ABSTRACT
As in the case of public spending and taxation, Calhoun’s free trade thought remains as timely today as when it was first uttered. Free trade coincided with the interests, indeed the necessities of the South, but his commitment to it was also philosophical and thorough-going. It is curious how ignorant contemporary advocates of free markets are of tariff struggles in nineteenth century America. This was the subject to which Calhoun always returned and which he related to every other issue. It was central to his two predominant goals, which were the harmony and progress of the American Union and the defence of the South from exploitation. The capital letter material at the conclusion of the 1842 speech was adopted as the slogan of Calhoun s last Presidential campaign in 1843.
