amation of martial law in South Carolina and an order to arrest
Calhoun where he sat could not have come with more blinding,
staggering force. All hilarity ceased. The President, without adding
one word in the way of speech, lifted up his glass as a notice that
the toast was to be quaffed standing. Calhoun rose with the rest. His
glass so trembled in his hand that a little of the amber fluid
trickled down the side. Jackson stood silent and impassive. There was
no response to the toast. Calhoun waited until all sat down. Then he
slowly and with hesitating accent offered the second volunteer toast:
"The Union! Next to Our Liberty Most Dear!" Then, after a minute's
hesitation, and in a way that left doubt as to whether he intended it
for part of the toast or for the preface to a speech, he added: "May
we all remember that it can only be preserved by respecting the rights
of the States and by distributing equally the benefit and burden of
the Union."

The nullifiers had carefully planned the evening's proceedings with a
purpose to strengthen their cause with the country. They had not
reckoned on the President, and the dash of cold water which he had
administered caused them more anguish than any opposition that they
had yet encountered. The banquet broke up earlier than had been
expected, and the diners went off by twos and threes in eager
discussion of the scene that they had witnessed. Some were livid with
rage; some shook their heads in fear of civil war; but most rejoiced
in the splendid exhibition of executive dignity and patriotic fervor
which the President had given. Subsequently it transpired that Jackson
had acted on no mere impulse and that his course had been carefully
planned in consultation with Van Buren and other advisers.

Throughout the summer and autumn of 1830 both the State Rights and
Union parties in South Carolina worked feverishly to perfect their
organizations. The issue that both were making ready to meet was
nothing less than the election of a convention to nullify the tariff
laws. Those upholding nullification lost no opportunity to consolidate
their forces, and by the close of the year these were clearly in the
majority, although the unionist element contained many of the ablest
and most respected men in the State. Calhoun directed the nullifier
campaign, though he did not throw off all disguises until the summer
of the following year.

Though Jackson made no further public declarations, the v