That Virginian of Virginians, Patrick Henry, who so strenuously opposed his State’s adoption of the Constitution, struck the keynote, when he objected that it was “We, the people,” and not “We, the States,” that made the government. Later, when convinced of the wisdom of the adoption, and Virginia had shown by its resolutions its objections to the Alien and Sedition laws, and discontent at the rule of John Adams and the Federalists, he no less forcibly declared that Virginia _owed_ an obedience to the laws of the United States. It will be new to many that the Virginia resolutions do not in the least countenance the doctrine of secession and nullification: that the resolutions and explanations of them by the Virginia Legislature testify to an attachment and love of the Union, and a professed intent to strengthen and perpetuate it, and are, as they declare, only a protest against the assumption by the government of undelegated power. In the belief that the right and might both prevailed in our civil war, and in full trust in that faith, these remarks are submitted to the people of our whole country. CALEB WILLIAM LORING. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. PAGE WEBSTER AND HAYNE 1 Insistance of the South on the right of secession--Belief in this of English and of some Northern writers--The doctrine of Webster’s speech on nullification approved throughout the country except in South Carolina--Hayne’s doctrine and speech--Webster’s reply to Hayne’s attack on the Eastern States--Statement of Webster’s argument in reply to Hayne and Calhoun--Jackson’s vigorous opposition to nullification, and his proclamation. CHAPTER II. THE NATIONALITY OF THE CONSTITUTION 24