John C Calhoun's Speech on Mexico

We have never dreamt of incorporating into our Union any but the Caucasian race

Unattributed photo from Wikimedia Commons

John C. Calhoun was a significant figure in American history. He served as Vice-President from 1825–1832, one heartbeat from the Presidency. He also was a Senator from South Carolina from 1845–1850. Calhoun was a prominent spokesman for the white South and states’ rights. He is credited as being one of the leading causes of the Civil War, calling for secession over the right to enslave people. Calhoun’s racism extended to Native Americans and Mexicans as well. In this speech, he mentions that America never considered accepting Native Americans as equals and didn’t want further expansion into Mexico because there were “too many Mexicans.”

John C. Calhoun was revered as a Southern hero, and a monument in his honor stood in Charleston for 120 years, not coming down until 2020. Statues of Calhoun continue to exist in the nation’s Capitol at Statutory Hall and elsewhere. As America fights about Black History not being taught, I’ll let John C. Calhoun…