LAD #14: Calhouns' Speech on the Compromise of 1850

Summarize:

John C. Calhoun reflects on the disunity of the United States and how it is a sure sign of a civil war yet to come. Calhoun notices that the main cause of this disunion stemmed from the question of the morality and necessity of slavery. This created a geographic, moral, and political divide between north and south America. John C. Calhoun also describes that although this conflict has been apparent for many years, the climax of this argument has not occurred because of all the steps the government and leaders have taken to distract from the discontent and to appease both sides of the argument. However, Calhoun reveals that he believes that the increasing of the divide between the North and the South is born from the South's belief that they should have the right to separate from the union and have control over their own, independent union. Calhoun associates this belief with the obvious advantages that the North enjoys, both monetary and political. This dominance of the Northern states is seen as a threat to the South's freedom. Calhoun worries that the South will be forced to choose between abolition and secession, of which they will surely choose secession. However, Calhoun admits that this chose may be avoided easily if the North concedes to give the South some benefits and equality in both commerce and politics. This proves that if the northern states elect to remain silent they will be inviting war and face their own decision: to fight or to submit.

The Clay Compromise of 1850

John C. Calhoun was reflecting upon the Clay Compromise of 1850, which was devised to overcome territorial debates brought on by the increasing sectionalism in the antebellum period of the Civil War. He both recognizes the cause for this discontent as well as provides a solution of compromises to avoid a war.


The Missouri Compromise

Much like the Clay Compromise of 1850, the Missouri Compromise also dealt with territorial disputes over slave and free states. Since the Missouri Compromise occurred in 1820, it shows how in thirty years nothing had changed, the North and South were still having the same arguments and the Missouri Compromise was in no way a permanent solution to sectionalism, in fact, it can be argued that it only increased the disunities. Additionally, other compromises that attempt to delay a civil war, such as the Kansas-Nebraska act, were similarly unsuccessful in suppressing the war.