Name
Institution
The Compromise of 1850 was a complicated package of five bills, which was passed in 1850 defusing a four-year confrontation between slave states of the south together with Free states of the north that arose in Mexican American War in 1846-1848 and drafted by Whig Henry. It became possible after sudden death of President Zachary Taylor who tried to implement northern policy of eliminating slavery from Southwest. Different politicians committed themselves in speeches to their view finality on compromise section issues.
One of the speeches was penned by William Seward who was a powerful New York politician; the second was made by John C. Calhoun, and the last one was made by Daniel Webster. William Seward and John C. Calhoun were against the bill of clay while Webster was in favor of the bill. Even though these speeches had similarities, there were differences in each individual point of view. This paper aims at looking at each speech thereafter highlighting similarities between the three speeches.
William Seward speech
William Seward so called “Higher law” speech is one of the most vital maiden speeches in the history of senate. Seward rose in political prominence in 1830s in New York serving within the state of senate. His speech established him as a major national anti slavery leader. In his political ruling, he had interest on Whig party thus advocated on its internal improvements. In addition, he urged the government to arouse the state wealth, public education; along with compensated voluntary of setting, the slaves free (Seward, 1853).
Seward speech was called “Freedom in new territories”. The freshman spent a month preparing his statement in realizing that it could be taken as North respond to Calhoun. The speech hastened on the principle that, if congress was to exclude slavery from any part of new domain, then it was just to set off a portion of domain which would be regarded to free from slavery. From his speech, he stated that equality of state are proved equal if all men are treated equally by use of law of nation as well as of nature. The constitution never expressed anything on slavery in that it only consisted of two false impressions to slaves. These included ratio representation of taxation and provision linked to fugitives from labor. In these two cases, it tends to mention slaves but less on an individual welfare (Seward, 1853).
He went on addressing that, the right of having slaves were to give the state a right to make people slaves which would result to the state been in perpetual war. According to him, when constitution was adopted, among the thirteen states, twelve of them were slave states, which he viewed as having no equilibrium. This implied that, the constitution was only made for some states. He objected that, freedom was the major harmony within United State. Issues of having a Christian nation were to increase slavery. If ever the government were to intervene on such knowledge then half a million of its citizen would live in slavery. From his judgment, he recognized the claims to which all men are created equally therefore should be given equal rights thus no slavery.
John C Calhoun speech
John Calhoun was a political theorist and politician of South Carolina in 19th century. He built his reputation in redefining republicanism that included approval of slavery along with minority rights. Although he wrote the speech, he never read it since he was too ill to deliver it. His speech was against the bill of clay’s bill, in which he believed that the issue of slavery would affect the country welfare thus leading to disunion. From his opinion, the union would only be acquired by having accurate knowledge and the cause by which union is endangered. According to him, the immediate cause of all states within southern section was commenced with slavery questions, which increased rapidly within any state. The people in south were divided on the effect political ties that united them in respective parties. In his speech, he said that when constitution was ratified, among the thirteen states, twelve of them were slave states, which he viewed as having no equilibrium. On the contrary, there was no single territory in progress.
According to him, the principle of peace and justice was the greatest tool to be used to avoid slavery. However, he stated, “If you are unwilling we should part in peace, tell us so; and we shall know what to do when you reduce the question to submission or resistance. If you remain silent, you will compel us to infer by your acts what you intend” (Calhoun, 1850).
Daniel Webster
He was born in 1782 and died in 1852. On March 7, in 1850 he gave his in support to the compromise law of 1850. Based on his speech, he needed federal officials to return the concept of slaves. From his opinion, there was a need of South and North been in slavery in that their bonds were to create biblical perceptive which states that, “Slaves are to be submissive to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back.” (Titus 2:9). The result would bring liberty thus making the country to be in peace with one other (Webster, 1850).
Their similarities
The three speeches address issues of liberty and union. They strongly believed that, peace is an element that unites human beings. They seem to discuss on one theme, slavery although on different point of view.
References
Calhoun, J. C. (1850). The Clay Compromise Measures. Retrived on 21st March 2011 from: http://www.nationalcenter.org/CalhounClayCompromise.html
Seward, W.H. (1853). Furman University: Seward higher speech. Retrieved on 21st March 2011 from: http://facweb.furman.edu/~benson/docs/seward.htm
Webster, H. (1850). On the Clay Compromise. Retrieved on 21st March 2011 from: http://www.bartleby.com/268/9/4.html
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