The Sifted Grain and the Grain Sifters 203 was, it is true, the immediate cause of quarrel, but the seat of dis-* turbance lay deeper. In another country, and under other condi- tions, it was the identical struggle which, in feudal times, went on in Great Britain, in France and in Spain, and which, more recently, and in our own day only, we have seen brought to a close in Germany and in Italy, — the struggle of a rising spirit of nationality to over- come the clannish instinct, — the desire for local independence. In the beginning Virginia stood forward as the exponent of state sover- eignty. Jefferson was its mouthpiece. It was he who drew up the famous Kentucky resolutions of 1798-99, and his election to the presidency in 1800 was the recognized victory of the school of states' rights over Federalism. Later the parties changed sides, — as political parties are wont to do. Possession of the government led to a marked modification of views ; new issues were presented ; and, in 1807, the policy which took shape in Jefferson's Embargo converted the Federalist into a disunion organization, which disap- peared from existence in the famous Hartford Convention of 18 14-1 5. New England was then the centre of the party of the centrifugal force, and the issues were commercial. Fortunately, up to 181 5 the issue between the spirit of local sovereignty and the ever-grow- ing sense of nationality had not taken shape over any matter of dif- ference sufficiently great and far-reaching to provoke an appeal to force. Not the less for that was the danger of conflict there, — a sufficient cause and suitable occasion only were wanting, and those under ordinary conditions might be counted upon to present them- selves in due course of time. They did present themselves in 1832, still under the economical guise. But now the moral issue lurked behind, though the South did not yet stand directly opposed to the advancing spirit of the age. But nullification — the logical outcome of the theory of absolute state sovereignty — was enunciated by Cal- houn, and South Carolina took from Virginia the lead in the reaction- ary movement from nationality. The danger once more passed away ; but it is obvious to us now, and, it would seem, should have been plain to any cool-headed observer then, that, when the issue next presented itself, a trial of strength would be well-nigh inevi- table. The doctrine of state sovereignty, having assumed the shape of nullification, would next develop that of secession, and the direct issue over nationality would be presented. Almost before the last indications of danger over the economical question had disappeared, slavery loomed ominously up. They did not realize it at the time, but it was now an angry wrangle over a step in the progressive evolution of the human race. The equality of man before the law and his Maker was insisted upon, and' was
