Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-03-14
POLITICAL.
MIR CALHOUN. OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
Delivered IN the Senate Of tac Un,tsd States,
s p z z o H

some timely and effective measure end in disunon -
Entertaining This opinion have. all proper occasions
endeavored 10 call the attention of both Of tho great
parties which divide the country adopt measures
to prevent SO great disaster. hut without success. The
agta on has been permitted to proceed with almost
no attempt o resist II, until il has reached period when
1t can no longer be disguised or denied that the
Union IL in danger. You have thus had forced upon
You the greatest and the grayest question that ever
come under your consideration How can tho Union be-
preserved
10 give satisfactory answer to this mighty question:
Is indispensable 10 have and thorough know
ledge OF the nature aud the character of the cause by
which the Union is endangered Without such knowl-
edge. II Is impossible 10 pronounce with any certainty
hy what measure II can be saved Just would be i'm
possible for physician 10 pronounce in The of so ne
dangerous disease. with any certainty by what remedy
the patient could be saved without similar know ledge OF
the nature and character of the cause of tho discac
The first question, ,hen. presented for considerations
IN the investigation propose o make. order In obtain
such knowledge ls-What is II that has endangered the
Union }
10 this question there can bo but one answer ,ha,
the immediate is the almost universal dscon cn
which peryades all the States sinv the Southern
section of the Union. This widely extended dscon,en
IL not OF recent origin. II commenced with The agitation
o the slavery queslnn and has been sing since
The next question going step further back s--Whai
has caused this widely dused and almost universal dis
content
II originated with demagognes, who excited the dIscon-
tent with tho intention OF aiding lhef personal advance.
men or with tho dis pp inted ambition o: ~'rlan poll.
urlans. who restored 10 IL the Of retrieving
then fortunes. On The contrary, all The great political
Influences OF the section were array.d against cite
nent and exeted To the utmost To keep tho people quiet
The great mass of Tho prople ot the South divided
as in the other section. into Wings and Democrats
The leaders and the presses of h parties in the South
were solicitous prevent excitement and to pre-.
We that tha a.
f rmer would necessarily tend weaken ii not DESTROY
the political ties which united them with their respective
parties IN the other secuns. Those who know the
strength of party ties will readily appreciate the immense
torce which this caused exerted against agitation aud in
favor OF preserving quiet But great il was was
not sufficiently 10 prevent tho wide spread dscpnent
which now pervades the section M; cause, iar
deeper and more powerful than the supposed, must
exist. 10 account for discomfort wide and deep The
question. then, What is the of this dscon
tent 1t will be found IN tho belief of tho people
OF the Southern States. as prevalent ,he dis
content itself. that they cannot remain things
are consistently with honor aud satoy in the Union
The next question 10 be considered sWhnt has caused
this belief2
One of the causes s undoubtedly to be traced 10 the
long continued agitation of the slave question ON the
part OF the North and the many aggressons which they
have made the rights of The South during the timo.
will not ennmeraie them al present, II will be done
hereafter In its proper place.
H.,
connected that may ba regarded the grea
and primary cause. That Is be- found IN The fact hat
the equilibrium between the two sections in the Gov
eminent, it stood when the Constitution was ratified
and the Governmeni put in action, has been Destroyed
AT that time there nearly perfect equilibrium he
tween the Two, which afforded ample means each 10
protect itself against the aggcessuns Of The other bnt
II now sandsone section has the exclusive power Of
trolling the Government which leaves the other without
any adequate means OF protecting tse against sencrnach
men and oppression. 70 place this subject distinctly
before you, lhave Senators. prepared a brief statistical
statement, showing he relative weight Of the two
tons IN the Government under the first census Of 1880
and the last census of 1910.
According to The former. the population of the United
States, including Vermont Kentucky, and Tennessee
which then in their inclpent condition of becom
lug States. but not actually admitted, amounting
To 3.92982 OF this number the northern States had
977 ,S99. and The southern ,952 ,072. making differ
ence Of only 25,S27 in favor Of The former States. The
number of States. including Vermont. Kentucky, and
Tennessee. were sixteen Of which eight, including Yer
mont belonged to the northern seciiun, and eight, in
cludng, Kentucky and Tennessee 10 the southern max
ing equal division Of States between the secIions
under the first census There a small preponder
in the House Of Representatives., and in the eec
oral college, in favor OF the northern, owing to the
fact that, according to the provisions Of the Constitution
IN estimating federal numbers. five slaves count but
three but it too small 10 affect sensiby The perfect
equilibrium which, with that exception existed at the
hne cucn was INC fluailty ot lhe Two SECTIONS When
the States composing them agreed 10 enter into Federal
Union. Since then the equilibrium between them has
been greatly disturbed.
According the last census the aggregate population
of the United States amounted to z O63 357 Of which
he northern section contained 972S 2O, and the south
ern ,334 4T making a difference IN round numheis,
OF 21OO00O. The number Of States had increased from
sixteen to twenty SIX making addition of ten States.
In the mean time the position Of Delaware had become
doubtful as to which section she properly belongs Con
sderng her neutral, the northern States will have
thirteen and the Southern States twelve, making diff
ference IN the Senate Of Senators in favor Of the for
mer According to the appointment, under the
OF lS4O there 223 members of the House of Re.
presen,aves, of which the northern States had l35 and
the Southern States considering Delaware as neutra)
S7, making a difference in favor Of the former in the
House Of Representatives of 4S. The difference in the
Senate of members added this gives the North
in The electoral colIege.a majority of 80. Since the
sns of 1910, fur States have been added TO the Union
Iowa. Wisconsin, Florida, and Texas. Tney leave
the difference in the Senate stood when the
taken; but add two to the side Of The North in the
House, making the present rlty IN the House IN It's
favor of SO, and in the electoral college of 80.
The result Of the whole is to give the northern Sec
ton predominance in every department OF the Govers
mont; and thereby concentrate in it the two elements
which constitute the Federal Gov vernment-majpri,
ty Of States, and a majority of their population. est
mated in fedara numbers. Whatever section concen-
raes the two in itself possesses tho control OF the entire
Government.
But we are just at the close of the sixth decade. and
the commencement of the seventh. The is 10
be taken this year, which add greatly To the dec
senaiives and in the electoral college. The prospect
that increase will be added 10