Reading John C. Calhoun, Part 3

John C. Calhoun is the most maligned politico in American history. Both the left and the neoconservatives consider him to be nothing less than the American Hitler. This is unjust. Most people don't know anything about Calhoun other than he was the "defender of slavery." In fact, most historians haven't taken the time to read anything Calhoun wrote save a few cherry picked quotations from those who despise the man. Calhoun was the most original American political thinker of the 19th century, and it had nothing to do with slavery, the most unoriginal component of his political and social philosophy. Calhoun correctly forecast the future of American politics throughout his over thirty year career in the general government. He feared the effects of consolidation: corruption, avarice, anarchy, and disunion. Those interested in centralizing authority in Washington D.C. were concerned about one issue, power, and Calhoun consistently fought to thwart the effects of "numerical majoritarian" democracy throughout his time in Congress.

This class covers the "Patrick Henry-Onslow" Debates, a series of public letters written under pseudonyms by both Calhoun and, at least potentially, John Q. Adams. In other words, the President of the United States and the Vice-President of the United States had a public feud in the press over the powers of the Vice-President in the Senate. Calhoun wipes the floor with "Patrick Henry," and the debates are some of the most important in American political history.

We also cover two Calhoun speeches on the tariff and debt. Again, Calhoun is at his best when attacking the funding system of the Whigs.