Calhoun

kal-hoon', John Caldwell (March 18, 1782, to March 31, 1850), an American statesman. He was born near Abbeville, South Carolina, of Scotch-Irish parentage. He was graduated at Yale and studied law. He was sent to Congress by his native state in 1811. He served his state and country forty years in the House, in the cabinet, in the vice-presidential chair, and in the Senate. He advocated the War of 1812 with England. Although elected vice-president on the Jackson ticket, he was opposed to Jackson's removal of the United States funds from private banks. He also opposed Jackson's spoils system,--that of giving office in reward for political service.

Calhoun was a staunch free trader. When the protective tariff of 1828 was enacted, he was the leader of South Carolina in the famous Nullification Act. The tariff placed a duty on manufactured goods coming into this country. It was framed to protect the manufactures of New England, rather than the agricultural and cotton producing people of the South. Calhoun asserted that it was not only the privilege, but the duty, of South Carolina to prevent this act from taking effect within her borders. President Jackson declared that South Carolina should obey the laws of the nation. Carolina was equally agreed that she would not do so in this particular. A compromise measure introduced by Henry Clay averted the difficulty.

Calhoun was the chief exponent of the doctrine of state sovereignty. He maintained that a state dissatisfied with the Union had a perfect right to withdraw peaceably, if possible; by force, if necessary. Although this doctrine had been enunciated by Massachusetts early in the history of the country, Calhoun is commonly regarded as its chief champion.

He was a man of good stuff and uncompromising integrity. His official career is consistent and honorable from beginning to end. His personal character has been praised by none more highly than by Daniel Webster, his great opponent in debate. Calhoun is considered the greatest man produced by South Carolina. His grave is near his native city.

See Webster; Clay; Nullification; Jackson; South Carolina; Charleston