The Compromise Of 1850: The Contributions Of Calhoun And Daniel Webster

Murder. The unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. What could posses a person to do such a heinous crime when they have almost everything going for them? Almost does not count in the presidential elections. This was especially true with the Compromise of 1850. Two large faces in America at the time, John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster, had opposing views on what would be the ideal decision for the better good. The Compromise of 1850 included five bills passed to keep power balanced between slave and non-slave states following America's investment in new territory after the Mexican-American War.1 During the 1850s there were influential speeches spoken by both Calhoun and Webster, could the difference and need of power have led to Calhoun's death?
Calhoun was a senator from South Carolina. He was also a member of the House of Representatives from 1811 to 1817, and after that he was Secretary of War from 1817 to 1825. Calhoun was Vice President of the United States after being Secretary of War until 1832, Secretary of State for one year between 1844 through 1845. He was a member of the Democratic Party during the 1850s. Calhoun was a leader of the pro-slavery senators.2 It is evident that Calhoun was very involved with the government. Daniel Webster served two terms in the House of Representatives. He was known as an expert on the Constitution and was elected into the senate in 1828. He was affiliated with Federalists, National Republicans, and Whig Political Parties. 3 Webster is the Prime suspect in John C. Calhoun's murder based on the fact that they each had different views on The Compromise of 1850. Other suspects are ruled out, like Jackson and Adams because they were dead. James Tallmadge was defined as "a man of fine presence, polished manners, and broad sympathies" so in this case a murder very much went against his character and what his family vouched of