First, to say someone is a “marxist” or “socialist” is a categorization that fits regardless of chronology. Robert Owen, who preceded Calhoun and Marx, and whose ideas were stolen from Marx, conceived of the term of “socialism” and the “labor theory of value,” the latter of which Calhoun accepted.
What is important is not his evolution (in your view) but rather a fundamental principle that he rejected the market theory of value in favor of the communist (small c) labor theory of value-—again, the essence of all socialism. And, again, it is not surprising that he found an ally in this in George Fitzhugh, who saw slavery as the purest form of communism.
No, all your wiggling-—and “let’s be very clear about it”-—cannot make Calhoun into a free-marketeer, because he believed fervently in both slavery and socialism (i.e., the same thing).
Neither can your rather silly defense of Calhoun’s authorship of the tariff extricate him from the absurdity that he found himself arguing against the very bill he authored.
Now that you have made all of those fine points, it is clear that you in no way understand Mr. Calhoun.
He was recognized by everyone in his time as being an outspoken, ardent supporter of the Constitution as well as states’ rights.
Nothing in your commentary would indicate that you have either read or absorbed anything that relates to that common understanding of his statesmanship.
But, that is your shortcoming, to which you are welcome to cling. So be it.