Page:Nullification Controversy in South Carolina.djvu/308

Rh oath would be a means of keeping up bitter party hostility in South Carolina.

The convention met according to the call on March 11, and President James Hamilton, Jr., resigned in favor of Governor Robert Y. Hayne. A select conmiittee of twenty-one was at once appointed to prepare the work of the convention. This committee presented on March 13 a report on the new tariff bill, together with an ordinance rescinding the ordinance of November 24, 1832; the report and ordinance were adopted March 15, virtually as at first reported, by a vote of 153 to 4. Three days later another ordinance was adopted which nullified the force bill and made further provision for the test oath.

As to the new tariff act, the convention declared that the reduction provided for by the bill was neither in its amount, nor in the time when it was to go into effect, such as the South had a right to require; yet such a step had been taken toward the true principles on which the duties on imports ought to be adjusted that the people of South