The United States?

The Compromise of 1850 was a significant precursor to the civil

war; Daniel Webster made a valiant effort with one last attempt at

corralling the states from the civil unrest which America was

experiencing. He attempted to provide reasoning and convince the

South that their rights were not in question, rather America as a whole

must unite and attempt to move past immoral practices. John Calhoun

on the other hand argues for states to maintain their own rights, and to

prevent tyrannical oppression from the North, but by doing so attempts

to uphold specifically the immoral practice which is shunned across the

world.

Daniel Webster attempted to come to terms with the difficulties

at hand. When slavery was previously brought up, it had caused quite

an up stir displaying the type of emotion this subject could bring out.

While introducing it, Webster used examples from ancient history, “We

all know, sir, that slavery has existed in the world from time

immemorial…in the Oriental nations….among the Jews…among the

Greeks…sought to find justification…upon the grounds…which have

been assumed for such a justification in this country…a natural and

original difference among the races of mankind, and the inferiority of

the black or colored race.” Each of these ancient societies had

resourced slavery, but each had its own issues attempting to justify it.
 Without directly accusing them of ignorance, Webster tries to

provide understanding slowly explaining a middle ground which both

sects should take into account. “The South…having been accustomed

to this relation between the two races all their lives, from their birth,

having been taught…have not taken the view of the subject which I

have mentioned.” For the South, this was normal way of life; this was

a basic social principle of Southern economics. Once the issue was

pressed, this threatened their economic standing and their way of life.

The South was completely oblivious to the immoral practice which was

slavery.

Once this foundation was established, Webster provides a voice

of empowerment; “it is in the power of the present generation to

relieve themselves from this relation.” Even if Southern society did not

recognize it was morally wrong to utilize slavery, it was important to

ascertain what Webster was trying to break down, and take advantage

of this moment, of their given power to make a change; a change in

ones thinking, a change in ones practice.

On March 4, 1850, John Calhoun prepared a speech for the

Senate; unfortunately too frail to deliver it, Senator James Mason read

it from a printed version. “…the agitation of the subject of slavery

would, if not prevented by some timely and effective measure, end in

disunion.” This opening to the speech was clearly a threat, and a shot

at attempting to intimidate the union from discussing, what they felt

were their state given rights. “The agitation has been permitted to

proceed, with no attempt to resist it.”

Calhoun states the two main causes that have endangered the

union are the consistent probing of the slavery issue along with the

aggressions the North have made against the South’s rights and “…the

equilibrium between the two sections in the government, as it stood

when the Constitution was ratified…has been destroyed.” With the

addition of Oregon and Minnesota, the southern states felt threatened.

They would clearly be outnumbered in the House of Representatives,

and in the Electoral College, thus threatening the interests for the

southern states from this shift of balance.

“If they loved the Union, they would necessarily be devoted to

the Constitution. It made the Union, and to destroy the Constitution

would be to destroy the Union.” Calhoun attempts to use embrace the

constitutional right of the state. He feels that states should be given

the opportunity to decide for themselves. He felt the Wilmot Proviso

was an insult, and a clear and direct push from the North trying to

impose itself among the South. If the newer states were all to abandon

slavery, they would lose their counter-balance in the Union.

Another issue Calhoun had was that the North loved to prosper

from the profits gained from the South by supporting taxes and tariffs.

The South felt that the taxes that were imposed have paid much more

towards the Union’s revenue in comparison with the North’s

contributions; “It is safe to say that it amounts to hundreds of millions

of dollars.”

Lastly one of Calhoun’s concerns were to what would it take for

this bullying with taxation, and demands until it was to stop? They felt

that the government instead of being partial to both the North, and the

South was primarily run and influenced by the South. He stated “Now I

ask, what limitation can possibly be placed upon the powers of a

government claiming and exercising such rights…how can separate

governments of states maintain and protect the powers reserved to

them by the constitution.”

As strong as Calhoun’s concerns and points were, it didn’t

change the fact that America was more often looked down upon for the

practice of slavery. Most felt for religious purpose, for government

purpose, and simple moral standings that slavery should be abolished

and a more aggressive approach should be taken to ratify the mistakes

that were originally made in order to gather the colonies.