. The great American book of biography . all—can bepreserved by force? Its very introduction will be the certain destruction of thisFederal Union. No, no. You cannot keep the States united in their constitu-tional and Federal bonds by force. Force may, indeed, hold the parts together,but such union would be the bond between master and slave : a union of exac-tion on one side, and of unqualified obedience on the other. In spite of Mr. Calhouns efforts, the Force Bill was passed; and it issaid that President Jackson privately warned him that the moment news was 212 JOHN C. CALHOUN. received of r
. The great American book of biography . all—can bepreserved by force? Its very introduction will be the certain destruction of thisFederal Union. No, no. You cannot keep the States united in their constitu-tional and Federal bonds by force. Force may, indeed, hold the parts together,but such union would be the bond between master and slave : a union of exac-tion on one side, and of unqualified obedience on the other. In spite of Mr. Calhouns efforts, the Force Bill was passed; and it issaid that President Jackson privately warned him that the moment news was 212 JOHN C. CALHOUN. received of resistance to the Government in South Carolina, he (Calhoun) wouldbe arrested on a charge of treason. At the same time, however, importantconcessions were made to South Carolina, by which the threatened conflict wasavoided. In February, Henry Clay introduced in Congress a compromisetariff bill, by which the existing duties were to be decreased each year until theyreached a minimum of twenty per cent, in 1842. Accordingly, each party in. the controversy claimed to have triumphed ; and the crisis passed, withoutfinally and formally settling the quesdon of nullification. THE SLAVERY AGITATION. During Jacksons administration slavery became the chief question of poli-tics. Texas achieved her independence, and the question of her annexadon to^the United States as a slave State caused an exciting and angry contest. In theHouse of Representatives, John Ouincy Adams began his famous crusade forthe right of pedtion, and the contest over petitions for the abolidon of slaveryconvulsed the House. In all these years of stormy debate, Calhoun was alwaysthe defender of slavery. He made no apologies, but proclaimed it a righteous,just, and beneficial institution ; and he regarded all efforts to abolish or restrictit, or to prevent the catching and return of fugitives, as an interference with therights of the slave States which would justify their secession from the Union. MISS MARTINEAUS SKETC
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