The object of a Constitution is to restrain the Government, as that of laws is to restrain individuals. — John C. Calhoun Copy Share Image
A compromise is but an act of Congress. It may be overruled at any time. It gives us no security. But the… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share Image
The error is in the assumption that the General Government is a party to the constitutional compact. The States ... formed the… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share Image
The framers of our constitution had the sagacity to vest in Congress all implied powers: that is, powers necessary and proper to… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share Image
How can this full, perfect, just and supreme voice of the people, embodied in the Constitution, be brought to bear, habitually and… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share Image
To maintain the ascendancy of the Constitution over the lawmaking majority is the great and essential point on which the success of… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share Image
How can those who are invested with the power of government be prevented from the abuse of those powers as the means… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share Image
None but a people advanced to a high state of moral and intellectual excellence are capable in a civilized condition of forming… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share Image
A difference must be made between a decision against the constitutionality of a law of Congress and of a State. The former… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share Image
Stripped of all its covering, the naked question is, whether ours is a federal or consolidated government; a constitutional or absolute one;… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share Image
I am aware how difficult is the task to preserve free institutions over so wide a space and so immense a population,… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share Image
The danger in our system is that the general government, which represents the interests of the whole, may encroach on the states, which represent… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
Of the two, I considered it more important to avoid a war with England about Oregon than a war with Mexico, important as I… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
The error is in the assumption that the General Government is a party to the constitutional compact. The States ... formed the compact, acting… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
There is not an example on record of any free state holding a province of the same extent and population without disastrous consequences. The… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
It is a remarkable fact in the political history of man that there is scarcely an instance of a free constitutional government which has… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
“Nothing is more difficult than to equalize the action of the government in reference to the various and diversified interests of the community; and… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
I am not one of those who believe that we are bound to vote supplies to cover a deficiency in the treasury whenever called… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
A power has risen up in the government greater than the people themselves, consisting of many and various and powerful interests, combined into one… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
It has been lately urged in a very respectable quarter that it is the mission of this country to spread civil and religious liberty… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
Let a durable and firm peace be established and this government be confined rigidly to the few great objects for which it was instituted,… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
Once established with Great Britain, it would not be difficult, with moderation and prudence, to establish permanent peace with the rest of the world,… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
The Government of the absolute majority instead of the Government of the people is but the Government of the strongest interests; and when not… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
I take higher ground. I hold that in the present state of civilization, where two races of different origin, and distinguished by color, and… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
Remember, it is a deep principle of our nature not to regard the safety of those who do not regard their own. If you… — John C. Calhoun Copy Share
![“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…” quote by John C. Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/c6c/john-c-calhoun-4136_america_to-maintain-the-ascendancy-of-the-consti_2244211.jpg)
