The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-01-04
History Of the South Carolina Move
ment of 1882,


will DO found in the history Of her action
twenty-eight years ago. lis full of striking
parallels.
Congress passed Tariff which the South
deemed Objectionable. While it was pend
ing Intense excitement prevailed in tho
Southern States. Public meetings threat.
enod forcibIo resistance. Senators and Con.
gressmen predicted it, Governors and logis
la ors encouraged it. Tho Virginia Legisla-
turo asserted tho principles OF notification,
The Georgia Legislature denied the author.
ity of decisions of tho Supreme Court
South Carolina stood roady 10 load tho way
in collision with Federal puwcr
When tho news reached Charleston that
tho bill had actually passed, tho Governor
summoned the Legislature to the capitol.
1t met on tho 22d of October. An act was
Immediately proposed and passed, author
izing a COnVeution on the 18th of November,
"to consider the character aud cEtent of
the usurpation of the general government"
The passage Of THE act was hailed by the
firing Of cannon, and music from u band
stationed at the door of the capitol.
The Convention assembled on the l9th.
On tho oath il adopted AN ordinance de-
claring the Tariff Act null and void. making
| il unlawful for tho authorities, either Ma.
| tional or State, to enforce the payment of
the duties imposed onjoining upon the
Legislature giving effect to tho Ordinance,
and forbidding any appeal to tho Supreme
Court of the United States. Ordinances
further declared, that any act passed by
Congress to authorize tho employment of
! force against South Carolina. such act
would be null and void, and from the tirne
of its passage. the State would consider
/ itself absolvod from further obligations to
the Union, and proceed to orgauizo now
government. This Ordinance was to lake
effect Feb. LIST, 1898.
| -4a- reply to tho Ordinance. President
Jackson issued his celebrated Proclamation,
combating the doctrine of Modification in
a msstCrly argument, and declaring his
| firm determination TO enforce tho lava ut
! whatever hazard.
! Tho Proclamation was met with anathe.
mas in South Carolina. 1t was denounced
as "a declaration of war by Andrew Jackson
/ against tho State of South Carolina" the
"edlct of dictator" Tho people wero OK
horted to "tako up arms" ns the only
course which honor aud duty prescribed y
Tho Legislature Immediately passed. laws
for CARRYING tho Ordinance into effect, pro-
hibiting tho collection of revenue, and placing
the militia of the State at the COMMAND
| Of tho Governor. Orders were issued for
increasing tho militory force OF tho State,
Tho Governor was authorized TO accept the
services of volunteers, many companies OF
whom had already organized uuder tho
namo Of minute mcn."
| Tho action OF South Carolina was commu-
nicated to Congress by the President, and a
bill was proposed empowering him to ON
| III ~ l,p nd nf IInin an
to enforce tho collection of the revenue, il
resistance should be offered. 1t gave rise
to n warm debate and was not passed until
a month afterwards. A number of the
southern Senators withdrew from the Sen.
ate chamber, on its final passage. How.
ever they came back again in few days.
But while the preparations wero being
made for conflict, measures wero also in
progress to avert it. Virginia offered tC
mediats. Resolutions wero passed in hel
Legislature asking South Carolina to sus
pond tho operation OF her nullifying ordi
nance unit tho close of the first session o
the next Congress; and also asking Con
grcss to modify tho Tariff. Benjamin Wat
kins Leigh was appointed a Commissione
to lay these resolutions before South Caro-
, lima. A bill in accordance with this request
was also introduced in Congress.
This bill failed to pass. Bnt Mr.. Cla.
introduced compromise Tariff Bill. whicl
gave rise to considerable debate. Messrs
Webster, Dallas, Forsyth and Wright, op
7 posing it, because it abolished specific duties
and Messrs. Calhoun, Ewing. Clayton, Fro
linghuysen, ,Mangum and Bbb. supporting
= as a means of pacifcation. 1t was fnal
passed, February 25th, 1888, though no
until after South Carolina had suspende
her Modification Ordinance.
For the mediation Of Virginia bad ih
e remarkable effect of accomplishing its oh
l ject even before tho Commissioner arrive
d. to dolvor the resolutions, Governor Hayn
n of South Carolina, said that as soon as
/, was known that Virginia had taken up tn
: subject in friendly spirit, and that bi
modifying tho Tariff was before Congres
sit was determined by common consent
suspend the operation of tho Ordinanc,
l until after the adjournment of Congress"
. The passage of tho Compromise Bill
2 though not altogether acceptable, was gIadl
d accepted as furnishing an osirnsibie roaso
n for returning from the unavailable Positio
= South Carolina had rashlv assumed. Th
State Convention was reassembled on tn
; lllh of March. and tho Modification Ord
G nance was finally repealed.
Il South Carolina, nevertheless, claimed th
G glory of triumph. Her people woro cor
= graduated on having succeeded in defyin
a Congress and preventing tho "broad usnrpo
ton" of trying to 'coerco Sovereign State,
9 The Charleston nulifying organ boaste
thus over the result:
: "Never was there proudor instance {
! tho might of just principles backed by
high courage. This little State. in the mer
panopIy of courage and high principles, ha
e foiled the staggering giant of the UniOr
80 900 Carolinians have not only awed tn
}. wild West into rnspect,but compelled Pcnr
syvania stoldly into something like sens
!. New York corruption into something llk
decency-Yankee rapacity into q sort {
o image of honesty. The Tariff Is overthrow
= tho corrupt majorites in Congress hav
L YIELDED. Tho madness of government hl
II ut last found slight lucid Interval.
:, THE luckiest fellow that ever live
,e might have woes enough, If he set himse
l. seriously to work looking .hem up. The
are like invisible specks O! dust, you don