LIFE OF JOHN C. CALHOUN, PRESENTING A CONDENSED HISTORY OF POLITICAL EVENTS FROM 1811 TO 1843. TOGETHER WITH A SELECTION FROM HIS SPEECHES, REPORTS, AND OTHER WRITINGS SUBSEQUENT TO HIS ELECTION AS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING HIS LEAD- NEW-YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, 82 CLIFF-STREET. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843, In the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York. ADVERTISEMENT. SINCE Mr. CALHOUN first took a leading part in the politics of the country and the administration of its government, a new generation of men has risen into life, who cannot appeal to their memories for the history of his public services. It was thought necessary, therefore, by his political friends, who desire to see his great abilities and high virtues placed in the widest sphere of usefulness, that a biographical sketch should be published to furnish information to the young, and to revive the recollections of those of more mature age; and to attain their object most effectually, it was deemed expedient that the sketch should be accompanied with a selection from his speeches, reports, and other writings, which would furnish the most authentic evidence of his opinions as well on subjects of high constitutional law as on the great measures of policy which divide and distinguish the two great parties of the country. Such a selection, to be practically useful to the public, must necessarily be very limited when taken in comparison with the whole body of Mr. CALHOUN'S very numerous speeches, reports, and other writings, as a complete collection of them would be too bulky and expensive for general circulation. This selection, therefore, contains one speech only delivered prior to his becoming Vice-president, and, while many delivered subsequently have, in order to prevent the volume from being too large, been unavoidably excluded, it is particularly full on the subject of Banks, Independent Treasury, Currency, Tariff, Distribution of the Proceeds of the Public Lands, State Rights, and the principles and policy which should control in the administration of the government, those being the subjects which for some years past have agitated, and still continue to agitate, the public mind, and on which the people of the United States are interested in having exact and authentic information respecting Mr. CALHOUN's settled and matured opinions after the long experience of thirty-two years uninterruptedly devoted to their service. |