Would you ride down to South Carolina and hang Calhoun by the first tree?

[A18]

Yes. I hate President Jackson, but this is one of the few things I agree with him on. Calhoun's support for nullification was treasonous.

He probably would have supported the Confederacy had he lived to see the day.

[AuH2O]

What a great statesman. Jackson was an asshole... most Northerners even respected Calhoun.

[A18]

Obviously the poll question is hyperbole, but contracts have to be followed. States can't just nullify constitutional legislation.

And if the federal government wasn't intended to have the authority in and of itself to make legislation, there would be no executive branch.

[Rob]

Calhoun was a traitor.

[Jake]

He probably would have supported the Confederacy had he lived to see the day.

As would I.  Should I be hung?

[Cashcow]

Yes. I hate President Jackson, but this is one of the few things I agree with him on. Calhoun's support for nullification was treasonous.

He probably would have supported the Confederacy had he lived to see the day.

I agree with the entirety of this statement.

[AuH2O]

Power lies in the people, not the government.

[A18]

Power lies in the people, not the government.

The federal government is elected by the same people that elect the state governments. Certain issues are supposed to be decided by the people of the nation as a whole, and others by the specific people of the many states.

Do you support county nullification?

[J. J.]

Power lies in the people, not the government.

"The trouble is, in a democracy, the whores are us," as my tag line says.

[AuH2O]

So what do you do when the government abuses the law?

Take it?

Governments only have legitimacy insofar as they follow the law that created them. When they cease to do that, they cease to have legitimacy, and instead only have power.

Only a coward or a fool would mistake the two.

[A18]

So what do you do when the government abuses the law?

By passing a tariff? You try to repeal it.

True, it probably wouldn't happen, but repealing the income tax probably won't happen. In both cases, it's because the people getting screwed are the minority.

[AuH2O]

You did not answer the question.

What do you do when the government abuses its power?

When is the abuse bad enough?

When they tariff you illegally?

Compromise the 2nd Amendment?

Misuse the 1st Amendment?

Stick cameras on you wherever you go?

Take half your money?

When is it enough? When the government creates a structure to perpetuate its own power, and thus when you can't overcome them at the ballot box? When you need tens of thousands of signatures at minimum to make the ballot? When unelected judges invalidate the legislature and referendums alike?

How about when they take away your neighbors in the night? Would that be enough? Jews were a minority in Germany, a very small one in fact (less than 1%). But I don't hear the people here saying, oh well, they should have done better politically to stop the Nazis. That's because you're a bunch of hypocrites, and frankly, a bunch of fools to trust people with power and without accountability.

[A18]

The line has to be drawn somewhere. I don't see how South Carolina was the victim of illegal tariffs.

The fact that I favor rebellion under certain circumstances doesn't mean I have to favor it under every circumstance. That's hardly hypocritcal, as it is by no means inconsistent.

You didn't answer the question of whether or not you support county nullification.

[PBrunsel]

Anyone who preaches sedition and secession deserves to be hung by a sour apple tree.

[Bono]

Anyone who preaches sedition and secession deserves to be hung by a sour apple tree.

Oh, so would you like to hang Madisson and Jefferson?

That's why I don't entirely like Jackson. He would've been a great president due to his oposition to the national bank, but due to infrigning on the nullification and interposition rights of a state, he lost his spark.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Was the position of Jefferson and Madison in the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions 'treasonous'?

[A18]

Was the position of Jefferson and Madison in the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions 'treasonous'?

No, because the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. Tariffs are not.

[opebo]

Misuse the 1st Amendment?

What do you mean 'misuse the 1st Amendement'?

[Josh/Devilman88]

He probably would have supported the Confederacy had he lived to see the day.

As would I.  Should I be hung?

I would have supported the Confederacy heck I do today.

[Brandon H]

Calhoun, along with Henry Clay, and I think Daniel Webster, were amoung a group called the "Mental Giants". They were able to avoid the civil war, mostly through compromise, because they looked out for the country. Eventually they got old and died and were replaced by the "Mental Midgets". These men were looking out for themselves only. (I'm rusty as it has been 5 years since I took History of the Old South in college.) (And I won't attempt to name any "Mental Midgets" on here, though I'm sure to some it is tempting.)

Being from right outside New Orleans and Chalmette Battlefield (where the Battle of New Orleans Chalmette took place) and having friends who attend Andrew Jackson High School, my opinion of Jackson is he was a great General but not a great President. As mentioned the whole incident with South Carolina and the Nullification Act is one reason.

Another issue I am still split on is that the Supreme Court ruled on an issue in favor of the Indians. Jackson controlled the military and refused to enforce the ruling since he disagreed with it. It probably would not have set a good precedent had it set one at all. Both sides could find issues that agree with the Supreme Court with while others could find issues that they agree with the President with. Imagine the President using the mililtary today to ignore Roe v. Wade and enforce all abortion laws. I can't think of an example off hand that Clinton would disagree with the Court for the liberals.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Was the position of Jefferson and Madison in the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions 'treasonous'?

No, because the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. Tariffs are not.

Apparently you did NOT understand my posting.

Both Jefferson and Madison asserted that the states had the right to nullify actions of the federal government.

The issue is whether supporting nullification is 'treasonous,' not the particular matter which the states seek to nullify.

[Hitchabrut]

No

[nini2287]

Yes. I hate President Jackson, but this is one of the few things I agree with him on. Calhoun's support for nullification was treasonous.

He probably would have supported the Confederacy had he lived to see the day.

Wow, I actually agree entirely with Philip.