Nullification Convention

From 1824 to 1832, most if not all of the principles that were fought for during the American Civil War were implemented in South Carolina. In particular, as historian David Franklin Houstion writing in 1896 noted:

The pivotal change that the people of South Carolina would have to endure was the introduction of new tariffs on foreign goods. South Carolinians saw this as detrimental to their economy and beneficial only to those who lived to the north of them. However, it wasn’t until 1828 that the bitter feelings really began to surface. [Chauncey Samuel Boucher, The Nullification Controversy in South Carolina (New York: Greenwood Press, 1968), 2.] Some of those who felt strongly enough that what was happening was unconstitutional actually refused to acknowledge the new tariffs. [William W. Freehling, Prelude to Civil War (New York and London: Harper & Row, 1965), 1.] They simply refused to pay them. The Nullification Crisis had begun. Eventually, on November 19, 1832, a convention was held at Columbia. [Leonard W. Levy (general editor), State Papers on Nullification (New York: Da Capo Press, 1970), 295.] The nation was once again on the brink of civil war.

The Convention (A Summary of its Events)

Those who were aggrieved assembled in convention in 1832 to void those tariffs introduced both in 1828 and earlier that year. [Richard B. Latner, “The Nullification Crisis and Republican Subversion,” The Journal of Southern History, February, 1977, Vol. 43, No. 1, 23, http://www.jstor.org/view/00224642/di982343/98p0048z/4?frame=noframe&userID=[e-mail]/01cce4405f00501c9f485&dpi=3&config=jstor] Delegates from several electoral districts within the state of South Carolina gathered in the Hall of Representatives, in the town of Columbia. The Hon. Stephen D. Miller resided over the assembly and Mr. A. Burr was appointed secretary. The credentials and names of many were then enlisted as Members of the Convention. Next, a President was to be elected for the convention. Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the State, James Hamilton Jr. was the man for the job. [Leonard W. Levy (general editor), State Papers on Nullification (New York: Da Capo Press, 1970), 300.] Many other various appointments were made and by the end of the first day the convention was officially ready to act.On the second day, twenty-one men were chosen by the President of the convention to report upon the Act of Legislature entitled, “An Act to provide for the calling of a convention of the People of this State”. This was a practice meant to ensure the validity of the convention.By November 24, the very significant documents named the Report and the Ordinance, were both adopted by the convention. The Report called on the former powers of the state and the power of God to leave in South Carolina’s hands the duty of domestic economics. It accused the Union of infringing upon certain liberties that should never be obstructed. Next, the Ordinance was issued. The Ordinance was adopted to nullify the certain acts of the Congress of the United States that made it the law to lay duties and imposts on the importation of foreign commodities. [Leonard W. Levy (general editor), State Papers on Nullification (New York: Da Capo Press, 1970), 27-28.] This day shone the essence of the convention.

Result of the Convention

Although the tariff system did undergo significant alteration due to the grievances voiced at the Convention, as far as principles were concerned the national government had won. [David Franklin Houston, A Critical Study of Nullification in South Carolina (Gloucester, Massachusetts: Harvard Historical Studies, 1896), 134.] The changes made to the system, that were awarded to South Carolina, reduced tariff rates over a number of years, through a very gradual process. [David Franklin Houston, A Critical Study of Nullification in South Carolina (Gloucester, Massachusetts: Harvard Historical Studies, 1896), 135.]