These documents emphasize Judge Augustin Smith Clayton’s participation in the Nullification Crisis, with special attention to his activities from the summer of 1832 to fall of 1833. South Carolina declared the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional and thus null and void within the boundaries of the state, triggering the Nullification Crisis.
All the following are links to Adobe Acrobat Downloads
Articles extracted from newspapers held at American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts, on seed-fund for research from Georgia Gwinnett College. Other articles extracted from newspapers in Digital Library of Georgia or elsewhere as noted.
1828 January 4 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), p1 – First paragraph of Clayton’s report to Georgia Senate on Tariff and Internal Improvements – rest is too damaged to recover
1828 January 4 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), p3 – notes publishes Clayton’s report to Georgia Senate on Tariff and Internal Improvements in its entirety
1828 January 12 Niles Register (Baltimore) vol 33 “Georgia Legislature,” pp325-328 – Report of Judge Clayton on Tariff and Internal Improvements,” dated December 5, 1827
1828 January 25 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), p3 – untitled commentary quotes Washington News mentioning Northern opposition to Clayton’s position on Tariff, Mfg, Improvements
1828 February 22 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Extract of Clayton’s GA Senate Report on Manufactures memorial re tariff reform in Congress
1828 August 12 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), p2 Athens Anti-Tariff Meeting – Clayton plays major role at protest of Tariff during commencement of UGA
1828 August 20 Chronicle (Augusta, Georgia) – Clayton at Anti-Tariff Meeting 18280806 as reported in the Athenian
1828 September 2 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p2 notice of Athens Anti-Tariff meeting, mentions Clayton
1829 March 31 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Notice of Georgia Factory groundbreaking by Clayton
1829 April 11 Macon Telegraph Clayton starts factory outside Athens as form of nullification on March 31, 1829, as reported in Athenian
1829 April 13 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia), p2 – reprints Athenian notice of groundbreaking of Judge Clayton’s factory near Athens
1829 April 28 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Editor defends Clayton from Darien Phoenix attack for starting a factory
1830 March 23 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Athens Factory – editorial reprinted from Washington GA newspaper
1831 August 9 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Edgefield Factory Burnt – loss of 20k factory by fire during robbery in SC
1831 August 9 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Mr Lumpkin Clark Party, Beware – Troupites claim Clark nominee, Lumpkin, is nullifier
1831 August 9 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), pp2-3 – Free Trade Meetimg – Clayton leads anti-tariff meeting at UGA commencement calling for delegates to national free trade convention
1831 August 18 Southern Recorder (Milledgeville, Georgia), p3 – Free Trade Meeting at Athens – Clayton elected delegate to Philadelphia anti-tariff meeting
1831 November 17 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia), p3 – Judge Clayton’s Address – Athens Free Trade Meeting, Aug 4, to appoint delegates to Philadelphia
1832 February 28 Athenian (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Athens Factory – Clayton’s son, William W. Clayton, appointed agent of business
1832 May 1 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Notice – John Johnson no longer partner in Clayton’s cotton factory
1832 May 26 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p2 Adams on Mfg-Nullification
1832 June 14 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Clayton on Internal Improvements Bill
1832 June 14 Gales and Seaton’s Register of Debates in Congress, “Speech of Augustin S. Clayton of Georgia, against passage of the Tariff of 1832.” pp 3530-3567. See especially pp 3553-3555 for remarks about factory in Athens, Georgia. Courtesy Library of Congress, American Memory, A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation.
1832 June 14 Speech of Mr Clayton, of Georgia, on the bill proposing a Reduction of the Duties on Imports, delivered in the House of Representatives on June 10, 1832 (Washington: Duff Green, 1832.) Large adobe acrobat file, approximately 25 meg. Duff Green got date wrong. June 10 was a Sunday, when the House did not meet. Other sources point to June 14 being the correct date.
1832 June 15 Gales and Seaton’s Register of Debates. 22nd Congress, 1st Session, page 3587, Adams reminds Clayton that his speech intended to propose an amendment, but failed to propose it. Chair prevents Clayton’s substitution as out of order.
1832 June 16 Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia) p2 – House of Representatives – mentions Clayton gave anti-Tariff speech in mid June
1832 June 19 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p2 Editorial re Clayton speech on mfg
1832 June 21 Gales and Seaton’s Register of Debates. 22nd Congress, 1st Session, page 3714, Clayton finally makes his amendment, which is rejected.
1832 June 23 Gales and Seaton’s Register of Debates in Congress, Exchange between Augustin Clayton and Nathan Appleton over Clayton’s claim of profits from his Georgia Factory. pp. 3727-3728. Courtesy Library of Congress, American Memory, A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation.
1832 June 25 Boston Courier Clayton letter on lack of profits of GA Factory
1832 June 26 Carolina Observer (Fayetteville NC) Clayton debates Appleton
1832 June 27 Macon Telegraph (Macon, Georgia) Clayton in Congress
1832 June 27 Macon Telegraph (Macon, Georgia), p2 Clayton speech against tariffs in Congress
1832 June 28 Gales and Seaton’s Register of Debates. 22nd Congress, 1st Session, pages 3830-3831, Tariff of 1832 bill passes US House and sent to Senate.
1832 June 30 Congressional Globe Clayton on mfg profits
1832 July 4 Boston Courier Clayton mfg profits controversy continued
1832 July 6 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Clayton included in slate of candidates supported for election by this Jacksonian newspaper
1832 July 11 Macon Telegraph p3 Clayton mentioned in 4th of July toasts
1832 July 13 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Volunteer Toasts – Georgia Guards Capt Edwards toasts Clayton
1832 July 13 Gales and Seaton’s Register of Debates. 22nd Congress, 1st Session, pages 3912-3913, Reconciliation Committee finalizes tariff with Senate agreeing to House version.
1832 July 19 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Clayton on his factory profits
1832 July 20 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Regular Toasts – Watkinsville July 4 celebration toasts Clayton for work re BUS
1832 July 20 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Volunteer Toasts – Salem July 4 celebration toasts Clayton 3 times
1832 July 27 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Commencement – Public Dinner for Clayton planned as one of the events of upcoming UGA Commencement
1832 July 27 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – For the Southern Banner – Lexington, Oglethorpe County, anti-tariff meeting planned at same time as Clayton Public Dinner
1832 July 27 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Public Dinner – Calls for subscriptions for dinner for Clayton on August 3 at Franklin Hotel in Athens
1832 August 1 Macon Telegraph Clayton travel injuries in NC
1832 August 2 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Clayton injured in SC accident
1832 August 3 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – The Lexington Meeting – Clayton Dinner Abandoned to allow everyone to attend Anti-Tariff meeting at Lexington, GA
1832 August 3 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), pp2-3 – Public Meeting – Anti-Tariff meeting at UGA College Chapel taken over by Clayton and Berrien
1832 August 4 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p2 reports Clayton stagecoach accident
1832 August 7 Carolina Observer (Fayetteville) Dinner for Clayton at Laurens SC
1832 August 7 United States Telegraph (Washington, DC) Clayton Dinner reported by Greenville Southern Sentinel
1832 August 8 Macon Telegraph p3 – Free Trade and State Rights Meeting – Bibb County throws dinner for Clayton
1832 August 8 Macon Telegraph p3 quotes Athens Gazette report on Clayton’s Nullification mtg at Commencement
1832 August 8 Macon Telegraph p3 cites Augusta Chronicle to report Clayton’s Dastard speech in SC
1832 August 8 Macon Telegraph p3 quotes Southern Banner report of Clayton’s Nullification mtg at Commencement
1832 August 9 United States Telegraph (Washington, DC) Clayton Dinner reported by Greenville Southern Sentinel
1832 August 10 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Judge Clayton – reports Clayton’s Dastard comments at Laurens CH in SC, but also July 4 Lynchburg comments on tariff as well
1832 August 10 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – The Late Movement at Lexington – reports meeting is rumored to support nullification which editor opposes
1832 August 10 National Intelligencer (Wash DC) Clayton Dinner reported by Greenville Southern Sentinel
1832 August 11 Philadelphia Inquirer p2 Clayton’s Dastard comments at Laurens CH
1832 August 11 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p3 Letter re Clayton nullification speech at Laurens CH
1832 August 13 National Intelligencer (Wash DC) Clayton in Athens Nullification Mtg
1832 August 14 Boston Courier Clayton Dinner and Nullification
1832 August 15 US Telegraph (Wash DC) Clayton Speech on lowering tariff begun
1832 August 15 Philadelphia Inquirer p2 Athens Nullification Meeting
1832 August 16 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p3 Athens Nullification Meeting
1832 August 16 Virginia Free Press (Charlestown VA) Clayton Dinner reported Greenville
1832 August 17 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Clayton appointed to Committee of Correspondence to other states for Athens anti-tariff mtg
1832 August 17 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – corrects report of Clayton speech at Lyncburg, rather given at PP Barbour dinner at Amherst CH, VA
1832 August 17 US Telegraph (Wash DC) Clayton Speech on lowering tariff continued pt 2
1832 August 17 US Telegraph (Wash DC) Clayton Speech on lowering tariff continued
1832 August 18 Atkinson’s Saturday Evening Post (Philadelphia) p3 – Epitome of the Times – Clayton’s dastard speech
1832 August 21 US Telegraph (Wash DC) Clayton Speech on lowering tariff concluded
1832 August 22 Macon Telegraph p3 reports Federal Union holds up Forsyth and Wayne over Clayton and the Nullifirers
1832 August 22 Macon Telegraph p3 reports Federal Union takes Macon Advertiser to task over scolding Barbour mtg that also invited Clayton to dinner
1832 August 22 Philadelphia Inquirer p2 editorial re Athens Nullification Meeting
1832 August 24 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Great Anti-Nullification Meeting at Augusta – opposes Athens mtgs’ convention
1832 August 24 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Oglethorpe Meeting – Clayton in leadership of this anti-tariff meeting
1832 August 24 Philadelphia Inquirer p2 Commentary re Clayton’s relations w Jackson supporters
1832 August 29 Scioto Gazette (Chillicothe, OH) Clayton Dinner reported Greenville
1832 August 30 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) July 4 Toasts – Clayton
1832 August 30 Lynchburg Virginian Editorial re Clayton and Nullification
1832 August 31 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Circular of the Athens Meeting – details electing delegates to statewide anti-tariff convention to meet in November
1832 August 31 Philadelphia Inquirer p2Extracts- Commentary re Clayton’s Lexington speech
1832 September 5 Macon Telegraph p2 Editor says Nullifierers like Clayton cannot destroy Union
1832 September 5 Macon Telegraph p3 – Congressional Ticket – Clayton on Troup ticket for Congress
1832 September 6 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) AL memorial for Clayton
1832 September 7 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – The Athens Meeting – suggests meeting manipulated so to get pro-nullification resolutions against judgement of many
1832 September 13 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Clayton’s reply to Augusta Anti-Nullification mtg
1832 September 14 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Says Clayton equivocated when asked if supported nullification by Augusta Anti-Nullification meeting
1832 September 19 Philadelphia Inquirer p2 Commentary re Nullification lacks of popularity in GA
1832 September 21 Southern Banner (Athens GA) Font Page – Clayton Reply to Richmond Delegation on Nullification
1832 September 21 Philadelphia Inquirer p2 Commentary re Jackson SC Clayton and forms of disunion
1832 September 22 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p1 editorial re Clayton’s answers to Richmond meeting on Nullification
1832 September 22 Philadelphia Inquirer p2 Clayton – GA nullifiers favor Jackson
1832 September 22 Greenville Mountaineer (SC) Clayton nullification reported Augusta Constitutionalist
1832 September 22 US Telegraph (Wash DC) Clayton August 31, 1832, response to Richmond anti-Null Mtg
1832 September 25 Macon Telegraph p2 reports Charleston Courier says Georgia will not follow Clayton and Nullifiers
1832 September 26 US Telegraph (Wash DC) editorial re Nullification Mtg in Athens and Clayton
1832 September 27 Boston Courier editorial re Clayton Response to Richmond anti-Null Mtg
1832 September 27 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Anti-Tariff Slate includes Clayton
1832 September 27 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Election Slates of all parties
1832 September 27 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p1 editorial re Clayton on Nullification
1832 September 28 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Office Hunters Look Out – CH Nelson of GA Guard confronts Clayton re nullifying unconstitutional state laws, such as those re Canatoo decision
1832 October 2 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p2 compares Clayton to McDuffie on Nullification
1832 October 3 Macon Telegraph p3 Clayton ridiculed for dastard speech
1832 October 11 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Congression Returns so far
1832 October 11 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Congressional Election by County
1832 October 12 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – The Election – Clayton probably re-elected
1832 October 16 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p1 predicts Clayton election defeat
1832 October 17 Macon Telegraph p3 Clayton re-elected despite Nullification, came in fourth
1832 October 18 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Clayton dastard comment
1832 October 18 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Congressional Election by County
1832 October 18 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Congressional Election Returns
1832 October 19 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – The Election – With 75 counties reporting, Clayton among those elected
1832 October 25 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Congressional Election Returns
1832 October 31 United States Telegraph (Washington, DC) Intended Guests at Athens Dinner
1832 November 2 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Clayton among those announced officially elected to Congress by Gov Lumpkin
1832 November 17 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Anti-Tariff Convention – Milledgeville Convention assembled, Clayton active
1832 November 21 Macon Telegraph p3 Clayton at Anti-Tariff Convention
1832 November 24 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), pp2-3 – Anti-Tariff Convention – Minutes, Resolutions, Protests, Clayton active
1832 November 29 Philadelphia Inquirer p2 Forsyth opposes Clayton in Milledgeville meeting
1832 December 1 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p1 – Anti-Tariff Convention – Minutes, Resolutions, Clayton active
1832 December 1 Southern Banner (Athens GA) Describes Clayton’s oratory and intellect
1832 December 1 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), pp2-3 – Political – Correspondent from Milledgeville discusses anti-tariff convention and its participants, including Clayton
1832 December 22 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p1 – Political – Address to the People of Georgia from Anti-Tariff Convention Committee, which includes Clayton
1832 December 27 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Clayton returned to Congress
1832 December 27 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) editorial re antiBank leaders returned to power
1833 January 3 Federal Union (Milledgeville, Georgia), p3 – The Secret Mission – says Augusta Constitutionalist printed expose of mission of Clayton to SC to encourage nullification convention
1833 January 5 Genius of Liberty (Leesburg, Virginia) p2 -From the Georgia Courier – Charleston Mercury chastises GA for not joining SC in Nullification after killing Tassels
1833 January 24 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia), p2 – Remarks of Mr Clayton of Georgia on the Assay Bill
1833 February 9 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p3 Clayton vilified using Cicero in Latin
1833 February 26 Columbia Telescope (SC) Clayton value of union nullification letter 1-12-33
1833 February 26 Columbia Telescope (Columbia, SC) Clayton’s Letter
1833 March 13 Southern Recorder (Milledgeville, Georgia), p2 – House of Representatives – Clayton addresses motion to postpone tariff bill
1833 March 16 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – House of Representatives – Clayton responds to Beardsly in House debate of compromise tariff
1833 March 19 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p1 Clayton anti-Jacksonism seems boorish
1833 March 16 The Globe (Washington, DC) Clayton’s Letter
1833 March 28 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Clayton on Force Bill
1833 April 4 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia), pp1-2 – Speech of Mr Clayton of Georgia – on enforcing bill, 2-28-1833
1833 April 4 Federal Union (Milledgeville, Georgia), pp1-2 – Speech of Mr Blair of South Carolina – confronts Clayton re prior votes and remarks
1833 April 4 Federal Union (Milledgeville, Georgia), p2 – Judge Clayton – says Clayton constantly changing position, never consistent when comes to Jackson
1833 May 2 Observer Telegraph (Hudson, Ohio) extract of Clayton speech on Judiciary Bill – Nullification
1833 May 2 Observer Telegraph (Hudson, Ohio) editorial re Clayton speech on Nullification
1833 May 4 Carolina Watchman (Salisbury NC) p. 2 – General Jackson and His Friends – editorial from Lynchburg newspaper re Clayton attacks on Jackson
1833 May 7 Fayetteville Observer (NC) extract of Clayton anti-Force Bill speech
1833 May 22 National Intelligencer Clayton speech on Revenue Collection 2-28-33 pt 1
1833 May 23 National Intelligencer Clayton speech on Revenue Collection 2-28-33 pt 2
1833 August 7 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) July 4 toasts of Clayton
1833 August 21 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) July 4 Letter of Clayton
1834 February 12 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Clayton, writing as Atticus, describes Nullification as Federalist plan
1834 September 17 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Clayton describes how Georgia interposed authority in past
