%334. May a State nullify an Act of Congress?%--The right of a state to nullify an act of Congress thus became the question of the hour, and was again set forth yet more fully by Calhoun in 1831. That the South was deeply in earnest was apparent, and in 1832 Congress changed the tariff of 1828, and made it less objectionable. But it was against tariff for protection, not against any particular tariff, that South Carolina contended, and finding that the North would not give up its principles, she put her threat into execution. The legislature called a state convention, which declared that the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were null and void and without force in South Carolina, and forbade anybody to pay the duties laid by these laws after February 1, 1833.[1] [Footnote 1: Houston's _A Critical Study of Nullification in South Carolina_; Parton's _Jackson_, Vol. III., Chaps. 32-34; Schurz's _Life of Clay_, Vol. II., Chap. 14; Von Holst's _Life of Calhoun_, Chap. 4; Lodge's _Life of Webster_, Chaps. 6, 7; Rhodes's _History of the United States_, Vol. I., pp. 40-50.] Jackson, who had just been reëlected, was not terrified. He bade the collector at Charleston go on and collect the revenue duties, and use force if necessary, and he issued a long address to the Nullifiers. On the one hand, he urged them to yield. On the other, he told them that "the laws of the United States must be executed.... Those who told you that you might peacefully prevent their execution deceived you.... Their object is disunion, and disunion by armed force is treason." %335. Webster's Great Reply to Calhoun.%--Calhoun, who since 1825 had been Vice President of the United States, now resigned, and was at once made senator from South Carolina. When Congress met in December, 1832, the great question before it was what to do with South Carolina. Jackson wanted a "Force Act," that is, an act giving him power to collect the tariff duties by force of arms. Hayne, who was now governor of South Carolina, declared that if this was done, his state would leave the Union. A great debate occurred on the Force Act, in which Calhoun, speaking for the South, asserted the right of a state to nullify and secede from the Union, while Webster, speaking for the North, denied the right of nullification and secession, and upheld the Union and the Constitution.[1] [Footnote 1: Johnston's _American Orations_, Vol. I., pp. 196-212; Webster's _Works_, Vol. III., pp. 248-355, 448-505; Rhodes's _History of the United States_, Vol. I., pp. 50-52.]