The occasion finally came on April 13, 1830, at a banquet held in Washington in celebration of Jefferson’s birthday.  The Virginia patron of democracy had been dead four years, and Jackson had become, more truly than any other man, his successor.  Jacksonian democracy was, however, something very different from Jeffersonian, and never was the contrast more evident than on this fateful evening.  During the earlier part of the festivities a series of prearranged toasts, accompanied by short speeches, put before the assemblage the Jeffersonian teachings in a light highly favorable—­doubtless unwarrantably so—­to the ultra state rights theory.  Then followed a number of volunteer toasts.  The President was, of course, accorded the honor of proposing the first—­and this gave Jackson his chance.  Rising in his place and drawing himself up to his full height, he raised his right hand, looked straight at Calhoun and, amid breathless silence, exclaimed in that crisp, harsh tone that had so often been heard above the crashing of many rifles:  “Our Union!  It must be preserved!”

An account of the scene which is given by Isaac Hill, a member of the Kitchen Cabinet and an eyewitness, is interesting: 

A proclamation of martial law in South Carolina and an order to arrest Calhoun where he sat could not have come with more blinding, staggering force.  All hilarity ceased.  The President, without adding one word in the way of speech, lifted up his glass as a notice that the toast was to be quaffed standing.  Calhoun rose with the rest.  His glass so trembled in his hand that a little of the amber fluid trickled down the side.  Jackson stood silent and impassive.  There was no response to the toast.  Calhoun waited until all sat down.  Then he slowly and with hesitating accent offered the second volunteer toast:  “The Union!  Next to Our Liberty Most Dear!” Then, after a minute’s hesitation, and in a way that left doubt as to whether he intended it for part of the toast or for the preface to a speech, he added:  “May we all remember that it can only be preserved by respecting the rights of the States and by distributing equally the benefit and burden of the Union.”

The nullifiers had carefully planned the evening’s proceedings with a purpose to strengthen their cause with the country.  They had not reckoned on the President, and the dash of cold water which he had administered caused them more anguish than any opposition that they had yet encountered.  The banquet broke up earlier than had been expected, and the diners went off by twos and threes in eager discussion of the scene that they had witnessed.  Some were livid with rage; some shook their heads in fear of civil war; but most rejoiced in the splendid exhibition of executive dignity and patriotic fervor which the President had given.  Subsequently it transpired that Jackson had acted on no mere impulse and that his course had been carefully planned in consultation with Van Buren and other advisers.