LAD/Blog #14: Calhoun's Speech on the Compromise of 1850

Beginning from the very start, Calhoun recognized slavery would usher in disunion if not addressed. He noticed the path that the country was heading in, which ended in 2 countries. This split would be a result of the North vs South tensions which Calhoun believed couldn't be underestimated. Calhoun acknowledged how the North had been favored by the federal government, due to many complex reasons. One reason was the access to the new state, which often chose to be free states. Another advantage was the population growth as experienced by the north since a factory based economy fosters the development of urbanized areas. Because of these reasons, Southern interests aren't being considered by the feds. On top of that the North is prospering financially due to how federal taxes punish those who export, a staple of the Southern economy, and those who import, a great gain for the North as their international competitors prices rise. In addition the taxes collected are going to infrastructure and public works which benefit the west and north more than the south. On top of that, Northerners started feeling anti slavery sentiments, which scared the South a slave based economy which led them to consider secession. Calhoun comes to the conclusion that the South must be appeased by getting equal rights to slavery, the government and new land.



Henry clay did the Missouri compromise which also helped unite a fractured America.