LAD #13: Calhoun's Speech

The Clay Compromise Measures

Summary: To begin his speech, Calhoun declares that the Union is divided and on the verge of breaking, and then presents a question of how the union can be preserved. He then steps back and asks what endangered it in the first place, seeing several key reasons. 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). Another major issue causing the feelings of sectionalism is the argument over slavery; to the south it was a vital part of their social and economic organization, while to the north it was basically viewed as a blemish on the Union's record. Unless something decisive is done to stop this agitation, the south may end up being forced to choose between abolition and secession. However, Calhoun argues, the union can be saved if the basic issues 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, Calhoun suggests. Without this, he feared (rightfully so) that the Union would be split in two.

(Similarly, today half of the US population lives in just the Blue Counties, and this has caused some modern sectionalism between the mainly-democrat cities, and the often-republican outer counties, who in states like NY, feel disenfranchised, as their state will always be a "blue state" because of the enormous New York City population).