Yes, John C. Calhoun was a prominent South Carolina politician and a significant figure in 19th-century American politics who strongly advocated for states' rights and the institution of slavery. He served as a U.S. Senator, Vice President under both John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, and held various other political roles throughout his career.
Calhoun's defense of slavery stemmed from his belief that it was a positive good, not merely a necessary evil. He argued that slavery was beneficial for both slaveholders and enslaved people, claiming it provided a stable social order and economic benefit. His support for states' rights was rooted in the belief that individual states should have the authority to govern themselves without federal interference, particularly regarding issues like slavery.
His ideas greatly influenced the South's political landscape and the debates surrounding slavery and secession leading up to the Civil War. Calhoun remains a controversial figure in American history due to his staunch defense of slavery and his role in advocating for the rights of states over federal authority.