A revolution in itself is not a blessing. The revolution accomplished by the French people is, indeed, a wonderful event – the most striking, in my opinion, in history; but it may lead to events which will make it a mighty evil. John C. Calhoun Read Quote
He is blind indeed who does not see, in the signs of the times, a strong tendency to plunge the Union as deep in debt as are many of the States, and to subjugate the whole to the paper system. John C. Calhoun Read Quote
It is no less the duty of the minority than a majority to endeavour to defend the country. John C. Calhoun Read Quote
What is it but a cunningly devised scheme to take from one State and to give to another – to replenish the treasury of some of the States from the pockets of the people of the others; in reality, to make them support the governments and pay the debts of other States as well as their own? John C. Calhoun Read Quote
I would rather be an independent senator, governed by my own views, going for the good of the country, uncontrolled by any thing which mortal man can bring to bear upon me, than to be president of the United States, put there as presidents of the United States have been for many years past. John C. Calhoun Read Quote
Of the two, I considered it more important to avoid a war with England about Oregon than a war with Mexico, important as I thought it was to avoid that. John C. Calhoun Read Quote
Remember, it is a deep principle of our nature not to regard the safety of those who do not regard their own. If you are indifferent to your own safety, you must not be surprised if those less interested should become more so. John C. Calhoun Read Quote
The danger in our system is that the general government, which represents the interests of the whole, may encroach on the states, which represent the peculiar and local interests, or that the latter may encroach on the former. John C. Calhoun Read Quote
Let a durable and firm peace be established and this government be confined rigidly to the few great objects for which it was instituted, leaving the States to contend in generous rivalry to develop, by the arts of peace, their respective resources, and a scene of prosperity and happiness would follow, heretofore unequaled on the globe. John C. Calhoun Read Quote
