The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-04

" III NNltls VI lHt islhlltutiOh WIN n
and their passions were raised TO the highest
pitch. by 1882 the iccliags OF tho majority OF
South Carol!nians were nlicnnted from the
Union. Tho state remained in tho Union, 1t Is
true; but her hahitual attitude toward u 1t, from
this time. was one at least OF Indifference.
Many OF her wiscst and most faT-sigl,tcd citi.
zrns felt that the final struggle was
only n matter Of time; that /" to sny.
only u matter of arousing tho moro con.
sentative Southern States. The aim of the writer
of this book has been TO look at tho movement
from within. to trace its origin and development
inside the boundaries OF South Carolina. and 10
discuss the validity of tho leading doctrines in
the light OF the presidents on which the nulli-
fiers mainly relied in South Carolina's earlier
history. We cannot follow the course OF the in
vcstigation in detail. but we shall mark some OF
the results rs they arc stated In u final chapter.
On the face of things, the issue of the nullin-
cation controversy was q decided victory for the
general Government, so far rs principles were
concerned. II is true that the States imnedi-
ate grievance had been partially removed. the
tariff system having undergone u considerable
degree OF alteration. The reform, however.
was not, by any means, so thoroughgOing as
South Carolina had demanded. The measure
which the nulliiers parided as n trophy at the
close OF tho struggle provided for only n very
gradual reduction of customs duties, and only ut
.hc end OF nine years was the uniform rate of 20
per cent. to b. reached. In view of this fact. IL
is suggested that the enthusiasm OF the multi
1crs should have been restrained. 1t Is also
pointed ont that tho reduction of the tariff in
1888 is not 10 be attributed solely to the atti-
tudc Of South Carolina. The conditions every
where were ripe for a curtailment of the Gus.
toms duties. South Carolina's opposition, at
most, did little more than hasten what, in all
likelihood, was to come about in a compara-
lively short time. The revenue OF the Govern
ment. under the tariff OF 1882. was too large for
its necessities and needed to he reduced.
II. however. WE may believe the declarations
Of the leaders OF the %nalliters before and after
the compromise. the question Of the scale OF
duty was an insignificant element in the strug-
gle. Whether the general Government or the
State was supreme, whether the Constitution
had created n nation or a league, whether there
should be a Government OF the majority or u
government OF tho minority; whether each
State should hold its destiny in its own
h nds; whether any opening should re-
main through which attacks might be d.
rectel against the peculiar institution of the
South; all these questions made up the real
Issue. and al these. except one, perhaps, had
been cmphatically decided against the State, so
far as they coald be decided pcaccably. As for
the unique doctrine on which the State had
placei her reliance. n ID II NOT. asks Pm, Hous-
ton. broken doyn at every point. and had not
the expectations of all its advocates been
disappolptedi The leaders entered upon
the struggle confidently, reckoning upon
the symp ithy OF the Executive, yet they
found President Jackson determined at
every haz ard to maintain the supremacy Of the
Union. South Carolina had looked for the en-
,ouragement and support of her sister States
AZ n matter of fact. her measures were hurried
beneath the logic and indignation of twenty
three out OF twcuty-four. Again. tho remedy
was eSpccted to be. aboye all things. peaceful.
It soon became evident that it could be enforced
only at the risk of z. civil war. The nulli-
aers had anticipated the united support of
the pcople of South Carolina: vet. with all the
pressure that was brought to bear. they were
able to command for their measures Only n ma
jority. Where then. INQUIRIES the author. was
there qualification for boastipg over the out.
comet In his Judgment, Robert Barnwcll Smith
was right when he told the State Convention of
1893 that little could be perceived that furnished
"cause for congratulation and triumph.'
Nevertheless. South Carolina continued to
boast Of the glorious stand she had made for lib
erty In 1882. and apparently retained the highest
opinion of her remedy. She did not bring her
self, indeed, 10 tho point of r~esorting TO II again,
but she brought IL out and threatened the
protectionists with II. During the tariff
discussion in Congress- in 1912 there was
again talk in South Carolina OF %nullify.
ing any measure that might be passed, and
the State Legislature went so far as to assert
the validity OF the notification doctrine. The
people of the State had come to regard the com.
promise measure AS a treaty made between
-, .ote.d =. a.. r,a..,, ca.,... -.
the one part. and the Convention of South Caro-
lima on the other, and deposited among the ar
chives of our country therefore,. when it
seemed probable that a high protective meas
ure would be forced upon them In 1912, their
indignation knew no bounds. Gov. Hammond
touched on the question In 1874 and explained
why South Carolina did not resort to multi
hcation in 1872. The State. he said, was then
closely united to the Democratic party on GER
tain questions OF great moment, and this party
had carricd the Conversational electinna nv "a