Page:Nullification Controversy in South Carolina.djvu/295

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276
Nullification Controversy in South Carolina

over the convention. The injunctions laid by the convention on the citizen were positive that he should pay no duties under the acts of 1828 and 1832 after February 1; but this solemn determination of the sovereignty of South Carolina had been superseded. The Union men were pleased with the moderation of the State Rights party in recommending to its members that they refrain from contention while the subject of the tariff was so near a settlement ; but that such a recommendation proceeded from a local meeting showed in what inconsistency the party had involved itself.[1]

Even though the process of nullification had been suspended, the Ntillifiers continued their recruiting, for along with the plans for tariff reform the Wilkins force bill had been introduced, to provide for the forcible collection of the duties if necessary. Parades and reviews were staged to arouse interest and encourage enlistment. James H. Hammond, a district commander, reported in the first week of February that the commander-in-chief could count on 850 men in Barnwell, about two-thirds of the fighting men; in the last week in the same month he reported that

  1. Patriot, January 23, 1833.