only the outward and ostensible indications of federal policy,
proclaimed and trumpeted abroad as the maxims of the Jackson, Van
Buren, and Tyler administrations, but to lay bare their secret
purposes, and never yet divulged designs for the future government
or dissolution of this Union.

"Further reflection convinced me that this exposition would require
more time than you could possibly devote to one meeting to hear me.
My friend and colleague, Mr. Appleton, has, in an answer to an
invitation of his constituents to a public dinner, lifted a corner
of the veil, and opened a glance at the monstrous and horrible
object beneath it; but South Carolina nullification itself, with its
appendages of separation, secession, and the forty-bale theory, was
but the struggles of Quixotism dreaming itself Genius, to erect on
the basis of state sovereignty a system for seating South Carolina
slavery on the throne of this Union in the event of success; or of
severing the present Union, and instituting, with a tier of embryo
Southern States to be wrested from the dismemberment of Mexico, a
Southern slaveholding confederation to balance the free Republic of
the North.

"'The passage,' says Mr. Appleton, 'of the revenue bill imposing
discriminating duties with a view to the protection and
encouragement of American industry, is, under the circumstances, an
event of the very highest importance. Notwithstanding the system had
been formerly established in 1816, and fortified by succeeding
legislation; notwithstanding its success in the development of our
resources and the establishment of manufactures and arts, surpassing
the expectation of the most sanguine; notwithstanding the immense
investments of capital made on the faith of the national legislation
inviting such application, the attempt was seriously entertained of
breaking down this whole system, with a reckless disregard of
consequences, either in the wanton destruction of capital, or, what
is far more important, in the general paralysis of the industry of
the country. _The origin of this attempt may be traced to the mad
ambition of certain politicians of South Carolina, who, in 1832,
formed the project of a Southern Confederacy, severed from the rest
of the Union, with that state for its centre, as affording more
security to the slave state