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. CalhounRead
England has not wholly escaped the curse which must ever befall a free government which holds extensive provinces in subjection; for, although she has not lost her liberty or fallen into anarchy, yet we behold the population of England crushed to the earth by the superincumbent weight of debt and taxation, which may one day terminate in revolution.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the inherent struggles of a free government managing extensive territories, highlighting the burden of debt and taxation.
John C. Calhoun's quote suggests that while England has maintained its freedom, it still faces significant challenges due to its obligations towards its colonies. The heavy weight of debt and taxation may lead to public discontent and potential revolution, illustrating the complex balance between governance and the welfare of the populace. Calhoun emphasizes that true liberty is threatened by financial burdens, which can stifle the nation's vitality and lead to drastic changes in governance.
Themes
GovernmentDebtTaxationFreedomRevolution
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on government spending, one could use this quote to illustrate the potential consequences of high taxation on public liberty.
More from John C. Calhoun
All quotes →There is a tendency in all parties, when they have been for a long time in possession of power, to augment it.
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I hold that there is a mysterious connection between the fate of this country and that of Mexico; so much so that her independence and capability of sustaining herself are almost as essential to our prosperity and the maintenance of our institutions as they are to hers.
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The error is in the assumption that the General Government is a party to the constitutional compact. The States ... formed the compact, acting as sovereign and independent communities.
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There is not an example on record of any free state holding a province of the same extent and population without disastrous consequences. The nations conquered and held as a province have, in time, retaliated by destroying the liberty of their conquerors through the corrupting effect of extended patronage and irresponsible power.
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Stripped of all its covering, the naked question is, whether ours is a federal or consolidated government; a constitutional or absolute one; a government resting solidly on the basis of the sovereignty of the States, or on the unrestrained will of a majority; a form of government, as in all other unlimited ones, in which injustice, violence, and force must ultimately prevail.
John C. CalhounRead
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