Gutzman's research helps us to understand better the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798 and 1799. Contrary to Krannawitter, these resolutions were not the product of Jefferson's tendency toward hyperbole. Quite the contrary, Jefferson and Madison were solidly in the tradition of the Richmond Convention:

the twin enunciations of the Republican constitutional position adopted by the Virginia and Kentucky legislatures corresponded closely to the explication of the federal Constitution offered by Virginia Federalists in the Richmond Ratification Convention of 1788. By the time matters came to a head in 1798, the Virginians had insisted on holding the Federalists to their vows of 1788 for a full decade. (Gutzman, p. 114)

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Krannawitter tries to tie nullification to Calhoun's "historicist" position; but ironically for him, Jefferson, the coauthor of the resolutions, was also the author of the Declaration of Independence that, according to him, formed the foundation of Lincoln's views. Further, it is grounds for concern that while Krannawitter cites Madison's rejection of Calhoun's nullification doctrine, he never quotes the Virginia Resolution that Madison wrote. (He does quote the Kentucky Resolution, written by Jefferson [p. 181].) Had he done so, it would have been clear that Madison had misrepresented his earlier position. The Virginia Resolution said that states have the power to interpose against federal legislation and accordingly held the Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional, appealing to the other states to do likewise.

Krannawitter has vindicated neither Lincoln nor Jaffa. Lest I be accused of writing an unduly negative review, I shall conclude by recommending his discussion of the Progressives and the New Deal (pp. 293ff.) If Krannawitter were to expand these remarks, he would write a valuable book.

David Gordon covers new books in economics, politics, philosophy, and law for The Mises Review, the quarterly review of literature in the social sciences, published since 1995 by the Mises Institute. He is author of The Essential Rothbard, available in the Mises Store. Comment on the blog.