John C. Calhoun on the conditions necessary to sustain liberty

In 1848 U.S. Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina staunchly opposed the idea, which had been proposed by some, of making defeated Mexico into a territory or province of the United States. His reasoning is prophetic, and relevant to us still.

… I know further, sir, that we have never dreamt of incorporating into our Union any but the Caucasian race—the free white race. To incorporate Mexico, would be the very first instance of the kind of incorporating an Indian race; for more than half of the Mexicans are Indians, and the other is composed chiefly of mixed tribes. I protest against such a union as that! Ours, sir, is the Government of a white race. The greatest misfortunes of Spanish America are to be traced to the fatal error of placing these colored races on an equality with the white race. That error destroyed the social arrangement which formed the basis of society. The Portuguese and ourselves have escaped—the Portuguese at least to some extent—and we are the only people on this continent which have made revolutions without being followed by anarchy. And yet it is professed and talked about to erect these Mexicans into a Territorial Government, and place them on an equality with the people of the United States. I protest utterly against such a project.

Sir, it is a remarkable fact, that in the whole history of man, as far as my knowledge extends, there is no instance whatever of any civilized colored races being found equal to the establishment of free popular government, although by far the largest portion of the human family is composed of these races….

We think we may now indulge in everything with impunity, as if we held our charter of liberty by “right divine”—from Heaven itself. Under these impressions, we plunge into war, we contract heavy debts, we increase the patronage of the Executive, and we even talk of a crusade to force our institutions, our liberty, upon all people. There is no species of extravagance which our people imagine will endanger their liberty in any degree. But it is a great and fatal mistake. The day of retribution will come. It will come as certainly as I am now addressing the Senate; and when it does come, awful will be the reckoning—heavy the responsibility somewhere! [Emphasis added.]

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April 2

Morgan writes from England:

I simplify here, but I think it holds true.

Those of the Left, as we on this side of the Atlantic call them—liberals to you on your side—say that “race” is socially defined. I think they have it entirely about face: I prefer to say that society is racially defined.

Looking around the world today, I think it is self-evident that for liberty to take a hold, a society must be based on the European race (that includes N. America, Australia, New Zealand). Wherever any other race dominates, there is no liberty for all.

And in general terms, all sub-Saharan societies are broadly similar; all Oriental societies; all European societies; all Islam-based (Arab based) societies; etc. That is not to say that individuals from those races cannot assimilate into European societies and thus in essence become “European”, but if they come to dominate … bang goes another one.

Please wait a moment while I don my body armour.

LA replies:

No need for body armor, at least not here.

Mark A. writes:

Morgan’s racist comments demonstrate that he has it all wrong. European societies provide liberty for all, because they can afford liberty as a result of the wealth stolen from the hard labor of the colored races. Races are defined by their environement, not genetics. You’ll note the inverse criminal tendencies of the negro upon moving from Africa to the United States. You’ll note the Asian demand for liberty at all costs once they leave the shores of China and Japan and land in California. And when the Mexican finds himself north of the Rio Grande, in California for example, he no longer tolerates petty political corruption and a culture of ignorance.

In other news, the Earth is flat and a Martian has been named CEO of General Motors by President Obama…

Posted by Lawrence Auster at April 01, 2009 11:27 PM | Send