Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Advanced Search
Back to Collection Search

Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell) (1782-1850) In the Senate of the United States. December 27, 1837. Mr. Calhoun submitted the following motion for consideration.

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Log in
to see this thumbnail image

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00267.021.01 Author/Creator: Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell) (1782-1850) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Printed document Date: 27 December 1837 Pagination: 2 p. ; 22.5 x 14.3 cm. Order a Copy

25th Congress, 2d session, no. 47. Calhoun's famous resolution establishing the orthodox state rights position. "Resolved, That in delegating a portion of their powers to be exercised by the Federal Government, the States retained, severally, the exclusive and sole right over their own domestic institutions and police, and are alone responsible for them ..." Resolves that slavery in the southern and western states is an essential domestic element of those states and was in existence at the adoption of their constitutions.

Calhoun, John Caldwell, 1782-1850
Blair & Rives, 1834-1873
National Expansion and Reform, 1815-1860
US Constitution
Westward Expansion
Slavery
African American History
US Constitution
Law
Government and Civics
Nullification
Vice President
Age of Jackson

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources

The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.