The Union next to our liberties the most dear. May we all remember that it can only be preserved by respecting the rights of the States, and distributing equally the benefits and burdens of the Union. John C. Calhoun More Quotes by John C. Calhoun More Quotes From John C. Calhoun [The taxing power of the state] divides the community into two great classes: one consisting of those who, in reality, pay the taxes and, of course, bear exclusively the burden of supporting the government; and the other, of those who are the recipients of their proceeds through disbursements,and who are, in fact, supported by the government; or, in fewer words, to divide it into tax-payers and tax-consumers. But the effect of this is to place them in antagonistic relations in reference to the fiscal action of the government and the entire course of policy therewith connected. John C. Calhoun class philosophy reality How can those who are invested with the power of government be prevented from the abuse of those powers as the means of aggrandizing themselves? ... Without a strong constitution to counteract the strong tendency of government to disorder and abuse there can be little progress or improvement. John C. Calhoun government strong mean It is federal, because it is the government of States united in a political union, in contradistinction to a government of individuals, that is, by what is usually called, a social compact. To express it more concisely, it is federal and not national because it is the government of a community of States, and not the government of a single State or Nation. John C. Calhoun political community government Learn from your mistakes and build on your successes. John C. Calhoun learn-from-your-mistakes mistake I never know what South Carolina thinks of a measure. I never consult her. I act to the best of my judgment, and according to my conscience. If she approves, well and good. If she does not, or wishes any one to take my place, I am ready to vacate. We are even. John C. Calhoun south-carolina wish thinking To maintain the ascendancy of the Constitution over the lawmaking majority is the great and essential point on which the success of the [American] system must depend; unless that ascendancy can be preserved, the necessary consequence must be that the laws will supersede the Constitution; and, finally, the will of the Executive, by influence of its patronage, will supersede the laws . . . John C. Calhoun majority law america Property is in its nature timid and seeks protection, and nothing is more gratifying to government than to become a protector. John C. Calhoun property protection government We are not a nation, but a union, a confederacy of equal and sovereign states. John C. Calhoun sovereign unions states Democracy, as I understand it, requires me to sacrifice myself for the masses, not to them. Who knows not that if you would save the people, you must often oppose them? John C. Calhoun sacrifice understanding people We have had so many years of prosperity, we have passed through so many difficulties and dangers without the loss of liberty - that we begin to think that we hold it by divine right from heaven itself ... It is harder to preserve than to obtain liberty. John C. Calhoun loss years thinking The surrender of life is nothing to sinking down into acknowledgment of inferiority. John C. Calhoun inferiority surrender life True consistency, that of the prudent and the wise, is to act in conformity with circumstances, and not to act always the same way under a change of circumstances. John C. Calhoun consistency wise way The object of a Constitution is to restrain the Government, as that of laws is to restrain individuals. John C. Calhoun constitution government law The error is in the assumption that the General Government is a party to the constitutional compact. The States ... formed the compact, acting as sovereign and independent communities. John C. Calhoun independent errors party A revolution in itself is not a blessing. John C. Calhoun revolution blessing The day that the balance between the two sections of the country - the slaveholding States and the non-slaveholding States - is destroyed is a day that will not be far removed from political revolution, anarchy, civil war, and widespread disaster. John C. Calhoun day balance political war It is no less the duty of the minority than a majority to endeavour to defend the country. John C. Calhoun minority than duty country We make a great mistake in supposing all people are capable of self-government. John C. Calhoun great capable mistake people It is a fundamental rule with me not to vote for a loan or tax bill till I am satisfied it is necessary for the public service, and then not if the deficiency can be avoided by lopping off unnecessary objects of expenditure or the enforcement of an exact and judicious economy in the public disbursements. John C. Calhoun i-am me service vote I am a planter - a cotton planter. I am a Southern man and a slaveholder - a kind and a merciful one, I trust - and none the worse for being a slaveholder. John C. Calhoun i-am being man trust
