Buch 
2 (1856) Reports and public letters of John C. Calhoun / by John C. Calhoun. Edited by Richard K. Cralle
Entstehung
Seite
12
JPEG-Download
 

12

SPEECHES.

potent indeed must be the cause which has overpoweredit. Yes, there is a cause strong enough ; not in that oc-cult courtly affection which he has supposed to be enter-tained for France ; but it is to be found in continued andunprovoked insult and injurya cause so manifest, thatthe gentleman from Yirginia had to exert much ingenuityto overlook it. But, the gentleman, in his eager admira-tion of that country, has not been sufficiently guarded inhis argument. Has he reflected on the cause of that admi-ration P Has he examined the reasons of our high regardfor her Chatham ? It is his ardent patriotism, the heroiccourage of his mind, that could not brook the least insultor injury offered to his country, but thought that her in-terest and honor ought to be vindicated at every hazardand expense. I hope, when we are called upon to admire,we shall also be asked to imitate. I hope the gentlemandoes not wish a monopoly of those great virtues for England.

The balance of power has also been introduced, as anargument for submission. England is said to be a barrieragainst the military despotism of France . There is, Sir,one great error in our legislation. We are ready, it wouldseem from this argument, to watch over the interests of for-eign nations, while we grossly neglect our own immediateconcerns. This argument of the balance of power is wellcalculated for the British Parliament , but not at all suitedto the American Congress . Tell the former that they haveto contend with a mighty power, and that if they persistin insult and injury to the American people, they willcompel them to throw their whole weight into the scale oftheir enemy. Paint the danger to them, and if they willdesist from injuring us, we, I answer for it, will not disturbthe balance of power. But it is absurd for us to talk aboutthe balance of power, while they, by their conduct, smilewith contempt at what they regard our simple, good-naturedvanity. If, however, in the contest, it should be found that