Years ago, I read a story in the Great Lives Observed series' book on Calhoun. It told a story of Calhoun letting a slave go. He found out how difficult life was for a free African American at the time. He came back and asked to be a slave again.
Some slaveowners treated their slaves very well. Others didn't.
For the modern left, Calhoun's crime wasn't just being a slaveowner. He also advocated that states could nullify federal laws. While he never lived to see it in 1861, he might very well have favored secession. His home state of South Carolina was the first one to do so.
Some slaveowners treated their slaves very well. Others didn't.
For the modern left, Calhoun's crime wasn't just being a slaveowner. He also advocated that states could nullify federal laws. While he never lived to see it in 1861, he might very well have favored secession. His home state of South Carolina was the first one to do so.