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Quote by John C. Calhoun

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John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun was a prominent American politician, lawyer, and philosopher. Born on March 18, 1782, and died on March 31, 1850, he served as a United States Representative and was a key figure in the American political system, known for his stance on federalism and slavery. more

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“To maintain the ascendancy of the Constitution over the lawmaking majority is the great and essential point on which the success of the [American] system must depend; unless that ascendancy can be preserved, the necessary consequence must be that the laws will supersede the Constitution; and, finally, the will of the Executive, by influence of its patronage, will supersede the laws . . .”

AmericaLawInfluenceDependsEssentialsConsequenceConstitutionMajorityExecutivesPatronageAscendancy
Book:The Works of John C. Calhoun Volume 2
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“I take higher ground. I hold that in the present state of civilization, where two races of different origin, and distinguished by color, and other physical differences, as well as intellectual, are brought together, the relation now existing in the slaveholding States between the two, is, instead of an evil, a good—a positive good. . . . I hold then, that there never has yet existed a wealthy and civilized society in which one portion of the community did not, in point of fact, live on the labor of the other.”

WellsTwoDifferentStatesFactsTogetherEvilCommunityDifferencesRaceColorHigherCivilizationIntellectualLaborRelationWealthyCivilizedPortionsDistinguishedCivilized SocietyHigher Ground
Author:John C. Calhoun
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“It would be well for those interested to reflect whether there now exists, or ever has existed, a wealthy and civilized community in which one portion did not live on the labor of another; and whether the form in which slavery exists in the South is not but one modification of this universal condition... Let those who are interested remember that labor is the only source of wealth, and how small a portion of it, in all old and civilized countries, even the best governed, is left to those by whose labor wealth is created.”

WellsCountryWould BeRememberFormLeftCommunityWealthConditionsSourceLaborUniversalSlaverySouthWealthyCivilizedPortionsModification
Author:John C. Calhoun
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“It is at least scientifically respectable to postulate that at the centre of a black hole the laws of nature no longer apply. Since most scientists are just a bit religious and most religious are seldom wholly unscientific we find humanity in a comical position. His scientific intellect believes in the possibility of miracles inside a black hole while his religious intellect believes in them outside it.”

BelieveLawHumanityBitsBlackReligiousPossibilityPositionScientistMiracleIntellectHolesCentreLaws Of NatureRespectableBlack HoleComical
Author:William Golding
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