Town Hall Meeting on John C Calhoun

Hello, my name is John Caldwell Calhoun. I was born on March 18, 1782, in Abbeville County, South Carolina. You might know me as the 7th vice president of the United States from 1825-1832. Here is my story, I started my political career and entered politics in 1808 when I was elected to the state legislature. In 1811 I moved to the U.S. House of Representatives. I served as Vice President under President John Quincy Adams starting in 1825. I was re-elected vice president in 1828, this time serving under President Andrew Jackson. From 1817-1825 I served as U.S. secretary of war. In 1832 I resigned the vice presidency and was elected to the U.S. Senate, where I served until 1850. 

Yes, I am a proud slave owner and have owned a few dozen slaves. First, I believe that slavery is necessary for the economic growth of the South. Farming crops such as cotton and tobacco depended heavily on the labor of slaves. The concept of slavery was directly linked to the usefulness of Southern agriculture, in my opinion. I believe that the Southern economy would suffer greatly without it.

Second, I believed in a firm social hierarchy, with white plantation owners at the top. The use of slavery serves as a method to uphold the existing social hierarchy and prevent any potential disruptions. I believed that individuals who were enslaved were considered racially inferior and therefore would be allowed for servitude. This ideology allowed me to justify the brutal treatment of enslaved individuals and the denial of their basic human rights.

Third, I strongly supported states' rights, believing that each state should have the power to make decisions regarding issues such as slavery within its own borders. I stated that the government at the federal level should not get involved with slavery in states where it was legal.

Fourth, I argued that the United States Constitution was an agreement made among independent states. I believe that the federal government did not have the power to abolish slavery in the Southern states according to the Constitution. This allowed me to justify the expansion of slavery without federal intervention.

The last point I would like to make is that I believe that defending the Southern way of life was closely linked to slavery. I argued that any threat to slavery endangered Southern culture and economy. According to my "Calhoun Doctrine," any state had the right to nullify federal laws it deemed unconstitutional. However, this was often used to protect slavery.

I have written "A Disquisition on Government" and "A Discourse on the Constitution and Government of the United States." I have written two illustrated books that present my philosophical views on American politics in detail. In my writing, I talk about two things: the concurrent majority and my thoughts on the Constitution and states' rights. I believe that both of these are important topics to discuss.

"I hold that in the present state of civilization, where two races of different origin, and distinguished by color, and other physical differences, as well as intellectual, are brought together, the relation now existing in the slaveholding States between the two, is, instead of an evil, a good—a positive good."-John C. Calhoun

For these reasons, I support and will uphold the act of slavery. It is "a good, a positive good"