one of our first moves."[1] Other Nullifiers there were who considered the entire unfortunate affair the result of bad management, for which Governor Hayne was largely responsible; they believed that he more than anyone else was to blame for the oath being put into the military act and for not raising the issue solely in the form of the constitutional amendment. By this policy the Union party, instead of being disorganized as the governor had hoped, was furnished with a rallying cry and was greatly strengthened.[2]
From the time of the governor's proclamation the Nullifiers began actively to organize and to campaign for the fall contest. In Charleston the Revolutionary Society and the '76 Association had coalesced and formed the Whig Association, a Nullification, anti-Jackson political organization. This proved the cue for the rest of the state, and during the summer Whig associations were formed in many quarters. July 4 was a convenient occasion for the promotion of these societies.[3]
