John C. Calhoun; Sectionalist, 1840-1850

Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc, 1951. First Edition [stated], presumed first printing. Hardcover. Fair. 592 pages. Endpaper map. Illustrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Signed, with sentiment, and dated by author on title page. Many names written in ink on endpapers. Name and address of a previous owner stamped inside front cover. Pencil erasure residue on half-title page. Front board weak and restrengthened with glue. Spine show some sunning. Rear board disfigured at the top. Cover worn. Charles M. Wiltse was a historian and an editor of the papers of Daniel Webster. Dr. Wiltse was a professor of history emeritus at Dartmouth College, where he was on the faculty from 1966 to 1972. In this period he edited the Webster papers, a 16-volume work that was published by the University Press of New England from 1974 to 1989. Professor Wiltse also edited a three-volume collection of the papers of John C. Calhoun, published by Bobbs-Merrill from 1944 to 1951. He was the author of ''The Jeffersonian Tradition in American Democracy''. He was a graduate of West Virginia University and earned a doctorate from Cornell University. John Caldwell Calhoun (March 18, 1782 - March 31, 1850) was an American statesman and political theorist, and the seventh Vice President of the United States from 1825 to 1832. He is remembered for strongly defending slavery and for advancing the concept of minority rights in politics. He began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent of a strong national government and protective tariffs. By the late 1820s, his views reversed and he became a leading proponent of states' rights, limited government, nullification, and opposition to high tariffs. His beliefs and warnings heavily influenced the South's secession from the Union in 1860-1861. Calhoun began his political career in the House of Representatives. Calhoun strongly supported the War of 1812 to defend American honor against British infractions of American independence. He then served as Secretary of War under President James Monroe, and in this position reorganized and modernized the War Department. Calhoun served as Secretary of State under John Tyler from 1844 to 1845. As Secretary of State, he supported the annexation of Texas and helped settle the Oregon boundary dispute with Britain.