progress of the evil; to resist
usurpation, and to maintain, within their respective limits, those
powers and privileges which belong to them as independent sovereign
States. If they were destitute of this right, they would not be
sovereign. South Carolina declares that she acknowledges no tribunal
upon earth above her authority. She has indeed entered into a solemn
compact of union with the other States; but she demands, and will
exercise, the right of putting her own construction upon it; and when
this compact is violated by her sister States, and by the Government
which they have created, she is determined to avail herself of the
unquestionable right of judging what is the extent of the infraction,
and what are the measures best fitted to obtain justice."]

Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races--Part IX

In the meantime South Carolina armed her militia, and prepared for war.
But Congress, which had slighted its suppliant subjects, listened to
their complaints as soon as they were found to have taken up arms. *d
A law was passed, by which the tariff duties were to be progressively
reduced for ten years, until they were brought so low as not to exceed
the amount of supplies necessary to the Government. *e Thus Congress
completely abandoned the principle of the tariff; and substituted a mere
fiscal impost to a system of protective duties. *f The Government of
the Union, in order to conceal its defeat, had recourse to an expedient
which is very much in vogue with feeble governments. It yielded the
point de facto, but it remained inflexible upon the principles in
question; and whilst Congress was altering the tariff law, it passed
another bill, by which the President was invested with extraordinary
powers, enabling him to overcome by force a resistance which was then no
longer to be apprehended.

[Footnote d: Congress was finally decided to take this step by the
conduct of the powerful State of Virginia, whose legislature offered
to serve as mediator between the Union and South Carolina. Hitherto the
latter State had appeared to be entirely abandoned, even by the States
which had joined in her remonstrances.]

[Footnote e: This law was passed on March 2, 1833.]

[Footnote f: This bill was brought in by Mr. Clay, and it passed in four
days through both Houses of Congress by an immense majority.]

But South Carolina did not consent to leave the Union in the enjoyment
of these scanty trophies of success: