But the South Carolinians had made one trifling blunder.

They had overlooked the President.

Jackson was a Southerner and a Democrat, but he was also the head of the nation, and determined to maintain its integrity.

On December 10, before Congress assembled, he issued his famous proclamation in which he took up rigorously the position adopted by Mr.Webster in his reply to Hayne, and gave the South Carolinians to understand that he would not endure treason, but would enforce constitutional laws even though he should be compelled to use bayonets to do it.

The Legislature of the recalcitrant State replied in an offensive manner which only served to make Jackson angry.