The Politics of Emptiness

On March 4, 1850, John C. Calhoun addressed the Senate. His subject was the last and, as it turned out, the most futile of the Clay Compromises. The aging South Carolinian was ill, and Senator James Mason of Virginia read his speech. The old man predicted the disintegration to come, and he correctly interpreted the Compromise of 1850 as just one more verbal evasion, one more refusal to come to grips with the realities of the relationship between the states. “The cry of ‘Union, Union-—the glorious Union!’ can no more prevent disunion than the cry of ‘Health, Health—glorious Health!’ on the part of a physician can save a patient lying dangerously ill.” Calhoun was right.

Soviets Say No

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James Fletcher

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On March 4, 1850, John C. Calhoun addressed the Senate. His subject was the last and, as it turned out, the most futile of the Clay Compromises. The aging South Carolinian was ill, and Senator James Mason of Virginia read his speech. The old man predicted the disintegration to come, and he correctly interpreted the Compromise of 1850 as just one more verbal evasion, one more refusal to come to grips with the realities of the relationship between the states. “The cry of ‘Union, Union-—the glorious Union!’ can no more prevent disunion than the cry of ‘Health, Health—glorious Health!’ on the part of a physician can save a patient lying dangerously ill.” Calhoun was right.

Soviets Say No