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.
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