INTRODUCTION:
From 1819 to 1821, Congress was debating over the Missouri Compromise.
The north opposed and the south favored. The excitement spread to the
state Legislature and to the people. Many meetings were held.
Finally Henry Clay succeeded in getting Congress to pass the Missouri
Compromise. This act admitted Missouri as a slave state.
Hayne had spoken against a protective tariff and for nullification and
Daniel Webster felt called upon to reply so he made a great speech.
His speech was considered by good judges the best ever delivered in
Congress. He was probably the greatest orator of his time.
South Carolina refused to pay the tariff in 1832 and nullified the
law of Congress. President Jackson hurried the army and navy to make
her pay.
John Calhoun was for nullification. He said to save the South from the
North, a state had a right to nullify a law of Congress.
The third act will be Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun,
speaking on the right of nullification.
SPEAKER CLAY: Gentlemen, we have been debating on the right of a state
to nullify. We must think of this matter in a calm manner. It is one
of the most serious times of our country. Our Union is in danger. We
have heard Mr. Hayne speak on Nullification; also Mr. Calhoun.
MEMBER OF CONGRESS: Congress has no right to force another state to
pay a tariff and we declare a state has a right to nullify.
MEMBER OF CONGRESS: President Jackson says the Federal Union must and
shall be preserved. He has warned the people of South Carolina that
any attempt at resistance will be put down with a high hand. We of the
North feel that this must be done in order to save the Union.
MEMBER OF CONGRESS: Tariff is helpful to the North but not to the
South. There is always a difference between the North and South and
we of the South feel that nullification is right to save us from the
North.
CALHOUN: Mr. Clay.
CLAY: Mr. Calhoun.
CALHOUN: The Southern people using slave labor will raise more tobacco
and cotton than they need so the tariff is hurtful to them. The
Northern people using free labor will manufacture all kinds of things
and the tariff is helpful to them. The Southern people are for
agriculture. The Northern people for manufacturing. The Southern are
for slavery and the Northern are for free labor. To protect the South
from the North the state has the right to nullify a law of Congress.
The state has the right because the state is above the nation. The
states made the constitution.
I believe that nullification is a means of saving the Union from
secession.
HAYNES: That is the way I feel, Gentlemen. Nullification is right.
MR. WEBSTER: Mr. Clay.
MR. CLAY: Mr. Webster.
MR. WEBSTER: We must not let South Carolina refuse to obey the laws
of the Union. For if she does she leaves the Union. If South Carolina
leaves the Union other states will also leave. Gentlemen of Congress:
Nullification is another name for secession. When my eyes shall be
turned to behold for the last time the sun in heaven, may I not see
him shining on the broken and dishonored fragments of a once glorious
nation. But may I see our flag without a single stripe erased or
polluted, not a single star obscured but everywhere spread all over
in characters of living light, that sentiment dear to every American
heart, Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.
MR. CLAY: Gentlemen: I offer a compromise hoping it will please both
the North and South. I propose that the tariff be gradually reduced
till 1842 when all duties shall be 20% on the value of the articles
imported. I think, gentlemen this will be a solution of the question.
We will debate on it at the next meeting.
_End of Act III._