John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun was a leading American politician and political theorist from South Carolina. He redefined the term republicanism to include minority rights and slavery. Although he died 11 years before the start of the civil war, his ideals of nullification and states rights inspired the secessionists in the years prior to the war.
“The Government of the absolute majority instead of the Government of the people is but the Government of the strongest interests; and when not efficiently checked, it is the most tyrannical and oppressive that can be devised”