Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-03-08
SPEECH OF MR.. CALHOUN,
~ ~ SOUTH CAROLINA,

4 have d
s of both of the two great parties which dl-
ta me IN adopt some TO prevent 80 great
VIE M br, without success The agitation mas oeen per,
ssse sd with almost attempt to resist It, until
rL'ea ah,, period when il can no longer De disguised
il h;' ,sa Tnon ia in danger You have thus had
OF dn van The greatest and the graves question that
ipTcsc ul ,,rr Your consderationHow can the Union
j. prsserredi ., This mighty oues,on i,
Io.s,hs 10 have an accurate and thorough knowledge
and The character of the cause by which the
q, M ongered Without such knowledge, II is impos
, :, nr,nounce with any certainty oy "nal measure II
| ust as il would be impossible Tor phy sician
can in ,he case OF some dangerous disease, with
p,,ainty bv what remedy the patient could be saved
& similar knowledge of the nature ana character OF
of the disease The hrst question: men, presented
w tau ,.,,, in ,hc investigation propose 10 make, in
b,sin such knowledge isWhat is IL that has en-
i,nyersd the Union -
,orsa il the almos, universal discomfort which per-
IN ~ States composing the Southern section of the
iou This wdely-eXtended discomfort s not OF recent
~; NJ I, commenced with the agitation oi the slavery
s,on and has been increasing ever since The next
s,on going step further back isWha, has caused
M; ,ri1 1sy itsei and almost universal discomfort
l. IL creat mistake suppose as is BY some that II on
mated with demagogues, who excited Tie dlsconlen win
oi aiding their personal advancement or WIN
% s,ppoined ambition of certain politicians, VINO resor
,0 il s the means OF retrieving their fortunes on the
ay All the great political influences OF the section were
rs against excitement, and exered To the utmost 10
@ ,h neopIe quiet The great of the people OF the
,h were divided in the other section INTO wings ana
ncr,,s The leaders and the presses OF both parties in
Il, South very soclious TO prevent excitement ana 10
.srve oie, because seen that the effects oil the
. waui necessarily tend 10 weaken, II not destroy, the
icsl ties which united them with their respective par
. he other section Those who Know the strength OF
,r ,. will readily appreciate the immense force which
s. eyered against agitation and in favor of presery
op;.i But great il was 1t was not suffcien
s,rsy.n, The vide spread discomfort which pervades
.e,,ou No: cause far deeper and more powerful
discomfort
viii, ana deep The question, then, recursWhat is the
- - his 1iscontentl Ii will be found in the belief of
he people o The Southern States as prevalent as the DIS
papt ITSELF that they cannot remain as things now
,isn with honor and safety, in the Union The next
sion 10 be considered isWhat has caused this belief!
na II IN, causes is undoubtedly 10 be traced 10 the long
continued agitation Of the slave question the part OF the
nth ard he many aggressons which they have made on
3e rights Of the South during the ime. will not enume
,e them present, il will be done hereafter in its proper
Tbe-e is another living back Of it, with which this is init
y connected that NAV be regarded the great and pr
rar cause That is 10 be- found in the fact that the equ
um between the sections in the Government, as ii
stood when he constitution was ratified and the Government
m action has been DESTROYED. Al that time there
ly perfect equilibrium between the TWO, which afforded
% means 10 each protect itself against the aggression
ohe bni as il now stands one section has the exclu-
power OF controlling the government winch leaves the
her without any adequate protecting itself against
encoachmsn and oppression 10 place TINS subject dis
lac before you have, Senator's prepared brief sta
Ions in Government under the first census OF 1890 and
,ae last census oi lS4O.
According 10 the former the population of the United
sats. including vermont, kenicky ard Tennessee which
then were in ih ncpien condition o becoming States,
but were not actually admitted amounted 10 1929 a27 OF
i. number the Northern States had 1877 S99 and the
SoltleTn 953072 making difference OF only 25S21 in ia
y3 II the former States The number of States, including
Vermont Kentucky and Tennessee SIXTEEN of which
eight including Vermont belonged the Northern section,
eight including Kentucky and Tennessee 10 the South
making equal division OF the States between the two
sections under the first census There was small prepon-
dran in the House OF Representatives and in the eecto
!a college favor Of the Northern owing TO the fac that,
according the provisions of the constitution in estimating
f!el Numbers y- slaves but three; but il
sns affect sensiby the perfect equilibrium which, with
tai eye.ion existed the time. Such was the equality
the sections when the States composing them agreed
n FEDERAL Union. Since then the equilibrium
ueen them has been greatly disturbed.
According 10 the 's, census the aggregate population OF
IHe United States amounted Il .063 357 of which the
Northern section contaned 9I2S920, and the Southern
j3iI31, max NJ difference, in round numbers, of
|.iD0JJ The number States had increased from six
ea 70 twenty making addition of ten States. In the
an the position OF Delaware had become doubtful as
which section she properly belongs Considering her as
hsrtral the Northern States will have thirteen and the
Southern States twelve making difference in the Senate
n so Senators in favor OF the former According to the
po,onmcnt under the census OF l5iO there were 223
eaoeS OF the House of Representatives OF which the
ern States had 49, and the Southern States Consider
' Delaware ncurah 81; making difference in favor OF
T. .ner in the House OF Representatives Of l5 The dill
ence in the Senate OF two members added this gives
T. The North in the electoral college majority Of 3D. Since
Of i0 four States have been added TO the Union:
iowa Wisconsin, Florida and Texas They leave the dii-
snc in the Senate stood when the census was taken;
bt add the side of the North in the House making
N present majority in the House in It's favor Of 50 and in
ias electoral college of 50.
The result Of the whole is give the Northern section
iInGlicc in every part of the Government and thereby
aceaae in The elements which constitute the Fed
ea Grerment--a majority of States and majority of
ir pu!a;!on estimated in federal numbers Whatever
section the two In itself possesses the control
NE eGI!.e Government.
Ba a.e lust the close of the sixth decade and the
announcement OF the seventh The census IS to be taken
M which add greatly to the decided preponder-
bce 0 North the House OF Representatives and in
he electoral college The prospect is, aso that great in
~ ~ be added 10 its present preponderance in the Sen
80 clng The period Of the decade by the addition Of new
sa'e' Two Territories Oregon and Minnesota, are already
po-'es- and strenuous efforts are making to bring in
Fee additional States from the territory recently conquered
m McKee,; which if successful will add three other States
sho. lime 10 the Northern section making hye States;
a increasing the present number OF its States from fifteen
0weny and of its Senators from thirty forty. On the
Ohily .sete is single Territory in progress in the
o-fn section and certainty that any additional State
WI @ added during the decade The prospect then is,
a, NE iwoectons in the Senate should the efforts
e 10 exclude the South from the new acquired Terrific
YES succeed will stand before the end OF the decade twenty
eIn States 10 fourteen Southern considering Delaware
NEUTRAL and forty Northern Senators TO twenty-elght
SOUTHERN This great increase of Senator's added TO the
great Increase members of the House of Representatives
-"- Ne electoral college the part of the North which
~ take place under the next decade will efectuay and
esvaby destroy the equilibrium which existed when the
a9,efnnrnt commenced
Hat THIS destruction been the operation of time without
ne Interference of Government the South would have had
10 reason 10 complain: but such the fact Ii was
a-si y the legislation of this Government which ap-
fe is the common agent of all, and charged with the
oecon Of the interests and security of all The legisa
P which has been effected be cassed under three
The first s that series OF acts by which the South
MH va 6teA Scuded from the common territory belonging 10
"a"ie States as the members of the Federal Union and
men "aye had the effect of extending vastly the portion al
c I" he Northern section, and restricting within narrow
- The portion left the South; the consists in adopt
s sySien OF and disbursements by which an n.
W proportion of the burden of taxation has been imposed
w e S'1h and undue proportion Of its proceeds ap-
pied 10 The North and the last is system Of political
D! which The original character of the Government
-, oeeh radically changed propose 10 bestow upon each
~" Sc 10 Inc order they stnd, few remarks, with the
VI showing that il is owing TO the action of this Gov
.n that The equilibrium between the two sections has
and the whole power Of the system cenercd
AZ I, sectional naoritv
NM, M us, oil The series Of acts by which the South de
% us due share Of the territories originated with the
,,s which preceded the existence of this Govern
M 10 be found in the provision of the ordinance Of
s titct was 10 exclude the South entirely from that
at Fertile region which lies between the Ohio and the
, nN'!>, now embracing five States and Terri
MA. me nel Of the .aries s the Missouri compromise
Ina The South from that large portion Of Lous
""ch hes North of sc degrees 30 minutes excepting
- included in the State Of Missouri The last of the
ll "Iaed The South from the whole of the Oregon Ter
l, Al these, in the slang of the day, were what are
'. territories, and not free soil that is territories
as 70 tliveholding powers and open the enigra-
tsh 1T IL, d., a.