This is the text of John C. Calhoun's last speech to the United States Senate, delivered on March 4, 1850, just weeks before his death. Unable to deliver it himself due to failing health, it was read on his behalf by Senator James Mason. "Address of the Hon. John C. Calhoun...on the Subject of Slavery" presents Calhoun's staunch defense of slavery and his arguments against the growing abolitionist movement. He articulates the Southern perspective on states' rights and the balance of power between the federal government and individual states, warning of the dire consequences of disrupting the existing social and political order. This address offers a crucial insight into the political and philosophical underpinnings of the pro-slavery movement in the lead-up to the Civil War. It remains a significant document for understanding the complex and contentious history of slavery in the United States. The speech also references Daniel Webster.
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