The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-09-28
Looking


and the discussion in the recent Pri-
mary Campaign in this state naturally
recalls the great excitement and consc-
quent legislation in this State growing
out Of similar Congressional enact.
ments in the Jackson period. On the
24th Of November 1882 in the 57th year
Of the existence of this Government the
people of this state in Convention as
semblcd passed tho celebrated meas
ure can Ordnance to Nullify certain
Acts Of the Congress of the United
States, purporting to be laws, laying
duties and imposts on the importation
of Foreign commodities" The Con-
vention sat at Columbia. This paper
may be found on page 800, Vol. /, Stat
utes OF South Carolina. The volume
contains a large number of public
documents bearing upon the limita-
tions of the constitution, the powers Of
Congress, the rights of the States, the
powers Of the Federal Judiciary, and
the Executive Branch Of the Govern
ment. The action Of the State brought
about q modification Of the Tariif laws,
known as the CLAY Compromised -
The great Dapcrs were submitted by
committees to the General Assembly,,
and the proceedings Of other States in
reference to the action Of South Caro-
lima, tho very able commentary by DR..
Cooper, the Editor of the Volume, and
probably as able Il political economist
as the century has produced, made the
aplest exposition Of the Tarifl, and the
character OF Il government to be
found in our political literature. 1t
would be we'll if these papers furnish
nishing q complete account Of the
most interesting period in the history
OF the State, could be compiled into a
volume for the use of the Colleges of
the State, that sound views Of the con-
stltution and the government be in
stllled into our youth, while the argu-
ment to their minds would be a COM
plcte vindication Of the Sta ie's great
part in the past, and conserve the pa
triotism which characterized their ia
theirs.
The ordinance is signed by ninety
three subscribers, the Convention con-
Slstlng OF the constituent number of
the representation in the General AS
sembly. Many of the names are his
toric. James Hamilton, Junior. pre-
sided and Isaac W. %IIaync, as Clerk, at
tested the signatures. Among the
signers are TO lie found, Pierce Nj.
Butler, afterwards Governor and killed
in Mexico commanding the Palmetto
Regiment; Robert Y. uaync, then
Governor, George McDutlie, afterwards
Governor and Senator in Congress:
John l.. Wilson, author Of the celc-
DRAFTED duelling code in this State and
Governor: A. Burt, Congressman, r..
w. Barnwell, Senator, +. FL. Elmore,
Senator, William Harper, distingu-
1shed Chancellor, Job Johnson, dis
tlnguished Chancellor. r.. Barnwell
smith, known as r. b. Rhott, three of
the Pinckncys, f.. II. Wardlaw, a
Chancellor, Robert j.. Turnbull, and
many other names which now adorn
the historic page. II. j. Goodwin is
among them, afterwards Mayor of Co.
lumbia, who surrendered that city to
Sherman--thc incendiary: Edwin j..
scott, who published some fifteen
years ago a book OF "reminiscences
Inc President is the only signcr who
subscribes the District or Parish he
represented, S.. Peters standing OPP
posite MS .."me. Among them we
n the following, clearly the Lau-
rens delegation: A. Fuller, the father
OF our late Senator, DR.. A. c. Fuller
and DIR. f. G. Fuller; John S. James,
at one time Senator from this county
Archibald Young, of Young's Town
ship and father of the late III. c..
Young, a prominent lawyer and Sena-
tor from this county; John X. Griffin,
the father Of School Commissioner
Griffin, Of Clinton, who died some
years ago. This gentleman afterwards
represented the District in Congress
OF which l.a,.rens was q part.
Excitement ran very high through
out the State and the bitterness en-
gendored lastel for years. Those who
opposed notification were known as
submissionists and in derision called
"soap-tails" and the latter term was
the certain signal for war and of went
6ShoioIy ~ uCIcu lSGlCul1S
ensued. Cockades were universally
worn to designate the partizanship of
the wearer. The writer is sure that
two of the Laurens delegation were
nulliiers, II not all. A NJ. Aber-
crombie, a splendid specimen of man
hood when abont seventy, told the
writer that a dozen true bills were
found against him at one term
OF Court for licking Unionists, but
that Henry @. Young brought him
through in every case.
We regret want of space for liberal
extracts from the papers cited, bearing
upon the great struggle of South Caro-
lima for States Rights but we trust we
have said enough to excite the GU
riosity of some Of our young readers.
The struggle made in 80 by the public
mon in this State has undoubtedly
largely contributed to keep the Gov
nme within it's original mornings
and preserved for this and coming
ttmae tha lttlo that 10 1oft e.. -.