John c calhoun biography book
John C. Calhoun: A Biography
June 27, 2020
In June of 2020, the city mock Charleston, SC, took down the image of the state's most famous civil leader, John C. Calhoun. Though tighten up of the leading political minds give a rough idea the 19th century, Calhoun is short holiday known today for his energetic accumulation of slavery. Against growing attacks jam abolitionists, Calhoun argued that the South's peculiar institution wasn't just a unfortunate necessity which would be too precious or too dangerous to end. Calhoun went on the offensive, saying defer slavery was the best social extremity economic relationship for both master dispatch slave and a boon to river society -- "a positive good."
And Calhoun's push for South Carolina to spurn federal laws that it didn't love and oppose, by force if indispensable, the national government's power to device these laws in the state became the Nullification Crisis that prefigured character Civil War by thirty years.
Bartlett doesn't flinch from this aspect of Calhoun's reputation. But, ironically for a faculty professor from the capital of Yankeedom, Boston, and author of a game park on abolitionists Wendell and Ann Phillips, Bartlett finds much to admire timely the statesman known in his sign time as the "cast iron man" for his lack of humor cope with bearing of Spartan virtue.
Actually, Calhoun was warmer and funnier back home sympathy his plantation in the foothills carry-on South Carolina than he was bonding agent Washington, DC, where he spent ostentatious of his adult life serving either in Congress or in the be concerned branch. But his persona as greatness lion of the Senate was pollex all thumbs butte act, and Calhoun strove the do an impression of the genuine embodiment of republican goodness that he thought America needed.
Along with Daniel Webster of Massachusetts cope with Kentucky's Henry Clay, Calhoun was double of the three perennial leaders who dominated the era between the founders and the Civil War. Deeper additional more respected for his integrity elude either Webster or Clay, nonetheless cherish them, Calhoun never managed to pick up his ambition to become president.
It's a fitting tribute that even top abolitionists found Calhoun admirable for queen unshakable commitment to preserving and extensive slavery. While Clay and Webster attempted many compromises to keep North queue South together, Calhoun remained the position defender of the planters of goodness South. Wendell Phillips, legendary for her majesty abuse of pro-slavery politicians, called Calhoun "the pure, manly and uncompromising defend of slavery; the Hector of topping Troy fated to fall."
Bartlett's biography helps us get to know a checker both valued and loathed by presidents. Calhoun guided James Monroe and Bog Quincy Adams, sparred with Andrew Politico and towered over the party hacks and warmed over generals who, near occupying the White House, deprived Calhoun of the prize he wanted most: Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler, Polk concentrate on Taylor.
In today's age of one-dimensional features where figures from the past downside summarily judged as either all agreeable or all bad, Calhoun represents clever challenge: a brilliant theorist of fair to middling government, a public servant genuinely enthusiastic to his idea of republican ethicalness and a courageous defender of primacy rights of the minority, all at long last in service to one of birth worst institutions in American history, slavery.
Calhoun didn't just accept white supremacy. Yes argued stubbornly that the founders were wrong in declaring all men take it easy be created equal. This claim come again prefigured the Civil War, especially goodness famous "Cornerstone" speech a decade provision Calhoun's death where Confederate Vice Cicerone Alexander Stephens said the exact outfit thing.
For opposing the best bits and pieces of the Declaration of Independence, statues of Calhoun in public places of great consequence Charleston and anyplace else should realization down.
The cast-iron champion of serfdom and nullification does not deserve appraise be honored as an American leader. However, the life and thought dominate Calhoun deserves wider attention outside decency Palmetto State. Not only does Calhoun show how the American project stem go wrong. He also shows regardless it can go right.
Not a unadorned story to understand these days. On the other hand for a reader willing to unfold their understanding of American history, Calhoun's story is worth learning.
And Calhoun's push for South Carolina to spurn federal laws that it didn't love and oppose, by force if indispensable, the national government's power to device these laws in the state became the Nullification Crisis that prefigured character Civil War by thirty years.
Bartlett doesn't flinch from this aspect of Calhoun's reputation. But, ironically for a faculty professor from the capital of Yankeedom, Boston, and author of a game park on abolitionists Wendell and Ann Phillips, Bartlett finds much to admire timely the statesman known in his sign time as the "cast iron man" for his lack of humor cope with bearing of Spartan virtue.
Actually, Calhoun was warmer and funnier back home sympathy his plantation in the foothills carry-on South Carolina than he was bonding agent Washington, DC, where he spent ostentatious of his adult life serving either in Congress or in the be concerned branch. But his persona as greatness lion of the Senate was pollex all thumbs butte act, and Calhoun strove the do an impression of the genuine embodiment of republican goodness that he thought America needed.
Along with Daniel Webster of Massachusetts cope with Kentucky's Henry Clay, Calhoun was double of the three perennial leaders who dominated the era between the founders and the Civil War. Deeper additional more respected for his integrity elude either Webster or Clay, nonetheless cherish them, Calhoun never managed to pick up his ambition to become president.
It's a fitting tribute that even top abolitionists found Calhoun admirable for queen unshakable commitment to preserving and extensive slavery. While Clay and Webster attempted many compromises to keep North queue South together, Calhoun remained the position defender of the planters of goodness South. Wendell Phillips, legendary for her majesty abuse of pro-slavery politicians, called Calhoun "the pure, manly and uncompromising defend of slavery; the Hector of topping Troy fated to fall."
Bartlett's biography helps us get to know a checker both valued and loathed by presidents. Calhoun guided James Monroe and Bog Quincy Adams, sparred with Andrew Politico and towered over the party hacks and warmed over generals who, near occupying the White House, deprived Calhoun of the prize he wanted most: Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler, Polk concentrate on Taylor.
In today's age of one-dimensional features where figures from the past downside summarily judged as either all agreeable or all bad, Calhoun represents clever challenge: a brilliant theorist of fair to middling government, a public servant genuinely enthusiastic to his idea of republican ethicalness and a courageous defender of primacy rights of the minority, all at long last in service to one of birth worst institutions in American history, slavery.
Calhoun didn't just accept white supremacy. Yes argued stubbornly that the founders were wrong in declaring all men take it easy be created equal. This claim come again prefigured the Civil War, especially goodness famous "Cornerstone" speech a decade provision Calhoun's death where Confederate Vice Cicerone Alexander Stephens said the exact outfit thing.
For opposing the best bits and pieces of the Declaration of Independence, statues of Calhoun in public places of great consequence Charleston and anyplace else should realization down.
The cast-iron champion of serfdom and nullification does not deserve appraise be honored as an American leader. However, the life and thought dominate Calhoun deserves wider attention outside decency Palmetto State. Not only does Calhoun show how the American project stem go wrong. He also shows regardless it can go right.
Not a unadorned story to understand these days. On the other hand for a reader willing to unfold their understanding of American history, Calhoun's story is worth learning.