The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-05
TIL E REPU BLIC.
MIR. CALHOUN, OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
ON THE SLAVERY QUESTION,
Delivered in the Senate of the United States,
March 4, 1850
OF


have, Senators, believed from the first that the
agitation Of the subject of slavery would if not pre-
vented by some timely and effective measure end
in disunon. Entertaining this opinion, have, on
all proper occasions, endeavored to call the atten-
ton Of both of the two great parties which divide
the country, to adopt some measure to prevent SO
great disaster, but without success. The agita-
ton has been permitted TO proceed with almost no
attempt TO resist 1t, until il has reached period
when II can no longer be disguised or denied that
upon you the greatest and the graves question that
can ever come under your consideration-How can
the Union be preserved?
To give satisfactory answer TO this mighty
question, il is indispensable to have accurate
and thorough knowledge Of the nature and the
character of the cause by which the Union is endan
gered. Without such knowledge, il is impossible
to pronounce, with any certainty, by what
sure It can be saved; just AS il would be impossible
Tor physician to pronounce in the case of some
dangerous disease. with any certainty, by what
remedy the patient could be saved, without similar
knowledge of the nature and character of the cause
OF the disease, The first question: then, presented
for consideration, in the investigation propose to
make, in order to obtain such knowledge, is-What
is it that has endangered the Union?
To this question there can. be but one answer; ;
that the immediate is the almost universal
discomfort which pervades all the States composing
the southern section of the Union. This widely
extended discomfort is not of recent origin. II
commenced with the agitation Of the slavery ques
Nt y
question, going one step further back, is-What
has caused this widely -diffused and almost univer
sal discomfort?
II is great mistake to suppose, as is by some,
that 1t originated with demagogues, who excited
the discomfort with the intention of aiding their
personal advancement, with the disappointed
ambition of certain politicians, who rcsorted to it
as the means of retrieving their fortunes. On the
contrary, all the great political influences of the
ton were arrayed against excitement, and exerted
to the utmost to keep the people quiet. The great
Inass Of the people of the South were divided in
the other section, into Wings and Democrats. The
leaders and the presses of both parties in the South
were very solicitous to prevent excitement and to
preserve quiet because it that the effects
Of the former would necessarily tend to weaken if
not destroy, the political ties which united them
with their respective parties in the other section
Those who know the strength Of party ties will
readily appreciate the immense force which this
cause exerted against agitation and in favor of pre-
serving quiet. But, as great as it was, it not
sufficiently so to prevent the widespread discon-
tent which pervades the section No; some
cause, far deeper and more powerful than the one
supposed must exist, to account for discomfort so
wide and deep. The question, then, rccurs-What
ID the cause Of this disconent9 II will be found in
the belief of the people of the southern States, as
prevalent as the discomfort ITSELF that they
remain, as things now are consistently with honor
and safety, In the Union. The next question to be
considered is-What has caused this belief?
One Of the causes is undoubtedly, to be traced to
the long continued agitation Of the slave question
on the part of the North, and the many aggressions
which they have made on the rights of the South
during the time. ! will not enumerate them at
present, il will be done hereafter in its proper
place.
There Is another lying back of it, with which this
Is intimately connected, that may be regarded as
the great and primary cause. That is to be found
IN the fact that the equilibrium between the two
sections In the Government, as il stood when the
Constitution was ratified and the Government put
in action, has been destroyed. At that time there
was nearly perfect equilibrium between the two,
which Afforded ample means to each TO protect it.
self against the aggression of the other but, il
now stands one section has the exclusive power Of
controlling the Government, which leaves the other
without any adequate means of protecting itself
against Its encroachment and oppression. To place
this subject distinctly before you | have Senator'S
prepared a brief statistical statement showing the
relative weight of the two sections in the Govern
ment under the first census of 1890 and the last
ensus Of 1910.
According to the former the population of the
United States, including Vermont, Kentucky, and
Tennessee, which then in their incipient con-
diton OF becoming States, but not actually
admitted, amounted TO 929 1927. OF this number
the northern States had ST. 399 and the southern
l952,0I2, making difference of only % s27 in favor
of the former States The number Of States, includ-
ing Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee, were six
teen; OF which eight, including Vermont belonged
20 the northern section, and eight including Ken
lucky and Tennessee, TO the southern, making an
equal division Of the States between the two sec
iions under the first census. There was a small
preponderance in the House of Representatives and
in the electoral college, in favor Of the northern
owing 10 the fact that, according the provisions
OF the Constitution, in estimating federal numbers,
nve slaves count but three but it too small TO
affect sensbly the perfect equilibrium, which, with
that exception, existed at the time Such was the
equality OF the two sections when the States compo-
sing them agreed TO enter into a Federal Union.
Since then the equilibrium between them has been
greatly disturbed.
According 10 the lat cenar1a tho aooreoafe nonu.
lstion Of the United States amounted TO II 063 $751;
of which the northern section contained 9725 $40,
and the southern 1874 437, making difference, in
round numbers, Of 2,400 600 The number OF
States had increased from. sixteen to twenty-six
making an addition Of ten States. In the mean
time the position Of Delaware had become doubtful
as TO which section she properly belongs Consider
ing her neutral the northern States will have thr.
teen and the southern States twelve nakng differ.
ence in the Senate Of two Senators in favor Of the
former. According 10 the apportionment, under
the censtA Of 1910, there were 223 members Of the
House Of Representatives, of which the northern
States had l35, and the southern States CONSIDER
ing Delaware as neutral) 81, making difference
in favor Of the former in the House Of Representa-
tives of4S The difference in the Senate Of two mem.
bers added to this, gives to the North in the cleo.
toral college, majority of5O. Since the census OF
l54O, four States have been added 10 the Union
iowa, Wisconsin, Florida, and Texas. They leave
the difference in the Senate as stood when the
census was taken; but add two to the side Of the
in the House in it, favor Of So and in the electoral
college Of 81.
The result Of the whole is 10 give the northern
section predominance in every department Of the
Government, and thereby concentrate in il the two
elements which constitute the Federal Govern.
ment-majority Of states, and majority Of thcii
population, estimated in federal numbers. What
ever section concentrates the two in itself osses.c
the control Of the entire Government.
But we are just at the close Of the sixth decade
and the commencement Of the seventh. The cen
is to be taken this year, which must add greatly
20 the decided preponderance Of the North il
House Of Representatives and in the electoral col
lege. The prospect is, also, that great increas
will be added 10 its present preponderance in th
Senate during the period Of the decade by the adj
diton Of new States. Two Territories, Oregon an,
Minnesota, are already in progress, and sucnuou
efforts are making 10 bring in three additions
States from the territory recently conquered from
Mexico; which, if successful, will add three othe
States in short time 10 the northern section
making five States; and increasing the presen
number Of lie states from fifteen 10 twenty and O
its Senators from thirty TO forty. On the contrary
there IL not single Territory in progress in IL
southern section, and no certainty that any add
tional State will be added 10 il during the decade
The prospect then is, that the two sections in IN
Senate, should the efforts made TO exclude tn
South from the newly acquired Territories sue
coed, will stand, before the end of the decade