Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

In a letter from Col. Nockolls, a Representative in Congress, from South Carolina, in reply to an invitation to attend a public meeting at Yorkville, he says, that "he admits himself a Union man, disclaiming distinctly the doctrine of nullification, and advocating a Southern Convention, or some such mode of rallying and uniting public opinion in the several States similarly situated."

We have not seen the letter, but it gives us pleasure to publish this extract from it.

A similar letter from Gen. Blair, another of the Representatives of South Carolina, contains the following passage, which, in the present posture of affairs in South Carolina, is full of interest:

"It is now well understood that, in the event of nullification by our state, the Federal Government will blockade all our ports by detachments from the Federal Navy—all foreign goods will be prevented from coming into our harbors until they have first been examined, and the duties on them secured in some port in another State. The nullifiers may call this a declaration of war against South Carolina, by the Federal Government, if they will. The Federal Government will disregard it, and what will it amount to? South Carolina will have no Navy, nor the means of raising a Navy, to remove the blockade. The Nullifiers may call on Great Britain for help, if they choose; Great Britain will be deaf to their solicitations. She would not be so mad, (all principle and national law aside,) as to forfeit the friendship and commerce of twenty three States to preserve intercourse and good fellowship with South Carolina alone. What, under such circumstances are the Nullifiers to do? Organize a land army to march on to Washington to regulate 'Uncle Sam and his lazy dogs?' Such an enterprize would be as futile and ludicrous as 'the attack of Don Quixote upon the wind mills.' For the honor of my native State, I hope 'nullification will never be used, by any portion of her citizens, otherwise than as mere declamation.'"