he bank。
The Bank of the United States always holds a great number of the notes issued by the provincial banks； which it can at any time oblige them to convert into cash。 It has itself nothing to fear from a similar demand； as the extent of its resources enables it to meet all claims。 But the existence of the provincial banks is thus threatened； and their operations are restricted； since they are only able to issue a quantity of notes duly proportioned to their capital。 They submit with impatience to this salutary control。 The newspapers which they have bought over； and the President； whose interest renders him their instrument； attack the bank with the greatest vehemence。 They rouse the local passions and the blind democratic instinct of the country to aid their cause； and they assert that the bank directors form a permanent aristocratic body； whose influence must ultimately be felt in the Government； and must affect those principles of equality upon which society rests in America。
The contest between the bank and its opponents is only an incident in the great struggle which is going on in America between the provinces and the central power； between the spirit of democratic independence and the spirit of gradation and subordination。 I do not mean that the enemies of the bank are identically the same individuals who； on other points； attack the Federal Government； but I assert that the attacks directed against the bank of the United States originate in the same propensities which militate against the Federal Government； and that the very numerous opponents of the former afford a deplorable symptom of the decreasing support of the latter。
The Union has never displayed so much weakness as in the celebrated question of the tariff。 *a The wars of the French Revolution and of 1812 had created manufacturing establishments in the North of the Union； by cutting off all free communication between America and Europe。 When peace was concluded； and the channel of intercourse reopened by which the produce of Europe was transmitted to the New World； the Americans thought fit to establish a system of import duties； for the twofold purpose of protecting their incipient manufactures and of paying off the amount of the debt contracted during the war。 The Southern States； which have no manufactures to encourage； and which are exclusively agricultural； soon complained of this measure。 Such were the simple facts； and I do not pretend to examine in this place whether their complaints were well founded or unjust。
＇Footnote a： See principally for the details of this affair； the Legislative Documents； 22d Congress； 2d Session； No。 30。＇
As early as the year 1820； South Carolina declared； in a petition to Congress； that the tariff was 〃unconstitutional； oppressive； and unjust。〃 And the States of Georgia； Virginia； North Carolina； Alabama； and Mississippi subsequently remonstrated against it with more or less vigor。 But Congress； far from lending an ear to these complaints； raised the scale of tariff duties in the years 1824 and 1828； and recognized anew the principle on which it was founded。 A doctrine was then proclaimed； or rather revived； in the South； which took the name of Nullification。
I have shown in the proper place that the object of the Federal Constitution was not to form a league； but to create a national government。 The Americans of the United States form a sole and undivided people； in all the cases which are specified by that Constitution； and upon these points the will of the nation is expressed； as it is in all constitutional nations； by the voice of the majority。 When the majority has pronounced its decision； it is the duty of the minority to submit。 Such is the sound legal doctrine； and the only one which agrees with the text of the Constitution； and the known intention of those who framed it。
The partisans of Nullification in the South maintain； on the contrary； that the intention of the Americans in uniting was not to reduce themselves to the condition of one and the same people； that they meant to constitute a league of independent States； and that each State； consequently retains its entire sovereignty； if not de facto； at least de jure； and has the right of putting its own construction upon the laws of Congress； and of suspending their execution within the limits of its own territory； if they are held to be unconstitutional and unjust。
The entire doctrine of Nullification is comprised in a sentence uttered by Vice…President Calhoun； the head of that party in the South； before the Senate of the United States； in the year 1833： could： 〃The Constitution is a compact to which the States were parties in their sovereign capacity； now； whenever a compact is entered into by parties which acknowledge no tribunal above their authority to decide in the last resort； each of them has a right to judge for itself in relation to the nature； extent； and obligations of the instrument。〃 It is evident that a similar doctrine destroys the very basis of the Federal Constitution； and brings back all the evils of the old confederation； from which the Americans were supposed to have had a safe deliverance。
When South Carolina perceived that Congress turned a deaf ear to its remonstrances； it threatened to apply the doctrine of nullification to the federal tariff bill。 Congress persisted in its former system； and at length the storm broke out。 In the course of 1832 the citizens of South Carolina； *b named a national Convention； to consult upon the extraordinary measures which they were called upon to take； and on November 24th of the same year this Convention promulgated a law； under the form of a decree； which annulled the federal law of the tariff； forbade the levy of the imposts which that law commands； and refused to recognize the appeal which might be made to the federal courts of law。 *c This decree was only to be put in execution in the ensuing month of February； and it was intimated； that if Congress modified the tariff before that period； South Carolina might be induced to proceed no further with her menaces； and a vague desire was afterwards expressed of submitting the question to an extraordinary assembly of all the confederate States。
＇Footnote b： That is to say； the majority of the people； for the opposite party； called the Union party； always formed a very strong and active minority。 Carolina may contain about 47；000 electors； 30；000 were in favor of nullification； and 17；000 opposed to it。＇
＇Footnote c： This decree was preceded by a report of the committee by which it was framed； containing the explanation of the motives and object of the law。 The following passage occurs in it； p。 34： … 〃When the rights reserved by the Constitution to the different States are deliberately violated； it is the duty and the right of those States to interfere； in order to check the progress of the evil； to resist usurpation； and to maintain； within their respective limits； those powers and privileges which belong to them as independent sovereign States。 If they were destitute of this right； they would not be sovereign。 South Carolina declares that she acknowledges no tribunal upon earth above her authority。 She has indeed entered into a solemn compact of union with the other States； but she demands； and will exercise； the right of putting her own construction upon it； and when this compact is violated by her sister States； and by the Government which they have created； she is determined to avail herself of the unquestionable right of judging what is the extent of the infraction； and what are the measures best fitted to obtain justice。〃＇
Chapter XVIII： Future Condition Of Three Races … Part IX
In the meantime South Carolina armed her militia； and prepared for war。 But Congress； which had slighted its suppliant subjects； listened to their complaints as soon as they were found to have taken up arms。 *d A law was passed； by which the tariff duties were to be progressively reduced for ten years； until they were brought so low as not to exceed the amount of supplies necessary to the Government。 *e Thus Congress completely abandoned the principle of the tariff； and substituted a mere fiscal impost to a system of protective duties。 *f The Government of the Union； in order to conceal its defeat； had recourse to an expedient which is very much in vogue with feeble governments。 It yielded the point de facto； but it remained inflexible upon the principles in question； and whilst Congress was altering the tariff law； it passed another bill； by which the President was invested with extraordinary powers； enabling him to overcome by force a resistance which was then no longer to be apprehended。
＇Footnote d： Congress was finally decided to take this step by the conduct of the powerful State of Virginia； whose legislature offered to serve as mediator between the Union and South Carolina。 Hitherto the latter State had appeared to be entirely abandoned； even by the States which had joined in her remonstrances。＇
＇Footnote e： This law was passed on March 2； 1833。＇
＇Footnote f： This bill was brought in by Mr。 Clay； and it passed in four days through both Houses of Congress by an immense majority。＇
But South Caroli