Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-11-21
MULTIPLICATION.

| mus south CaroIlna Nulllhcatlon Ordinanc
Oh 1852 followed, like the present secession
movements, Immediately upon Presidential
election. 1t was adopted on the oath of No
Vemoer, within fortnight after the re-elec
hon OF Gen. jackson, by Convention callet
lor that purpose, by an act of the Legislature
passed at special session.
rms ordinance, after setting forth in pre-
ainole, that under color of laying duties ant
| lnpoSts on foreign imports, Congress had pas
sed certain acts really intended for the protec
tlon OF domestic manufactures, and, in so do
| ing, mad exceeded its just powers proceeds t.
| ueclare all such acts, and especially the Tariff
acts OF 1873 and 1882 ssnull, void and no law ,
ana not binding on the officers or citizens o.
| South Carolina. All bonds given or to be
gwen, for duties, under those acts, were de-
clared void and also all legal proceedings com
menced for their collection. 1t was further
made the duty of the Legistatuse to adopt al
such measures as might be necessary to give
eHect TO the ordinance and to prevent, after
the lst OF February following, the collection oi
any duties under the acts above nulliied. Nc
| appeal was to be allowed from the State Courts
TO the Supreme Court of the United States in
any case in which the validity of the ordi-
nance should be drawn in question. All State
oihcerS were required to take an oath to sup
port the ordinance and the acts of the Legls-
iature passed in pursuance OF it, and all citi-
| zens were enJoined TO give their aid in carrying
such laws into effect.
The ordinance further declared that any at
| tempt on the part of the Government of the
United States to reduce the State to obedi-
enence, or the passage of any act of Congress
authorizing the employment of military or
naval force agnst the State, closing the ports,
or o0Structing the commerce of South Carroll
ma, or otherwise intended to enforce the null
lifted acts, would be considered as inconsistent
with the further continuance of South Carroll
ma in the Union, and that, considering them
absolved from all further obligation to main
tain their political connection with the people
OF the other States, they would forthwith
proceed to organize separate Government
and to assume entire independence.
This ordinance reached Washington stimuli
taneously with che meeting of Congress. The
President briefly alluded to it in his annual
message, promising special message, should
the persistence of South Carolina render it
necessary to appeal to Congress for additional
powers. Meanwhile, on the 10th of December
he issued his famous proclamation, in which
he argued the question with the Nullifers on
Constitutional grounds adjured the people of
South Carolina not to be led by demagogues
to their destruction held out a modification
of the tariff as the probable result of the ap-
preaching extnguishment of the public debt,
and expressed his determination to execute
the laws, and to sustain the Union.
This proclamation did not seem to produce
much effect on the nulliiers. The South Car
olina Legislature proceeded to pass acts to
carry the ordinance into effect and to organize
forces to the extent of 10000 volunteers, and
provide military means for resisting any eXer-
else of force on the part of the U. States. Ear
ly in JAM, President Jackson sent message to
Congress setting forth these facts. In conse-
quence of this message, and the recommenda-
tion contained in it, Congress proceeded to
pass an an act commonly known as ssThe
Force bll.'' This bill authorized the Presi-
dent, whenever, in consequence of unlawful
combinations and distractions in any collec-
tion district, it became impracticable to col
lect the revenue in the ordinary way to re-
move the Custom House to some secure place
within the District, either on land or on board
a vessel, at which all ships arriving should be
detained till the duties were paid, and to en-
ploy the land and naval forces of the United
States, or the militia, to repel any attack upon
the Custom House SO established, or any at
tempt to interrupt the officers in the discharge
OF their duties; also, restricting to the Courts
of the United States any suits in relation to
anything done under this law, and authorizing
the President to employ the forces of the
United States to uphold those Courts in the
exclusive exercise of this authority.
Things looked for little while exceedingly
squally. We had much speechifying, vol
unteering, cockade mounting, and as many
rumors of foreign aid then as now. The whole
thing. however, soon proved mere bubble.
The nullifers took advantage of the passage
of the compromise tariff to back out of their
false position, and luckily for that time any
collision with the General Government was
prevented.-Neto York. Tribune.