John C. Calhoun, the famous statesman from South Carolina, was born on March 18, 1782.
"We make a great mistake in supposing that all people are capable of self-government. Acting under that impression, many are anxious to force free governments on all people of this continent, and over the world, if they had the power. It has been lately urged in a very respectful quarter, that it is the mission of this country to spread civil and religious liberty over all the globe, and especially over this continent---even by force, if necessary. It is a sad delusion. None but a people advanced to a high state of moral and intellectual excellence are capable in a civilized condition, of forming and maintaining free governments..."
