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Amy L. · 03-25-2020, 03:55 AM

Might I ask - Which John Calhoun is this? Are there other records on the content of the debate?
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/te...ncoln1:352

Did Lincoln 'entirely demolish' the positions of the (to be) Senator from South Carolina?

RJNorton · 03-25-2020, 04:50 AM

I believe this is the John Calhoun whom Lincoln met in New Salem. Calhoun was the county surveyor who hired Lincoln to be deputy surveyor. Calhoun was also a Democrat and a politician. This is not the famous John C. Calhoun of South Carolina.

Amy L. · (This post was last modified: 03-30-2020 12:26 AM by Amy L..)

On the content of the debate - in a letter to James Harvey Oct., 1860.

Lincoln wrote:
"My dear Sir: To comply with your request to furnish extracts from my tariff speeches is simply impossible, because none of those speeches were published. It was not fashionable here in those days to report one's public speeches. In 1844 I was on the Clay electoral ticket in this State (i.e., Illinois) and, to the best of my ability, sustained, together, the tariff of 1842 and the tariff plank of the Clay platform. ...The papers show that I was one of a committee which reported, among others, a resolution in these words:

" 'That we are in favor of an adequate revenue on duties from imports so levied as to afford ample protection to American industry.'

"But, after all, was it really any more than the tariff plank of our present platform? And does not my acceptance pledge me to that? And am I at liberty to do more, if I were inclined?"

Lincoln was so masterful at not giving an answer.

Thank you for the clarification, Roger. I've been confused repeatedly by the name 'John Calhoun,' who was also someone active in Chicago politics.

RJNorton · 03-25-2020, 11:14 AM

Amy, Lincoln and Calhoun clashed politically several times during their careers. Lincoln was a staunch Whig, and Calhoun was a staunch Democrat. Lincoln was even somewhat leery of becoming the deputy surveyor as he knew of the political differences he had with Calhoun.

Amy L. · (This post was last modified: 03-30-2020 12:24 AM by Amy L..)

That Calhoun! - okay. Didn't Calhoun go crazy and move to Missouri.... And eventually help draft the the Lecompton Constitution!? -- There was another case where I was confused by which Calhoun....

RJNorton · 03-26-2020, 04:12 AM

(03-26-2020 12:01 AM)Amy L. Wrote: That Calhoun! - okay. Didn't Calhoun go crazy and move to Missouri.... And eventually help draft the the Lecompton Constitution!?

Yes. He was president of the constitutional convention which produced it.