Page:Nullification Controversy in South Carolina.djvu/370

Rh sacred column of our social edifice, was cited as an example of the means they might adopt to accomplish disunion. In consequence of such arguments in the press, meetings were held and many protests were prepared to send to the legislature. The Charleston city election on September 2 proved another victory for the Nullification party by a safe margin. The Unionists, however, had explanations to offer for their defeat, and zealously endeavored to rally for the state election. This exciting state election, termed by many the most important in the history of the state to that date, proved to be another victory for the Nullifiers, though not by so large a majority as two years before. In Charleston their majority was reduced somewhat and the election was so close that there was an average of only 115 votes difference out of some 2,700 votes cast. It was so close that the Union men claimed that the corrupt practices of their opponents were all that gave them