he was carried into the Capitol, where he tottered to
the old Senate Hall and to a seat. He found himself too weak to
even read his last warning to the North and appeal for his beloved
institution. The speech was written, and was read in his presence
by Senator Mason of Virginia. He referred to the disparity of
numbers between the North and the South by which the "equilibrium
between the two sections had been destroyed." He did not recognize
the fact that slavery alone was the cause of this disparity. He
professed to believe the final object of the North was "the abolition
of slavery in the States." He contended that one of the "cords"
of the Union embraced "plans for disseminating the Bible," and "for
the support of doctrines and creeds."

He said:

"The first of these _cords_ which snapped under its explosive force
was that of the powerful Methodist Episcopal Church. The next
_cord_ that snapped was that of the Baptists, one of the largest
and most respectable of the denominations. That of the Presbyterian
is not entirely snapped, but some of its strands have given way.
That of the Episcopal Church is the only one of the four great
Protestant denominations which remains unbroken and entire."

He referred to the strong ties which held together the two great
parties, and said:

"This powerful _cord_ has fared no better than the spiritual. To
this extent the union has already been destroyed by agitation."

He laid at the door of the North all the blame for the slavery
agitation.

The admission of California as a free State was the immediate,
exciting cause for Calhoun's speech.

Already, on October 13, 1849, after a session of forty days, a
Convention in California had, with much unanimity, framed a
Constitution which, one month later, was, with like unanimity,
adopted by her free, gold-mining people. It prohibited slavery.
It had been laid before Congress by President Taylor, who recommended
the immediate admission under it of California as a State.

President Taylor had not overlooked the disunion movements. In
his first and only message to Congress he expressed his affection
for the Union, and warningly said:

"In my judgment its dissolution would be the greatest of calamities,
and to avert that should be the study of every American. Upon its
preservation must depend our own happiness, and that of countless
generations to come. Whatever dangers may threaten it, I shall
stand by it and mainta