LAD #13

The Clay Compromise Measures







John Calhoun believed that the disagreements regarding slavery if not resolved soon would lead to disunion and wanted to give his opinion on how to stop this from happening.  He knew that he didn't know exactly what to do but he started by figuring out what it was that was ruining the Union in the first place.  It was universal southern discontent regarding slavery and more that was hurting the Union.  But then what was causing this discontent?  Contrary to popular belief, the Southern parties were not trying to excite this discontent, they were doing the opposite.  This discontent was caused by the belief that people in the south could not go on living if the Union did not make changes.  And, now, what caused this belief?  Obvious slavery had to come up as it had caused agitation in the South for years.  In addition, though, the North had exclusive power in the federal government and were therefore dominant in every part of government.  There were also many territories that would soon join the Union and add to the Northern section, while there were no territories in progress for the Southern section.  The south had not been given access to the newly acquired territory from the treaty with Mexico because the North took it all for themselves.  The government had also implemented a system of revenue which derived money from duties on imports which heavily impacted the mainly exporting states of the south.  All of these observations clearly explain why the  North has dominance in government due to it's increase in population and states.  Slavery is tearing the nation apart as most northerners are strongly opposed and see it as a sin.  Calhoun know though that if the States abolish slavery the south will almost certainly secede.  Disunion is not caused by disagreement over just one issue.  Disunion is caused by a long process that slowly breaks the ties between the two parties.  Once the two parties are broken apart then there is basically nothing holding them together.  So how can the Union be saved?  Calhoun explained that the South must be given the same opportunities and liberties as the North and only the North can do that.  If the north really wanted to save the Union they would give up some things to the south for the sake of the country.  But a decision needed to be made whether it was compromise or peaceful separation action needed to take place.