the people of the State would not “submit to the application of force on the part of the federal Government to reduce this State to obedience.”  Should force be used, the ordinance boldly declared—­indeed, should any action contrary to the will of the people be taken to execute the measures declared void—­such efforts would be regarded as “inconsistent with the longer continuance of South Carolina in the Union,” and “the people of this State” would “thenceforth hold themselves absolved from all further obligation to maintain or preserve their political connection with the people of the other States, and will forthwith proceed to organize a separate Government, and to do all other acts and things which sovereign and independent States may of right do.”

In accordance with the instructions of the convention, the Legislature forthwith reassembled to pass the measures deemed necessary to enforce the ordinance.  A replevin act provided for the recovery of goods seized or detained for payment of duty; the use of military force, including volunteers, to “repel invasion” was authorized; and provision was made for the purchase of arms and ammunition.  Throughout the State a martial tone resounded.  Threats of secession and war were heard on every side.  Nightly meetings were held and demonstrations were organized.  Blue cockades with a palmetto button in the center became the most popular of ornaments.  Medals were struck bearing the inscription:  “John C. Calhoun, First President of the Southern Confederacy.”  The Legislature, reassembling in December, elected Hayne as Governor and chose Calhoun—­who now resigned the vice presidency—­to take the vacant seat in the Senate.  In his first message to the Legislature Webster’s former antagonist declared his purpose to carry into full effect the nullification ordinance and the legislation supplementary to it, and expressed confidence that, if the sacred soil of the State should be “polluted by the footsteps of an invader,” no one of her sons would be found “raising a parricidal arm against our common mother.”

Thus the proud commonwealth was panoplied for a contest of wits, and perchance of arms, with the nation.  Could it hope to win?  South Carolina had a case which had been forcibly and plausibly presented.  It could count on a deep reluctance of men in every part of the country to see the nation fall into actual domestic combat.  There were, however, a dozen reasons why victory could not reasonably be looked for.  One would have been enough—­the presence of Andrew Jackson in the White House.

Through federal officers and the leaders of the Union party Jackson kept himself fully informed upon the situation, and six weeks before the nullification convention was called he began preparations to meet all eventualities.  The naval authorities at Norfolk were directed to be in readiness to dispatch a squadron to Charleston; the commanders of the forts in Charleston Harbor were ordered to double their vigilance and