They submitted to the
authority of the United States, but on terms fixed by themselves. And,
what is more, they supplied practically every constitutional and
political argument to be used by their sons in 1860 to justify
secession.
CHAPTER IX
THE WAR ON THE UNITED STATES BANK
"Nothing lacks now to complete the love-feast," wrote Isaac Hill
sardonically to Thomas H. Benton after the collapse of nullification,
"but for Jackson and Webster to solemnize the coalition [in support of
the Union] with a few mint-juleps! I think I could arrange it, if
assured of the cooeperation of yourself and Blair on our side, and
Jerry Mason and Nick Biddle on theirs. But never fear, my friend. This
mixing of oil and water is only the temporary shake-up of
Nullification. Wait till Jackson gets at the Bank again, and then the
scalping-knives will glisten once more."
The South Carolina controversy had indeed brought Jacksonians and
anti-Jacksonians together. But once the tension was relaxed, there
began the conflict of interests which the New Hampshire editor had
predicted.
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