LAD #13: John Calhoun's Speech

John Calhoun Speech

This speech written by Calhoun was given by a senator because he was unable to make it due to being sick. In this speech he addressed the issue of slavery. The southern states had many reasons and wished to secede from the nation. The south believed that the not only pushed the issue of slavery down the southerner throats but had too much power over the government. The northern states would try to add as many states as they could to the union because they wanted to be able to gain the most representatives in the house as well as the Senate. This would give them a majority over the south and give them more influence in the government. This was one reason for the upset of the south but the main was still the issue of slavery.  Calhoun ends his speech by saying that the North would need to help please the south and give them equal say because if it came down to forcing the south to abolish slavery, they would clearly secede from the nation.