LAD/Blog #14: Calhoun's Speech on the Compromise of 1850
LAD/Blog #14: Calhoun’s Speech on the Compromise of 1850
Calhoun’s speech on the Compromise of 1850 was delivered
just before he died. He is pointing out that the nation is completely divided,
and the overall Union is in danger. He says this discontent stems from slavery.
He says that the inequality between the North and the South is tipping the
balance of free and slave states and causing problems. The North had control of the government, with the
majority of states as well as the majority of representatives in Congress. The legislation,
he says, has been effected in three ways: the South has been excluded from
expansion (new states are free- if the new states like Oregon pass, the North
will have ¾ of the land of the US), been taken advantage of in terms of
taxes/tariffs, and been hurt from changes in political measures by the government
(the North taking more states/having higher populations ensures an inequality in
government that favors the North). Also, he says divisions
between the two races of the South are seen very differently by the North and
the South. The North has a hostile view of it, and the South sees it as
necessary. Calhoun then asks what will stop the building of tension that
will lead to the South having only two options left: succession or abolition. He says that
the North must make a change (as they have the power), by giving equality to the
South in terms of territory size, and inserting an amendment in the
Constitution to restore southern power in government, among other things. He says
that the North must do so to preserve the Union. Overall, Calhoun does not
support the Compromise of 1850, and proposes these ideas instead.
John C. Calhoun
Federalist Papers No. 10 (synthesis)
The Federalist Paper No. 10 is very
similar to Calhoun’s speech on the Compromise of 1850. The paper, written by
Hamilton, addresses factions, and how they can be dividing and detrimental,
while saying they are hard to eliminate. Calhoun’s speech does the same,
highlighting the divisions between the North and the South, and saying they can
only be fixed by the North agreeing to make changes in the government (which
would be difficult).
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