Remarks of Mr. Calhoun of South Carolina on the Bill to Prevent the Interference of Certain Federal Officers in Elections: Delivered in the Senate of the United States February 22, 1839

In 'Remarks of Mr. Calhoun of South Carolina on the Bill to Prevent the Interference of Certain Federal Officers in Elections,' delivered in the U.S. Senate on February 22, 1839, John C. Calhoun articulates a fervent defense of states' rights and the doctrine of nullification. He argues against federal overreach, asserting that states have the authority to nullify oppressive federal laws. This speech reflects the intense political tensions of the era, particularly the conflict between federal authority and state sovereignty, and serves as a significant commentary on the philosophical foundations of federalism that would shape American political discourse leading up to the Civil War.