Page:Nullification Controversy in South Carolina.djvu/325

306 until the close of the session and it was certain that South Carolina had put her ordinance into execution. As it was, the administration was embarrassed by having its leading measure supported by its bitterest enemies—ultra-federalists and ultra-tariffites—who would be pleased to see the North and the South arrayed against each other. If South Carolina yielded to the Virginia intercession, there was no need for the enforcing act, and if she should not yield, it could have come forward under most favorable circumstances.

After the convention had ended the nullification episode as far as the tariff was concerned, the Nullifiers still continued their military organization. On March 26 general orders were issued from the headquarters of the commander-in-chief at Charleston, declaring that in view of the force bill, though the convention had repealed the ordinance of nullification and the acts of the legislature passed in pursuance thereof, it had expressly excepted the act "further to alter and amend the