The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-27
REMARKS OF MIR. CALHOUN,
a. Ns~.ss,,g of the Citizens Of Charleston.
TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH ., IoiT.


Al the Meeting Of Cislzon. Of Charleston.
TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 0, ls47
Ev,,ow-cyr,zsNs. In complying with the request OF
vour committee to address you on the geheh STATE oi
our affairs in connexion with the federal government,
Shall restrict nv remarks the subject OF our peculiar
domestic institution, not only because is Dy var ihe
most important US, but also because have iny eX
pressed my views. my place IN me senate on ihe ohy
plher important slibject--the Mexican war.
lnlly concur in the address OF Your committee, and
the resolutions accompanying u Inc iaeI stated are
,Inouestionahle and the conclusions irresistible.
Indeed after all that has occurred during thc iasi
twelve months would be almost diotc to doub, maj
large majority OF both parties IN the non-siav
States have come Ia fixed determination to appropriate
al the territories of the United States now possessed or
hereafter 10 be acquired To themselves to Inc entre eN
clnsion of the slaveholding States hssu,asi uen
that to be beyOnd doubt the grave and 10 us Va que
ton il presented for considerations have they 'e power
TO carry this determination INTO elect
II will he proper to premise, before undertake 10 an
ser This question: that il my intention TO place before
Won the danger with which threatened from this
determination plainly and fully without exisSetauol "
extennaon, and also the advanlses we nave lor .epe
l,n0 a leaving il to YOU determine what measures
should be adopted for that purpose " 49,
now return TO the question: ana ahsMe, ICE, NY" =
have the power as far mere numbers can give IT,
They will have majority in the next Congress- IN every
department of the federal government Inc ADMISSION
S,ates and majority of four in the Senate which here
roore has been our shield against this and other dangers
OF the kind We already IN minority IN inc HOUSE
of Representatives and the electoral college, so ha,'
with the loss OF the Senate, shall be IN minority IN
every DEPARTMENT of the federal government and ever
must continue so, the nonsiaveholdlng States snouu
carry into effect their scheme of approprmtng TO the
elusive use all the Territories of the United STATES Du''
fortunately under system of government mere mum
beers not the only eemem, S Of defending
selves against the threatened danger IL we so"u NC ~
TO ourselves. :
We have, in the first place. the advantage OF having
the constitution on side, clearly and unqueshonaoy
and in its entire fabric much so, tat the whore oous
of the instrument stands opposed to he scheme Vi
n. toth snlvps
his assertion il is only necessary TO remind you, that
ours ia federal and nota national or consolidated gov
emmen-a distinction essential to correct uiuei saiai IL
OF the constitution and safety IL ought never 10 pe
forgotten or overlooked. AS federal government Inc
States composing the Union are its constituents, and
stand in the same relation to it, in that respect as the IN
diydua citizens of State do to its government. AS
constituent members of the Union all the territories and
other property of the Union belong to them, as JOINT
owners or partners and to the government as ero
neousy supposed by some. The government is but the
agent intrusted with the management And hence tne
constitution Seses ai Is he States united
or the States of the Union, which are but synonymous
expressions. And hence also Congress has no more
right tine e 81 to Ge exclusion
the others, than has to appropriate the same way me
forts. other public buildings or the navy OF any oshei
property of the United States. That has such righ
no one would venture to assert; and yet the one Is
placed exactly the ground with the other by the
constitution. ,,,
of the slaveholdng States to full and equal partlcPa
ton in the Territories of the United States, in opposition
to the determination OF the oIes 70 ap
intention urge them to vote, but was unable 10 &c
so consequence of the great pressure OF business du
ring the last few days of the session 1t was fe by those
opposed to u.s. that the foundation which placed
nav resolutions be admitted the conclusion could not Dt
successfully assaed; and hence the bold but unsuccess
full attempt assai the foundation ITSELF by eontende
that ours is national or consolidated government, III
which the States would stand to the Union as the conn
ties do to the States, and be equally destitute of all po
Such a
would indeed place us and our peculiar domesic ihsu
tons at the mercy of the savehodng States; but
fortunately, cannot be maintained without subvertne
the very foundation OF our entire political system, ant
denyng the most ncontrovertble facts connected witt
the foundation and adoption OF the constitution; :,
But il may be asked, what do gain by having the
constitution clearly on our side, when majority
in the non savehodng States stand prepared to deny
Possibly such may be the still we cannot fail tc
gain much by the advantage it gives us. speak from
long experience | have never known truth, promptly
advocated in the spirit of truth fail to succeed in the end
citizens in those States who agree with us on this grea
and vital point The effects OF the discussion will mo-
mprobably greatly increase their number; and what
no little importance induce still greater number to hes
ate and abate somewhat in their confidence IN former
opinions, and thereby prepare the way give f9l efiec
to another advantage which possess To understand
what Il is Il will be necessary to explain what is the
tive and object of this crusade on the part OF the non
slaveholdng States against our peculiar domestic nst
auton.
It is clear that it does not orig mate in any hostility OF
interests The labor of slaves does not conflict witt
the profit OF their capitalists, OF Inc wages OF tne opera
lives. any way inlunously affect the prosperity
those States, either as IT relates to their population
wealth On the contrary, it greatly increases both 1T
product those which mainly stimulate and render thei
capital and labor profitable while slaves furnish. a
The same time an extensive and profitable market TO
what they make Annhilae the products OF their labo
strike from the list the three great articles which arr
almost exclusively the products OF their abor--coon
rice and tobacco-and what would become OF the
great shipping. navigating, commercial, and manniac
hiring interests of the nsaveholding States What o.
their LowelIs and Wathams; their New York and Bos
ton and other manufacturing and commercial cities
What to enlarge the question, would become OF the ex
ports and imports of the Union itself; its shipping an'
tonnage its immense revenue, the disbursements o
which millions in those States, directly or indirectly, iv
and prosper Fortunately them the crusade against GU
domestic institution does originate in hostility OF IN
terests If did, the possibility of arresting the threat
OF the Union would be altogether hopeless; so FREEDOM
inant is the regard for interest in those States, over al
other considerations.
Nor does it originate in any apprehension that tn
laycholdng States would acquire an undue prep0nder
ance the Union, unless restricted to their present limits
If even full share of the Territories should fall to on
lot we could never hope to outweigh, by any ncreaset
number of savehodng States, the great preponderanct
which their numbers give TO the non slavehodng State
in the House of Representatives and the electoral col
lege All we could hope for would be to preserve al
equality the Senate, at most, 10 acquire prepOn
serance in that branch of the governments
But if it originates neither in the one nor the other Of
these what are the real motives and objects OF their cru
SADIE against our institution To this, IT will be
necessary to explain what the feelings and views
the people of the savehodng States in reference tt
it, with their effects their party operations especially
iii relation 10 the presidential election
Al. ...1