In his speech to the Senate, Calhoun makes several points explaining how the nation was becoming divided and controlled by certain sections. Firstly, he brings up the issue of slavery which had plagued the United States since its conception. Slavery was an industry that was largely centered in the Southern states. In an attempt to balance the population of slaves to the free the 3/5 Compromise was added to the Constitution. Soon though the creation of more states, which mostly became free, began to upset the balance of free to slave states in the Senate and the increase of population would skew the House of Representatives. He believed that one group of people could win government control, and exercise its authority on those who opposed it. Essentially bring back up the disturbing thought of factions gaining control of the government. Secondly, he cries out against the harmful tariffs that were being placed upon Southerners which in turn benefited the North. This unjust collection of revenue was furthering the deepening the divisions in the United States and cementing the image of the Northern elite. Along with growing immigration to northern states, it seemed that it was only a matter of time until the North could impose its will over the entire nation. Thirdly, and most frighteningly, Calhoun addresses the future of the Union. In Calhoun's eyes the differing ideologies of the North and South are pushing the South either to accept abolition, or succeed. The southern way of live depended on slavery to sustain it, and its abolition would cause a disaster. But to maintain the Union there would have to be cooperation on both sides. The stronger party, or that of the North, had to see the problems the abolition of slavery could bring and they had to come to the South's defense. Only with the help of the North could the South finally get its claim to new territories, return fugitive slaves, and cease the agitation over the issue of slavery. If this could be done, the Union would be preserved.
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