Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-12-09
The Victory of South Carolina in ,ssa--s

The Loyal Publication Society have lately
issued very interesting paper by Judge
John Mason Williams, ex-Chief Justice of the
Court OF Common Pleas Of Massachusetts, 1t
Is a brief account 81 the Notification Com.
troversy of 1922, and is intended to show
that South Carolina, and not General Jack.
son, was the victor. And the Chief Justice
shows what he intends, as appears from /,
very simple Statement
On the gath OF November, 1862, the South
Carolina Convention passed the Notification
Ordinance, hacking it the duty of the Legis-
lature TO arrest the operation of the tariff of
'53 in South Carcli,.- after the 1st of Febrn-
airy, 1888. The Convention also issued an
address to the other sovereign States stating
that, IN its desire to preserve the Union,
South Carolina whould make certain conce.-
sions-which were in substance, that it would
allow Congress to pass a revenue but not a
protective tariff. This address was sent 10
the President and TO the Governors. Judge
Williams quotes the replies of seventeen of
the twenty three States, which, with the ex-
ception OF that OF Virginia, yehemently ase-
nounce the South Carolina doctrine tt e
other six are Rhode Island Vermont, Nilsson
n, Tennessee, Kentucky and Louisiana. OF
their action ne has record at hand.
The act of Notification reached President
jackson early in December. He acknow-
lodged its receipt on the 10th, in the famous
proclamation written by Edward Livingston
But in his annual message of the 4th after
the threats of South Carolina had been open
ly made, he recommended that the tariff be
reduced to the revenue standard On the 18th
of February, 1888, Mr.. Claws Compromise
bill was introduced, which was intended to
raise no more revenue than was necessary for
the economical support of the government
Mr.. Calhoun, incarnate notification, imme-
diately approved it. Mr. Robbins the schol-
arly Senator from Rhode Island, said, owe
offer her South Carolina this bill, not to re
nounce this power of nullifcationl, but to
refrain from its exercise at present - If
this precedent is to govern, where is the Sc
curity for the stability of the Union / can not
See" Mr.. Choate, of Massachusetts, said,
" You suppress notification by Just
promptly granting : all it demands"
Meanwhile troops were raising in South
Carolina and Congress passed the "Force
Bill" while it was Fastening to yield the
point in dispute. After that was yielded, on
the 11th of March, the South Carolina Con-
yention met again. 1t congratulated itself
upon its attitude of resistance to the Govern
ment, by which it had procured a modifica-
ton of the tariff of 1892 even before it took
effect The Convention therefore repealed
the Notification Act, which had achieved its
purpose. But it declared the "Force Bill, I"
of notification was never repealed, revoked
or modified o..
Thus, according to Judge Williams, who
supports his point by ample historical cita-
tions, the tariff of 1882 was modified by Con-
gress under threat from South Carolina.
That the Government was authorized to COM
pei the execution of the laws is of no impor-
lance, in view of the fact that the attitude
of resistance had been assumed and the day
named for revolt to begin. Under such cir
cumstances to change law is to surrender
the dignity, the honor, and the power of the
Government. If the present Administration
had abandoned Sumter before the 18th of
April, 1861, it would have done exactly what
the Administration of 1882, did. Both said to
South Carolina =" Y GU will fire at your peril"
But the one fastened to do what Carolina
wanted before she had a chance to fire the
other calmly did its own duty, and has turned
the traitorous fire of South Carnlina against
her own heart. There has been great deal
of signing for General Jackson since this war
began. General Jackson was a resolutc sol
der but this demanded wise man.