Therefore the agitators of South Carolina scanned the President’s message with unconcealed eagerness.  In that paradox of assertions and denials, of purposes to act and promises to refrain, they found much to assure them, but also something to cause doubt.  “As I understand the message of the President of the United States,” explained Mr. Magrath to the South Carolina Convention, “he affirms it as his right, and constitutional duty, and high obligation to protect the property of the United States within the limits of South Carolina, and to enforce the laws of the Union within the limits of South Carolina.  He says he has no constitutional power to coerce South Carolina, while at the same time he denies to her the right of secession.  It may be, and I apprehend it will be, Mr. President, that the attempt to coerce South Carolina will be made under the pretense of protecting the property of the United States within the limits of South Carolina.  I am disposed, therefore, at the very threshold to test the accuracy of this logic, and test the conclusions of the President of the United States.”

  [Sidenote] “Mr. Buchanan’s Administration,” p. 126.

President Buchanan had indeed declared in his message that the Constitution gave the Federal Government no power to coerce a State.  He had further said that the laws gave him no authority to execute civil or criminal process or suppress an insurrection with the help of the militia, or the army and navy, “in a State where no judicial authority exists to issue process, and where there is no marshal to execute it, and where, even if there were such an officer, the entire population would constitute one solid combination to resist him.”

So far as mere political theories could go, this was certainly an important concession to the conspirators.  In virtue of these doctrines, they could proceed, without danger to life and property, to hold conventions, pass secession ordinances, resign and refuse Federal offices, repudiate Northern debts, and effectively stop all Federal mails at the State line.  But reading another passage in this paradoxical message of President Buchanan, they found these other propositions and purposes, involving a flat contradiction, and which with sufficient reason excited the apprehensions of Mr. Magrath and his fellow-conspirators.  Said the message: 

“The same insuperable obstacles do not lie in the way of executing the laws for the collection of the customs.  The revenue still continues to be collected as heretofore at the custom-house in Charleston, and should the collector unfortunately resign, a successor may be appointed to perform this duty.”

  [Sidenote] “Mr. Buchanan’s Administration,” p. 126.