The Nullification Controversy in South Carolina

by Chauncey Samuel Boucher

The

Nullification Controversy

in South Carolina

By

Chauncey Samuel Boucher, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of American History
in Washington University

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Copyright 1916 By
The University of Chicago

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All Rights Reserved

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Published June 1916

Composed and Printed By
The University of Chicago Press
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

TO

MY FATHER AND MOTHER

PREFACE

To relate the story of the nullification controversy in South Carolina as it is found in the writings of the men who were participants in it, is the object of this monograph. For six years the conflict was bitterly waged and missed being civil war by a narrow margin. So much attention has been given to speculations on the theory of nullification from the standpoint of political science, that the history of the party contest has been neglected; and even from the theoretical viewpoint a detailed study of the views of the contemporaneous supporters and opponents of the doctrine has been neglected. The effort has been made in this treatise to delineate the various shades of party beliefs at all stages of the controversy.

In the search for materials the writer fortunately gained access to files of several of the leading newspapers of the Union and the State Rights parties, representing both the interior and the coastal sections; several valuable pamphlet collections; and the unpublished correspondence and papers of prominent leaders of the opposing factions, and of two men most prominently connected with the administration. For the courtesy and kind assistance rendered by the custodians and owners of these valuable materials, the author desires to express his appreciation. He is especially indebted to Professor Claude H. Van Tyne and Professor Ulrich B. Phillips, both of the University of Michigan, for encouragement and counsel most generously given, and to Professor William E. Dodd, of the University of Chicago, who volunteered to read sections of the proof.

In order to facilitate reading, the original pimctuation and capitalization of many quotations have been changed somewhat to make them con- form more to present usage.

C. S. Boucher

St. Louis, Mo. March 1, 1916

CONTENTS

chapter		page
I.	The Origin of the Conflict (1824–29)	1
II.	Nullification Advocated and Denounced (1830)	46
III.	The First Test of Strength (1830–31)	88
IV.	A Year OF Campaigning (1831)	119
V.	The Nullifiers Capture the Legislature (1832)	164
VI.	Nullification Adopted (1832)	208
VII.	Jackson and Nullification (1832–33)	228
VIII.	Nullification Suspended (1833)	262
IX.	The Compromise Tariff and the Force Bill (1833)	286
X.	The Test Oath (1833–35)	316
Bibliography		367

MAPS

page
I.	South Carolina Districts and Parishes in 1830  facing	iii
II.	Senate Vote on State Convention, 1830	108
III.	House Vote on State Convention, 1830	109
IV.	Jackson and Anti-Jackson Caucuses, 1831	161
V.	Popular Vote on State Convention, 1832	203
VI.	Legislature of 1832, for and against Convention	204
VII.	House Vote on Governor's Counter-Proclamation, and Union Vote in Convention, 1832	244
VIII.	House Vote on the Test Oath, 1832	245
IX.	House Vote on the Test Oath, 1833	320
X.	Popular Vote for Legislature, 1834	354
XI.	Legislature of 1834	355