Strictures on Nullification

In the heated summer of 1832 the governor of South Carolina called an emergency legislative session, prompting a convention that quickly drafted an “Ordinance to nullify” federal revenue laws. The pamphlet reproduces that ordinance, the accompanying exposition, and the addresses to both the nation and the state, while outlining the political maneuvering that led to its adoption. Readers hear the raw arguments of Chancellor Harper, Mr. McDuffie, General Hayne and Mr. Turnbull as they rally the state against the controversial tariff.

The author then steps back to offer a measured, almost courtroom‑like review of whether South Carolina’s actions sit within constitutional bounds. By favouring the older term “annul” over “nullify,” the writer seeks clarity amid the heated debate, inviting listeners to consider the legal principles at stake without resorting to partisan rhetoric. This concise snapshot of the Nullification Crisis provides a vivid glimpse into a pivotal moment when the Union’s future hung in the balance.