But, Sir, a third State is of opinion, not only that these laws of imposts are constitutional, but that it is the absolute duty of Congress to pass and to maintain such laws; and that, by omitting to pass and maintain them, its constitutional obligations would be grossly disregarded.  She herself relinquished the power of protection, she might allege, and allege truly, and gave it up to Congress, on the faith that Congress would exercise it.  If Congress now refuse to exercise it, Congress does, as she may insist, break the condition of the grant, and thus manifestly violate the Constitution; and for this violation of the Constitution, she may threaten to secede also.  Virginia may secede, and hold the fortresses in the Chesapeake.  The Western States may secede, and take to their own use the public lands.  Louisiana may secede, if she choose, form a foreign alliance, and hold the mouth of the Mississippi.  If one State may secede, ten may do so, twenty may do so, twenty-three may do so.  Sir, as these secessions go on, one after another, what is to constitute the United States?  Whose will be the army?  Whose the navy?  Who will pay the debts?  Who fulfil the public treaties?  Who perform the constitutional guaranties?  Who govern this District and the Territories?  Who retain the public property?

Mr. President, every man must see that these are all questions which can arise only after a revolution.  They presuppose the breaking up of the government.  While the Constitution lasts, they are repressed; they spring up to annoy and startle us only from its grave.

The Constitution does not provide for events which must be preceded by its own destruction.  SECESSION, therefore, since it must bring these consequences with it, is REVOLUTIONARY, and NULLIFICATION is equally REVOLUTIONARY.  What is revolution?  Why, Sir, that is revolution which overturns, or controls, or successfully resists, the existing public authority; that which arrests the exercise of the supreme power; that which introduces a new paramount authority into the rule of the State.  Now, Sir, this is the precise object of nullification.  It attempts to supersede the supreme legislative authority.  It arrests the arm of the executive magistrate.  It interrupts the exercise of the accustomed judicial power.  Under the name of an ordinance, it declares null and void, within the State, all the revenue laws of the United States.  Is not this revolutionary?  Sir, so soon as this ordinance shall be carried into effect, a revolution will have commenced in South Carolina.  She will have thrown off the authority to which her citizens have heretofore been subject.  She will have declared her own opinions and her own will to be above the laws and above the power of those who are intrusted with their administration.  If she makes good these declarations, she is revolutionized.  As to her, it is as distinctly a change of the supreme power as the American Revolution of 1776.  That