The term “nullification,” in a political sense, is said to have originated with Thomas Jefferson in 1798. In 1832 the South Carolina men declared that they would “nullify” the tariff by not allowing duties to be collected at Charleston. This was an assertion of the precedence of State rights over Federal laws; and the State rights men came to be called “nullifiers.”
1799. The “Virginia Resolutions” indicated “a nullification by those sovereignties of all unauthorized acts done under color of that instrument” [the Federal Constitution] as the rightful remedy.
1830. This argument was considered by all the nullifiers as overwhelming.—Mass. Spy, July 7.
1830. Nullification nullified.—Heading, id., Sept. 22.
1830. In Columbia (S.C.), the seat of Government, and the very focus of Nullification, two Nullifiers, and two anti-Nullifiers are chosen to the Assembly.—Id., Oct. 27.
1830. It is to be hoped that, if the Nullificators do move, it will be to Mexico, or beyond the Rocky Mountains.—Id., Oct. 27: from the Massachusetts Journal.
1832. ‘Memoirs of a Nullifier,’ published at Columbia, S.C.
1834. So. Carolina was fond of a name which she would not swap, because these Nullifiers of the south wanted to establish their own principles.—Mr. Grundy in the U.S. Senate, April 30: Cong. Globe, p. 355.
1835. [Andrew Jackson] said at the same time to Georgia, ‘You may nullify, but South Carolina shall not.’—‘Col. Crockett’s Tour,’ p. 71.
1838. Mr. Calhoun is as full as ever of his nullification doctrines; and those who know the force that is in him, and his utter incapacity of modification by other minds (after having gone through as remarkable a revolution of political opinion as perhaps any man ever experienced), will no more expect repose and self-retention from him than from a volcano in full force.—H. Martineau, ‘Retrospect of Western Travel,’ i. 148. (N.E.D.)
1839. Sir, let the Constitution speak, the compact of union, and by it let every Nullifier abide.—Mr. Cooper of Georgia, House of Repr., Dec. 4: Cong. Globe, p. 15.
