LAD #13: Calhoun's Speech

Summarize Calhoun's Speech

Calhoun's address to the Senate focuses mainly on slavery, a topic that has become a widespread issue among the nation. Although the 3/5 compromise was a suitable compromise used to balance the representation of Northern and Southern states, Calhoun realized that as time progressed, the Northern states had gained a significant upper hand in representation and were in a position in which they could take control of the government. He believes that the only conditions required for a political party to gain power over the country is a majority of the population and a majority of the states represented in the Senate. Further solidifying the fact is that the Union is on the verge of admitting five new northern states as a result of the newly acquired territories in Oregon, Minnesota, and the land given up from Mexico. On the other hand, there are no new states open for acceptance into the union for the South. Regarding population, Calhoun believed that the import tariffs increased the chance of a split in favor of the North, because it contributed to their wealthy elite at the expense of Southern farmers and also made the North a successful region which would attract immigrants. The conflict between the North and the South concerning the ideology of slavery strained the Union. Northern abolitionists fought to end the immorality of slavery, but Calhoun stated that it was a fundamental institution to the social and economic status of the South, and ending slavery would cause destruction. He thought that the only way the Union could be saved was if the North, as the stronger party, would be willing to give the South its rights to represent the newly gained land, return any fugitive slaves, and end conflict over the topic of slavery. This would cause the political power of the North and the South to become equal, which would therefore end the threat of secession and maintain the Union.