more population. The probable addition of several new states to the North would also greatly increase the number of senators there, which is promoted by the government, controlled mostly by the North, who should be trying to benefit all states. Calhoun points out that if nothing is done to stop the agitation already arising from these issues, introducing what to do about the topic of slavery will be the breaking point of the country. He believes that the only way of preserving the Union is to adopt measures that will satisfy the Southern states so they don't try to secede or civil war occurs. He continues with the point, saying that the North will have to be willing to implement changes, because the South is unable to do it by itself.