LAD#13: John Calhoun on the Clay Compromise

Summarize.
(written by John Calhoun, who was too sick to deliver it; read by another senator with Calhoun present.)
Calhoun first presents a question of how the union can be preserved, then steps back and asks what endangered it in the first place, then further to ask what has caused the discontent that is endangering the Union, despite efforts of political leaders to discourage it. The southern states no longer believe that they cannot remain honorably or safely within the Union, due to agitation of the slavery question by the North and unequal representation in the government continually favoring the North, due to a larger population (thus control of the House) and continually more numerous states in the North while there has been no new state added to the South (thus control of the Senate). This destorying of equillibrium, had it come naturally, would not be a cause for complaint. However, legislation pushed by the north -inlcuding acts excluding the south from growing as the north was, higher taxes imposed on the South and higher proceeds going to the North, and a radical change in the original character of the government- have unnaturally destroyed the equality between the two sections. The higher revenue going to the North also explains why immigrants tend to locate there and thus increase the population of the northern states, while the South recieves few to none.

Another major issue causing the feelings of sectionalism is the argument over slavery; to the south it is a vital part of their social and economic organization, while to the north it is basically viewed as a blemish, crime, or even a sin they have a moral obligation to destroy. Unless something decisive is done to stop this agitation, the south may end up being forced to choose between abolition and secession. However, this disunion is not something that comes easily, but over time with many blows to the cords that tie the union together; and this is what has been happening. When all the cords are broken, the only thing that could keep the union together is force, and that in itself cannot create a true union.

However, the union can be saved if the basic causes that are causing the southern states to fear their honor and safety can be removed without the south being forced to surrender more than it already has. The north must concede to the south equal territory, to stop agitating the slavery question, and to make an amendment to the constitution to protect southern equality with the north. Otherwise, the union should be broken.