The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-02-04

Fd6O, inc HIST St2teE-FlgntS opinion
emanating from the Supreme Court
was that OF Iredell. a North Carolina
Feder2list. in the case Of Chisholm v.
Georgia. But at the crisis raised by
he alien n Sedition laws, a fear
that h Union was in danger and q
desire for Cancellation prevailed oTer
any manifestations CT political the
cries.
The nature Of the union was not
seriously in question again until the
controversy over the tariff and multi
fication. In 1927 the Legislature re-
solved that n increase IN the tariff
was inexpedient and hat whenever
q system is adopted by the general
government which does not equally
conserve the interests OF all, then the
right rests with any State or States
to question whether the benefits Of
the union are not more than counter
balanced by its evils This manifesto
against the tariff was OF course in
o~ffectual. and by 1880 it was evident
that South Carolina would attempt
nulliicatiOn. The people at large were
unprepared to indorse such a radical
measure and cenSured it IN many pub
lie meetings. But in the Legislature
OF 1890 q strong States-rights faction
dominated the enate and rejected
resolutions condcmning nuI!ification
which had passed the House. TWO
AAACI, Ak IcOS, SS CcIIPlOtl,or,
both the tariff and nu~liiGcat!on were
formally censured by the Legislature
as unconstitutional. This action on
notification is significant for two rea-
sons: First. Nathaniel Macon. for
years the leader OF the Old Jeffersonian
Democracy, in a letter to Il friend.
definitely expressed his belief in the
right Of secession. II have never pc
lieved a State could nullify and stay in
the UniOn.' he said, but have always
believed that a State might secede
when she pleased, provided she would
pay her proportion OF the public debt;
and this right I have considered the
Z best safeguard to public liberty and
to public justice that could be de-
sired" The notification debates are
also interesting because those who
: ~sympathiZed with South Carolina III
4 1882 and lived until 1859 favored
2 secession.
. In strong contrast TO the particular
: istic spirit of the early days were the
a policies OF the Wing party. which con
s trOiied the State administration from
: 1896 to 1850. Nowhere did the old
: line Wings OF the South leave a finel
T record than III North Carolina. Broad
r constructive ideas and cooperate.
Q with the ideals Of other sections O
" the country characterized their lead
& ers. Public chOolS and State aid i
q CT II "a . III 4
4 second bank of the United States, in
l. ternal Improvements, and a protectiv'
tariff by the Federal government Wer
70 typical measures advocated by tn
e party. While there were stroni
e States-rights clements in its member
n ship. it's most influential leaders re
garded the Federal Constitution q
le something more thar Il compaC
se among States-rather as no charte
~ OF an indestruct!ble union. by whic
the American people were to b
& guided through all time. The rise {
u this new party conceded with lOcs
e: sectional conditions. In contrast t
o. the cotton States the Wings wer
Id most popular in the counties whel
id slavery and its industries did not pre-
es dominate; these Included the weste1
I'd part Of the State, a portion OF tx
be central region, n the marshy swan
t. country along the coast. The reasO
for this popularity was the Wing PR
he gram Of progress. these sections neet
ing internal improvements by Sta
it. aid. The strength OF the Democrat
VS. on the other hand. lay in those cou
ties where slavery. cotton, and t
n bacco produced q settled. unchangil
- economic system. 1t was thereto
at good policy for each party to choo
ell it's candidates in state campaigl
o. from the section IL which ii was nuT
ed erlcally the weaker. mus an caste
,ut Wing was often nominated for COVE
n nor TO oppose q western DernOCr
"a The custom passed over to the slave
to debateS. the proslavery leadership
the Legislature being frequently civ,
ms to a western Democrat.
ate Such were the underlying social a
political conditions in North Carolil
when the national controversy ov
III. slavery extension was revived. AT
ere tho Mexican war. Just az mat III
cry the Supremacy OF n Whiss Deg
vas 10 "aiae. All tilat oecAlEe the slave
are issue was an iHlportaat factor. Tor
~ caused a serious division OF Opinis
.,so In the Legislature of 1S4S-4s w.
ye- Steele, a Wing from the South Car
lima line, introduced resolutions IN t
in IOWer mousse ~ inc eNect tilaA |
Territories belonged to the States; II
la enc seAeIai government as thc aSt