Missouri, disclaimed the doctrine of nullification. North Carolina and Alabama opposed it, but passed resolutions declaring the tariff unconstitutional and inexpedient. Georgia, by a vote of 102 to 51 in the house, considered nullification unconstitutional, and by a more decisive vote denounced the tariff. This state proposed a convention of the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi, to devise measures to obtain relief from the tariff. Virginia held to the state-rights doctrine, but requested South Carolina to desist in its course; and a commissioner was sent to that state to urge a reconciliation between the state and the general government. New Hampshire resolved in favour of a modification of the tariff. Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania were opposed to making any alteration of the law. Other states passed resolutions in favour of a modification, and against the right of nullification.

While the different state legislatures were thus expressing opinions upon the tariff, Congress was engaged in the consideration of bills proposing a reduction, so as not only to restore peace in South Carolina, but to conform to the popular opinion entertained in the different states. Mr. Clay, senator, from Kentucky, introduced a bill "to preserve the protective tariff for a length of time, and to restore good feelings and tranquillity among the people." Mr. Calhoun favoured the passage of the bill. It passed in the senate ayes, 29; noes, 16. In the house: ayes, 119; noes, 85. It was signed by the president, and became a law on the 2nd of March, 1833. The leading

provisions were as follows:-A periodical annual reduction of one-tenth of the duties for seven years; after which, all the remaining duty above twenty per centum on the value, should be equally divided into two parts; one part to be struck off at the end of one year thereafter, and the other half at the end of another year; so that, at the end of nine years, all duties should be reduced to twenty per centum on the value, with a list of free articles, and no more revenue to be raised than was necessary for the economical support of the government; and the act was to be permanent. The passage of this Compromise Bill restored peace to the country. The convention of South Carolina was then called together by the governor. It met on the 11th of March, and declared the compromise tariff as satisfactory; and it then repealed the ordinance nullifying the United States' revenue laws, and annulled the enforcing laws. Thus ended the contest. The state-rights men claimed a victory; but, on the other hand, the opponents of nullification considered that they had purchased a peace without the sacrifice of principle.

NATIONAL EXCITEMENTS.

Before closing this chapter, we will refer to a few important occurrences in the history of the United States.

In 1783, was formed the noted army plot against the general government, on account of the reduction of pay. It was happily settled through the influence of Washington, before any outbreak took place.

In 1790, the country was much disturbed about the sectional location of the capital; and there were serious

apprehensions of a dissolution of the Union on that account during the first term of Washington.

In 1798, the "alien and sedition laws" were fiercely assailed by partisans, and they produced great excitement throughout the country.

The "Burr conspiracy" of 1806-27, was an incident in American political history, that remains partly veiled in doubt. The popular opinion was, that he aimed at the separation of the western or south-western states from the Union, and the organisation of an independent government, of which he was to be the head. His schemes were timely crushed by the United States' government.

The admission of Missouri into the Union, in 1821, produced the greatest excitement; and a dissolution of the Union was feared by the people throughout the whole country. It was a struggle for and against the extension of slave territory. Happily for the nation, it was settled by Mr. Clay's Compromise Bill, which declared that slavery should never exist north of lat. 36° 30'.

In 1844, it was proposed that Texas should be annexed to the United States, and the democratic party favoured the measure. The Whig party opposed it. The contest was exciting; and the legislature of Massachusetts declared that the annexation of Texas "was a virtual dissolution of the Union !" The democratic party succeeded in the election of its candidate for the presidency; the republic of Texas was annexed to the United States; and the war with Mexico followed, which produced a perfect cessation of political warfare for the time being.

In 1850, the Union was again on the verge of a

dissolution; but the political elements were calmed by a Compromise Bill, proposed by Mr. Clay, which passed the Congress.

Again, in 1854, the nation was aroused on the subject of slavery, by the virtual repeal of the Missouri compromise of 1821, on the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill.

In 1858, the Mormon war was the cause of serious apprehension to the nation; but an efficient army was dispatched, and the rebellion quieted without the shedding of blood.

In the foregoing, we have briefly noticed the different "eras of trouble," with respect to the internal workings of the United States' government. Several times the nation has been upon the verge of destruction; but at each, a patriot seemed to be at hand to propose a pacific remedy, in which the people confided.

On the occurrence of disruptive excitements heretofore in the United States, the policy observed by the presidents has been conciliatory. They have appointed commissioners, or adopted other means, to explain to the people the error of their ways, and to propose measures to relieve them from oppression. The Whisky rebellion was made comparatively bloodless, because Washington induced the people to believe that the excise tax would be modified. Jackson terminated the South Carolina nullification of 1832 by pacific measures; and among them was the modification of the oppressive tariff. So it has been with all our turbulent eras: relief has been promised to the excited and oppressed people; and thus, by kind words and acts, the Union has been preserved.

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CHAPTER XIV.

Virginia Colony opposed to the Importation of Slaves; Somerset Decision in England; Slavery in the Colonies, before and after the Revolution; Abolition of Slavery in the Northern States; Retardation of Emancipation produced by the Abolitionists.

VIRGINIA COLONY OPPOSED TO SLAVERY.

On the 12th of June, 1776, the people of Virginia unanimously adopted, in their constitution, a schedule of complaints against the sovereign of England, in justification of their course for severing their allegiance; amongst which was the grave and serious charge, viz., " of prompting our negroes to rise in arms among us—those very negroes whom, by an inhuman use of his negative, he had refused us permission to exclude, by law," from our territory. When the constitution was revised in 1830, the Virginians again proclaimed to the world that slavery was forced upon them by their mother country. In 1850, when the constitution was again revised, they reasserted the charge; and future generations, for all time, will do the same. All the colonies, north and south, were opposed to the extension of slavery, or the further introduction of slaves into their respective jurisdictions. They passed laws, prior to the revolution, to prevent further importations, under heavy penalties; but those resolves were defeated by the crown, as the ministry had instructed the colonial