Chapter VI: Calhoun, Jackson, and National Government 134

Calhoun in the beginning a leader and advocate of national views
in the House of Representatives--Sectional division of States on
the question of slavery--Missouri compromise--Calhoun’s change of
opinion--The nullification of South Carolina--Calhoun’s
“inexorable logic” considered--The doctrine of nullification not
asserted from time of the Kentucky resolves until revived by
South Carolina--Jackson’s proclamation--His firmness--His
experience in political matters as lawyer, legislator, and
judge--Congress passed a force bill to collect duties--Act
reducing duties also passed--Strong resolutions of legislatures
of the Southern States against nullification--Supremacy of the
government maintained by judges appointed by all the political
parties in every case and over all the States--Judgments of State
courts constantly reversed until the time of the civil war--It is
Congress, not the court, that makes the laws--Judge
Story--History after the threatened nullification of South
Carolina--Legislation and decision of Supreme Court extending
slavery--The South’s preparation for disruption of the
Union--Virginia opposed the government without passing an
ordinance of secession--Military academies of Southern
States--The government stronger than Hamilton thought--The
exceeding excellence of the Constitution--New vigor of South
Carolina as a free State.

NULLIFICATION, SECESSION, WEBSTER.